Ramygala

Infobox Settlement
name = Ramygala
nickname =
settlement_type = City
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Ramygala
image_shield = Ramygala COA.gif
latd=55|latm=30|lats=40|latNS=N|longd=24|longm=18|longs=10|longEW=E
coordinates_display= inline,title
coordinates_type = region:LT_type:city(1600)
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1 = Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1 = Aukštaitija
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Panevėžys County
subdivision_type3 = Municipality
subdivision_name3 = Panevėžys district municipality
subdivision_type4 = Eldership
subdivision_name4 = Ramygala eldership
subdivision_type6 = Capital of
subdivision_name6 = Ramygala eldership
established_date = 1503
established_title = First mentioned
established_date2 = 1957
established_title2= Granted city rights
population_total = 1,678
population_as_of = 2005
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

Ramygala (pronunciation|Ramygala.ogg, literally "quiet end") is a small city in Lithuania. It is located some convert|24|km|mi|abbr=on south from Panevėžys on the banks of the Upytė River, a tributary to the Nevėžis River. According to 2005 estimate, it had just below 1,700 residents.

The name "Ramygala" was first mentioned in the 13th century. In 1370 the place suffered from the Teutonic Knight attack. Sometime before 1500 the first church was built and in 1503 the name "Ramygala" was used to refer to a town. Since then Ramygala slowly grew. Few years later it had a manor, and at the end of the 16th century it received a privilege to host fairs. Unlike many other towns in Lithuania, Ramygala did not belong to a noble family but rather to Vilnius Cathedral and later to Vilnius University.

In 1781 the town established a parish school next to a new church after the old one was destroyed by fire. The school grew and expanded significantly in the 20th century. It built two new school buildings and a dorm. In 2005 it was named Ramygala Gymnasium. The school hosts a small museum dedicated to the local history and traditions. A new Neo Gothic church was built in 1897-1914. It has 3 aisles and 3 altars. It features only one bell tower. The tower was damaged during the World War II, but was rebuilt in the 1950s.

Since the second half of the 18th century, Ramygala was administrative center of a valsčius. After the administrative reform by the Soviet authorities in 1950, the town became a capital of a raion (Lithuanian: "rajonas"). In 1957 it received city rights. In 1962 Ramygala lost the status of the capital of a raion. Now it is a center of an eldership, the smallest administrative division in Lithuania. It has a small hospital and a library.

Famous people

*Mykolas Vrubliauskas (1919–1998), ceramics artist
*Saulius Mykolaitis (1966–2006), actor

References

* cite encyclopedia |editor = Jonas Zinkus, et. al |encyclopedia = Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija |title = Ramygala |year = 1987 |publisher = Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija |volume = III |location = Vilnius, Lithuania |pages = 500-501
* cite web|url=http://www.panrs.lt/seniun/ramyg.htm |title=Ramygalos seniūnija | publisher=Panevėžys district municipality |accessdate=2006-12-10
* cite web|url=http://panevezys.lcn.lt/dekanatai/krekenavos/ramygala/ |title=Ramygalos Šv. Jono Krikštytojo parapija |publisher=Panevėžys Diocese |accessdate=2006-12-10