Birštonas () is a
balneological
Balneotherapy ( la, balneum "bath") is a method of treating diseases by bathing, a traditional medicine technique usually practiced at spas. Since ancient times, humans have used hot springs, public baths and thermal medicine for therapeutic ef ...
resort and a
spa town
A spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits.
Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. He ...
in
Lithuania situated south of
Kaunas on the right bank of the
Nemunas River
The Neman, Nioman, Nemunas or MemelTo bankside nations of the present: Lithuanian: be, Нёман, , ; russian: Неман, ''Neman''; past: ger, Memel (where touching Prussia only, otherwise Nieman); lv, Nemuna; et, Neemen; pl, Niemen; ...
. Birštonas received its
city rights 1529, and was appointed a
city
A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
in 1966. The city is the administrative centre of the
Birštonas municipality.
Name
Birštonas is the
Lithuanian name of the city. Versions of the name in other languages include
Polish
Polish may refer to:
* Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe
* Polish language
* Poles
Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, w ...
: ''Birsztany'',
Russian
Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including:
*Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
: Бирштаны ''Birshtany'',
Belarusian: Біршта́ны ''Birshtany'',
Yiddish
Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ve ...
: בירשטאן ''Birshtan''.
History
Birštonas was mentioned for the first time in the fourteenth century as a "homestead at salty water." It was mentioned in chronicles of the
Teutonic Knights
The Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem, commonly known as the Teutonic Order, is a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. It was formed to aid Christians o ...
in 1382 and described as "a farmstead at the salty water". Many
Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The monarchy of Lithuania concerned the monarchical head of state of Lithuania, which was established as an absolute and hereditary monarchy. Throughout Lithuania's history there were three ducal dynasties that managed to stay in power— Ho ...
,
Lithuanian nobles
The Lithuanian nobility or szlachta ( Lithuanian: ''bajorija, šlėkta'') was historically a legally privileged hereditary elite class in the Kingdom of Lithuania and Grand Duchy of Lithuania (including during period of foreign rule 1795–191 ...
, and other noblemen vacationed in Birštonas during
14th and
16th centuries to hunt. The resort was founded in 1846. Many people from Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian cities visited
sanitorium
A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
s for the area's
mineral water
Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral water may usually be still or sparkling (carbonated/effervescent) according to the presence or absence of added gases.
T ...
and to receive curative mud applications, including Lithuanian writer
Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga (February 2, 1896, in , Kovno Governorate – October 16, 1947, Vilnius) was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist.
Early life
He contributed to cultural journals from his early youth. His works were publis ...
, who was ill after the
Stutthof concentration camp
Stutthof was a Nazi concentration camp established by Nazi Germany in a secluded, marshy, and wooded area near the village of Stutthof (now Sztutowo) 34 km (21 mi) east of the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) in the territory of the German- ...
, beatified
Teofilius Matulionis, after his imprisonment in Soviet camps and prisons for 16 years.
Environment
Birštonas is surrounded by
pine
A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...
forests and the
Nemunas River
The Neman, Nioman, Nemunas or MemelTo bankside nations of the present: Lithuanian: be, Нёман, , ; russian: Неман, ''Neman''; past: ger, Memel (where touching Prussia only, otherwise Nieman); lv, Nemuna; et, Neemen; pl, Niemen; ...
, which is very good for the ill. Some hills offer nice views of the Nemunas River. There are also shops,
police department, library, theatre, clinic, pharmacy,
book store
A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physical arr ...
, schools, museums, cafes, restaurants and the City Hall. There are many apartments and rare houses. Birštonas serves as a center of the
Nemunas Loops Regional Park.
Transportation
Birštonas is accessed by national status roads from
Kaunas,
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
, and
Marijampolė
Marijampolė (; also known by several other names) is a cultural and industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad Oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Mar ...
. It is served by
Kaunas International Airport
Kaunas Fluxus Airport ( lt, Kauno tarptautinis oro uostas), is the second-busiest civil airport in Lithuania after Vilnius Airport and the fourth-busiest in the Baltic states. The airport is located in the central part of the country, northea ...
, the second largest airport in Lithuania, located in
Karmėlava
Karmėlava is a small town in Kaunas County in central Lithuania. In 2011 it had a population of 1,395. The town of Karmėlava is located north east of Kaunas and near the second-busiest civil airport in Lithuania, Kaunas International Airpor ...
site.
