Vištytis

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Vištytis
leader_title =
postal_code_type =
official_name = Vištytis
nickname =


pushpin_

image_shield = Vistytis COA.gif
|subdivision_type1=Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1 = Autolink|Suvalkija
|subdivision_type2=County
subdivision_name2 = Autolink|Marijampolė County
|subdivision_type3=Municipality
subdivision_name3 = Autolink|Vilkaviškis district municipality
|subdivision_type4=Elderate
subdivision_name4 = Vištytis elderate
coordinates =
|subdivision_type6=Capital of
subdivision_name6 =
latd=54|latm=27|lats=30|latNS=N|longd=22|longm=43|longs=10|longEW=E
established_date = 1538|established_title=First mentioned
established_date2 = 1570|established_title2=Granted city rights
subdivision_name5 =
population_total = 566
population_as_of = 2001

Vištytis is a town in southern Lithuania on Lake Vištytis, Marijampolė district. It is situated close to the Russian border (Kaliningrad oblast) and is a capital of Vištytis elderate.

Town has preserved street structure and market square since 18th century. Near the town there is Vištytis Regional Park established. Southwest of the town there is Vištytis hill fort, and in a nearby village Nebūtkiemis is big "Vištytis" stone, preserved geologic artifact.

History

Vištytis was established in the first half of the 16th century, on the border with Duchy of Prussia. Fist time name of the Višytis manor are from 1538. Around then manor town started to grow rapidly, and on September 8, 1570 Sigismund II Augustus granted Vištytis city rights and Coat of Arms. It was the first city in the region

1776 Vištytis lost it's city rights, although some administration remained in the city, as it is known from the records in 1785 and 1790. Town representatives were participating in Great Sejm, and succeeded to regain city rights, although did not get monarch's privilege. That caused conflict with local elder, and the case was taken to the court. The outcome of the court isn't clear, but town preserved some of autonomy in 19th century.

During the Holocaust Vištytis it lost most of its inhabitants.

Renewed City Coat of Arms were granted by the President of Lithuania on May 3, 1999.