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Lithuania
Lithuania, as a kingdom, Grand Duchy or now republic, celebrates its millennium in 2009, a year that also recognises its capital, Vilnius, as European Capital of Culture. No small achievement for a modest Baltic state. However by the XIVth century, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea, and more recently cartographers have determined that the geographic centre of Europe is pinpointed some 14km north of Vilnius. The country offers pine-fringed sandy beaches, gently rolling wooded hills and valleys, perfect for walkers, and is criss-crossed by highly scenic rivers suited both to energetic canoeists or idling cruisers. Vilnius is a modern western capital – but with a huge medieval ‘old town’. The picturesquely named ‘Gates of Dawn’ at the edge of this area are a place of pilgrimage to many Catholics for the adjoining chapel’s treasured icon. Vilnius’s University is one of the oldest in Europe and the Upper Castle is a dominant feature of the city’s landscape along with its splendid Cathedral. Other interesting towns include Klaipeda the most northern ice-free port in the Baltic and Šiauliai, with the nearby Hill of Crosses – 50,000 of them, randomly built up over centuries.
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