Giedraičiai

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Giedraičiai
nickname =
latd=55|latm=04|lats=40|latNS=N|longd=25|longm=15|longs=30|longEW=E
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Giedraičiai

image_shield = Giedraiciai COA.gif
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1=Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1=Aukštaitija
subdivision_type2=County
subdivision_name2=Utena County
subdivision_type3=Municipality
subdivision_name3=Molėtai district municipality
subdivision_type4=Eldership
subdivision_name4=Giedraičiai eldership
subdivision_type5=Capital of
subdivision_name5=Giedraičiai eldership
established_date = 1338
established_title= First mentioned

population_total = 778
population_as_of = 2001
timezone =EET
utc_offset =+2
timezone_DST =EEST
utc_offset_DST =+3

Giedraičiai is a town in Molėtai district municipality, Lithuania with about 770 residents. It is located some 45 km north of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, on the banks of Lake Kiementas. It is the capital of an elderate. The town, according to a local legend founded by Duke Giedrius, is first mentioned in written sources in 1338 when Grand Duke Gediminas signed a peace treaty with the Teutonic Knights. For a long time it was the centre of Giedraičiai family estate. It is known that since 1777 the town had a parish school. A hundred years later it was reorganized to a grammar, and later to middle school. Today the high school is named after Antanas Jaroševičius, a painter who in 1912 published an album of Lithuanian crosses. The school building houses a small museum about local history.

In 1410 Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle was built. It was rebuilt in 1809 by Bishop of Samogitia Józef Giedroyć (lt:Juozapas Giedraitis) in the Classicism style. In 1838, after his death and according to his wishes, Józef Giedroyć's heart was inlaid into one of the walls. In the mid-19th century a new bell tower was built. It is interesting because of unusual design: stone walls are decorated with red bricks.

In 1920 the town witnessed fights between Lithuanians and Poles led by Lucjan Żeligowski. After the Polish-Lithuanian War, Żeligowski staged a fake rebellion by Polish army units and captured Vilnius on October 9, 1920. His troops were advancing further, but were stopped near Giedraičiai and Širvintos on November 17-21. League of Nations interfered and the fighting stopped, but the disputes over the Vilnius region were not resolved. The town commemorates the victims with a monument which has survived the Soviet regime. On ornament from the monument, a sword and a trumpet, is used in the coat of arms of the town.

Molėtai Aero Club (ICAO airport code: EYMO) is located some 7 km north of Giedraičiai.

References

# cite book |last=Semaška |first=Algimantas |title=Kelionių vadovas po Lietuvą: 1000 lankytinų vietovių norintiems geriau pažinti gimtąjį kraštą |edition=4th ed. |year=2006 |publisher=Algimantas |location=Vilnius |id=ISBN 9986-506-90-4 |pages=273-274

External links

* [http://www.utenosapskritis.info/index.php?kas=vdb&miestas&miestas=Moletai&seniunija=Giedraiciai Photo gallery]
* [http://www.heli.lt/baze.htm Molėtai Aero Club]