Antakalnis

Antakalnis is an elderate in the Vilnius city municipality. Antakalnis (literally 'the place on hills', is one of the oldest historical suburbs of Vilnius City. It is located in the eastern section of Vilnius, along the right bank of the Neris River. The Antakalnis elderate is the second largest in Vilnius.

One of the greatest Lithuanian Baroque masterpieces, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, is situated in Antakalnis, as is Sapieha Palace ("Sapiegų rūmai"). Sapieha Palace is surrounded by the only surviving Baroque-style park in Lithuania, which contains the oldest linden tree in Vilnius.

Antakalnis is home to the historically important Antakalnis Cemetery, where the victims of the January Events in 1991, killed by the Soviet Army, are buried; their graves are often visited, since they are considered national heroes of Lithuania.

The Antakalnis elderate includes the favourite recreational area and prestigious cottage district Valakampiai, where two river beaches have been established. The current and former President of Lithuania, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, and other state officials reside in the Turniškės neighborhood of Antakalnis.

The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University lies in Kairėnai, the settlement in the eastern part of the district.

Famous people

Famous Lithuanians having resided in Antakalnis elderate:
*Valdas Adamkus, the current President of Lithuania
*Algirdas Brazauskas, a former President and former Prime Minister of Lithuania
*Rolandas Paksas, a former President of Lithuania
*Andrius Kubilius, a former Prime Minister of Lithuania
*Vytautas Kernagis, actor and composer
*Andrius Mamontovas, a rock singer
*Virgilijus Noreika, an opera singer

Image gallery

References

External links

*lt icon [http://www.antakalnis.lt/index.php Antakalnis elderate official website]
*lt icon [http://galerija.antakalnis.lt/main.php?g2_itemId=6812 Antakalnis photogallery]
*en icon [http://www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/vilnius/en/venue?id=LIVIENW0048 Visitor's guide to Antalkalnis Cemetery]