Festivals
Birštonas holds several festivals. The Birštonas town festival is held during the second weekend of June. It features concerts,
folk art
Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...
exhibits, and
air balloon and motorboat races.
On the last weekend of March Birštonas hosts a traditional,
Lithuania's oldest international
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
festival, called Birštonas. Since 1980, the jazz festival coming here every two years have long earned the resort a name of the Lithuanian jazz
Mecca
Mecca (; officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, commonly shortened to Makkah ()) is a city and administrative center of the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia, and the holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow ...
.
The "Būtent!" festival is an annual open-air discussion festival that takes place at the beginning of September. For two days, well-known educators, influencers and politicians gather to discuss topics recommended by festival visitors. A wide variety of topics are discussed in
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
and Lithuanian. The festival is free of charge.
Tourism
Birštonas is the fastest growing resort town in Lithuania experiencing a 55% increase in tourism annually. Birštonas is known for its
mineral water
Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral water may usually be still or sparkling (carbonated/effervescent) according to the presence or absence of added gases.
T ...
. This water is used by
sanatorium
A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...
s for mineral water pools and baths.
There are three large sanatoriums in Birštonas:
* Tulpė (English: Tulip) can accommodate as many as 210 people at a time
* Versmė (English: Spring) has 187 rooms that can accommodate 340 people at a time
* Eglė (English: Fir Tree) was opened in 2013 and can treat 730 people at one time
All of them offer
halotherapy
Halotherapy (also known as speleotherapy when practiced inside caves) is a form of alternative medicine which makes use of salt. Halotherapy is an unproven treatment that lacks scientific credibility. Spa owners attribute a wide range of hea ...
, therapeutic
peat pulp bath {{Refimprove, date=May 2010
A peat pulp bath is a bath prepared of peat pulp from wetlands. Balneotherapy in form of peat pulp baths is offered in many health resorts.
History
Paracelsus described "moor" as a remedy for certain diseases. Late ...
, mineral water pools, baths, massages, and a wide range of curative procedures.
Birštonas also has hotels and country farmsteads, adapted for
rural tourism
Rural tourism is a tourism that focuses on actively participating in a rural lifestyle. It can be a variant of ecotourism. Many villages can facilitate tourism because many villagers are hospitable and eager to welcome or host visitors. Agriculture ...
.
Local attractions
* Vytautas hill, where
Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas
Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', O ...
had his hunting mansion. After you climb the 40 m high slope, visitors are able to pause for breath on a beautifully arranged rest site. The site opens a fascinating panoramic view upon Birštonas town and Nemunas bend. The view is beautiful throughout the year, so climbing Vytautas Hill has become a ritual for Birštonas guests. Furthermore, this place is a favourite of selfie makers and painters visiting the resort town.
* Birštonas Museum - The museum building, which is included in the list of Cultural Heritage, is worth seeing. This romantic villa, with little towers and ornate balconies, was built by the forester, Antanas Katelė. It was leased to teachers undergoing treatment in Birštonas before the Second World War. After the war, the building was nationalized. Then it was used as a sanatorium. In 1967 it was established as a museum.
* Birštonas Museum of Sacral Art - The former building of parsonage today accommodates the Museum of Sacral Art, which attracts more and more pilgrims and single visitors every year. Visitors to this place describe their stay here "as a place to find peace of mind and revive yourself" either for a splendid exhibit of artistic treasures or for the sincere attention paid to each visitor. Justinas Marcinkevičius, a legendary Lithuanian poet, declared that this museum is dedicated to love.
* The Promenade, a path near the Nemunas River.
* Cycling in local Žvėrinčius forest, riding a horse, sailing, sculling, or canoeing along the
Verknė or the Nemunas rivers are available.
* Birštonas Observation Tower. The place for the tower was chosen back in 1997, when the Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the planning scheme for the Nemunas Loops Regional Park. The observation deck of the tower will be located at a height of 45 m, and the total height of the tower will be 55 m. Getting to the tower top without stopping might be difficult, and therefore six rest sites will be provided. Next to the tower there will be a recreation area and information stand with panorama of the Nemunas Loops Regional Park. The metal construction of the tower will be "dressed" with larch panels with triangular cells. Such "dress" of the tower might remind of wayside shrine or constellations in the sky. The tower, rectangular design with a laced roof, follows the tradition of Lithuanian defensive architecture, resembles old wooden castle towers and also associates with the later architecture of belfries towers. One might also compare the tower with roadside chapels and image of the World tree. The symbolism of the tower enlivens with the openings – small window for light penetration and opportunity to admire the surrounding beauties as they are carvings of wooden sculptures.
