Birštonas

Infobox Settlement
name = Birštonas
nickname =
settlement_type=City
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Birštonas
image_shield = Birstonas COA.gif
latd=54|latm=36|lats=10|latNS=N|longd=24|longm=1|longs=14.0|longEW=E
coordinates_display= inline,title
coordinates_type = region:LT_type:city(3100)
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1= Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1= Suvalkija
subdivision_type2= County
subdivision_name2= Kaunas County
subdivision_type3= Municipality
subdivision_name3= Birštonas municipality
subdivision_name4=
subdivision_type6= Capital of
subdivision_name6= Birštonas municipality
established_date = 1382
established_title= First mentioned
established_date2= 1529
established_title2=Granted city rights
population_total = 3,138
population_as_of = 2005
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

Birštonas (pronunciation|Birstonas.ogg) is a spa town in Lithuania situated on Nemunas River. Birštonas received its city rights 1529, and was appointed a city in 1966.

History

Birštonas was first mentioned in chronicles of the Teutonic Knights in 1382 and described as a "a farmstead at the salty water". A lot of Lithuanian Dukes and noblemen stayed in Birštonas to hunt during 14th and 16th centuries. The resort was founded in 1846. Many people from Russian, Polish and Lithuanian cities came to sanitoriums and applied mineral water and curative mud procedures. These procedures were applied to Balys Sruoga, who was ill after the Stutthof concentration camp.

Environment

Birštonas is surrounded by pine forests and the Neman River, which is very good for the ill. Some hills offer nice views of the Neman River. There are also shops, police department, library, theatre, clinic, pharmacy, book store, schools, museums, cafes, restaurants and the City Hall. There are many apartments and rare houses.

Festivals

There are many festivals in Birštonas. One of them is Jazz festival, which is held every two years at the end of March. This festival has attracted thousands of jazz lovers. It's being broadcasted, too. It has been a tradition in Birštonas for more than twenty years.

Tourism

Birštonas is known for its mineral water. This water is used by sanatoriums for mineral water pools and baths. There are two large sanatoriums in Birštonas – "Tulpė" (English: "Tulip") and "Versmė" (English: "Spring"). Both sanatoriums offers halotherapy, therapeutic mud bathes, mineral water pools, baths, massages, and wide range of curative procedures. Birštonas also has hotels and country farmsteads, adapted for rural tourism. Local attractions include Vytautas hill, where a Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas had his hunting mansion, two museums, promenade a path near Neman River. Birštonas is one of few Lithuanian resorts.

Notable Residents

* Balys Sruoga
* Vidas Blekaitis

External links

* [http://www.birstonas.lt Official city page]
* [http://www.jazz.birstonas.lt/en Birštonas Jazz festival page]