Notable residents
*
Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga (February 2, 1896, in , Kovno Governorate – October 16, 1947, Vilnius) was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist.
Early life
He contributed to cultural journals from his early youth. His works were publis ...
*
Vidas Blekaitis
Vidas Blekaitis (born 14 April 1972) is a Lithuanian strongman. As of 2007, Blekaitis was ranked World No. 4 by the International Federation of Strength Athletes. He placed 4th in the 2009 Arnold Strongman Classic. Blekaitis competed in the IFSA ...
*
Nikodemas Silvanavičius
*
Teofilius Matulionis
Twin towns — sister cities
Birštonas is
twinned with:
*
Ağstafa, Azerbaijan
*
Bykle
Bykle is a municipality in Agder county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Setesdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bykle. Other villages in Bykle municipality include Berdalen, Bjåen, Br ...
, Norway
*
Chiatura
Chiatura () is a city in the Imereti region of Western Georgia. In 1989, it had a population of about 30,000. The city is known for its system of cable cars connecting the city's center to the mining settlements on the surrounding hills.
The city ...
, Georgia
*
Ełk County, Poland
*
Jinan, China
*
Keila
Keila (german: Kegel) is a town and an urban municipality in Harju County in north-western Estonia, 25 km southwest of Tallinn. Keila is also the location of administrative buildings of the surrounding Keila Parish, a rural municipality se ...
, Estonia
*
La Croix-en-Touraine, France
*
Leck, Germany
*
Sigulda
Sigulda (; german: Segewold, pl, Zygwold, russian: Сигулда) is a town in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, from the capital city Riga.
Overview
Sigulda is on a picturesque stretch of the primeval Gauja river valley. Because of the reddish De ...
, Latvia
*
Sysmä
Sysmä () is a municipality of Finland. It is situated in the Päijät-Häme region. The municipality has a population of
() and covers an area of of
which
is water. The population density is
. Neighbouring municipalities are Asikkala, Hart ...
, Finland
*
Żnin
Żnin (german: Znin, 1941-45: Dietfurt) is a town in north-central Poland with a population of 14,181 (June 2014). It is in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (previously Bydgoszcz Voivodeship) and is the capital of Żnin County. The historical ...
, Poland
Gallery
File:Vytauto kalnas Birstone.jpg, Vytautas Mountain
File:Medical SPA "Eglės" sanatorija Birštonas.jpg, Early spring in "Eglės" sanatorija Birštonas
File:HotelKarališkojiRezidencijaBirštonas.JPG, A hotel in Birštonas
File:Birštono Šv. Antano Paduviečio bažnyčia4.JPG, Birštonas church
File:Birštono_bažnyčia_nuo_Vytauto_kalno.jpg, Birštonas church from Vytautas Mountain
File:NáměstíJBasanavBirštonas.JPG, Jonas Basanavičius
Jonas Basanavičius (, pl, Jan Basanowicz; 23 November 1851 – 16 February 1927) was an activist and proponent of the Lithuanian National Revival. He participated in every major event leading to the independent Lithuanian state and is often give ...
street
File:Purvo gydyklos 1927 m.jpg, A sanatorium in Birštonas
File:VytautasBirstone.png, A monument to Vytautas
Vytautas (c. 135027 October 1430), also known as Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian: ', be, Вітаўт, ''Vitaŭt'', pl, Witold Kiejstutowicz, ''Witold Aleksander'' or ''Witold Wielki'' Ruthenian: ''Vitovt'', Latin: ''Alexander Vitoldus'', O ...
File:Vytauto_parkas.jpg, Vytautas park
File:BirštonasLázeňskýDůmTulpėOdParku.JPG, A sanatorium in Birštonas
File:BirstonoVersmessanatorijosfontanas.JPG, Sanatorium "Versmė"
File:Birstonokurhauzas.JPG, Kurhaus of Birštonas
References
External links
Official city pageTourism information pageBirštonas Jazz festival pageBirštonas Discussion festival "Būtent!"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birstonas
Cities in Lithuania
Cities in Kaunas County
Spa towns in Lithuania
Municipalities administrative centres of Lithuania