The elegant resorts of Lithuania

Birštonas  and  Druskininkai – the elegant resorts of Lithuania

Dzūkija, also called Dainava, is the southeast ethnic region of Lithuania. Mineral water springs from the depth of the earth became the gold of this region. Healing powers of the water conditioned poor villages to turn into resorts well known not only in Lithuania, but in Europe as well. Birštonas situated in the Nemunas Loops Regional Park since old is a place for recreation and entertainment, one of the best and most elegant resorts in Lithuania. It was mentioned first in 1382, in the New Prussian Chronicle by Vygandas Marburgietis. Then it was a wooden Birštonas castle. In the 15-18^th centuries it used to be a hunting estate for nobility, especially liked by Vytautas the Great. In 1518, a settlement by the estate is already called a town. In the 15-16^th centuries, there was a royal resort in Birštonas, where Grand Dukes of Lithuania Kazimieras Jogailaitis, Aleksandras, Žygimantas Senasis, Žygimantas Augustas used to rest. After salty springs were researched, a resort was established in 1851. During WWII the town suffered minor losses. Present Birštonas continues long-standing resort tradition. The town is famous for drinking mineral water Vytautas, Birutė, Vaidilutė, Rūta. People come here to get treatment for digestion, vestibular apparatus, circulation, gynaecological, renal, respiratory system diseases. Sanatoria Tulpė, Versmė and Eglė function all year round. Physiotherapeutic treatment is provided as well. Local mud is used for treatment. There are many hotels, two guesthouses, Birštonas sports centre. Boat trips, hot-air balloon flights, horse-riding, carriage rides are offered.

The beauty of nature – 82 percent of Birštonas municipality is on the territory of one of the largest and most picturesque Nemunas Loops Regional Park. Central Town Park covering 25 ha is in the very town. Part of it is for active rest and tourism, while the second part is for peaceful leisure. There is Path of Sculptures with works of Lithuanian sculptors and Nemunas Loops Path formed by boulders brought from different areas.

Speaking about free of charge procedures and services, there is mineral water pavilion Birutės villa, where one can lie down, take a rest, breath in air saturated by minerals, taste herbal tea. There is a basin of mineral water and a fountain in it. As the pavilion is a close structure, one can visit it in any weather.

Kurhaus. While in the town centre, attention is attracted by a green colour wooden building of an interesting shape. It is Kurhaus of Birštonas, one of few buildings of the type in Lithuania, which survived. The word kurhaus comes from German meaning a rest house with concert hall, dance hall with a buffet. During interwar period, Birštonas people used to listen to jazz music there. Now there is a gallery, representative events take place.

Birštonas has the highest Observation Tower in Lithuania. It is from the top of it that the absolute beauty of the resort is seen. Observation platform is at the height of 45 m with the total height is 55 m. There many more interesting things in Birštonas: Vytautas’ Hill, The Yellow buvette, Kneipas’ garden, Church of St Anthony of Padua, Hill of Songs, promenade by the Nemunas River, restaurants, cafes and lots of other experiences and entertainments!

Dahlia is a special detail of Birštonas image. It became the symbol of Birštonas, when in the 19^th century the owner of Jundeliškės estate, a doctor and writer Stanislovas Moravskis brought bulbs of dahlia from St Petersburg and was the first to start growing these beautiful flowers in Lithuania. From here they spread all over Lithuania. Every year, at the end of the summer, Dahlias Festival takes place in Birštonas.

Coat-of-arms of Druskininkai is a shield featuring three stylized silver pines topped by three golden crowns in the blue background. Surrounded by pine tree forests at the confluence of the Nemunas and the Ratnyčia, it is famous for mineral water springs and therapeutic mud.

Druskininkai is first mentioned in 1596 in the Lithuanian Metrika. In 1794, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Stanislaw Poniatowski issued a decree proclaiming Druskininkai a health settlement. The resort history started after professor of chemistry Ignacy Fonberg of Vilnius University examined the water and evaluated it favourably. Then, in 1837, the tsar Nicholas I confirmed the project of establishing a resort. A lot changed in the 19^th century, when Doctor Jan Pilecki started working in Druskininkai. He was an extremely energetic, industrious man, who “conducted” life in Druskininkai for 36 years. It was he who initiated the construction of mineral water galleries, bathing places, guesthouses, kursaal (a resort home in German), laying out of a park. He organized concerts, parties, headed a theatre. It was he who sparked the true resort spirit in Druskininkai, which is live up to date.

Nowadays Druskininkai is a world-known balneological resort, in which treatment is by mineral water, mud and air. People come to Druskininkai not only because of sanatoria, health and SPA centres. The town and enviros are ideal for pedestrian and bicycle tours, water tourism is developed here, windsurfing including. Druskininkai offers a rich assortment of trerapeutic and healing services. The greatest number of them could be found in the largest Druskininkai health and recreation centre Grand SPA Lietuva. In 2011, this complex was certified by European quality certificate EuropeSpa med. The health centre Ratnyčėlė is one of the largest and most modern health centres in the Baltic countries. The health centre SPA Vilnius SANA is situated in the very centre of Druskininkai, in the former sanatorium Vilnius. It offers over 370 treatment and health improvement procedures. The greatest treasure of this SPA is a mineral water spring situated next to it, with high mineralization water running straight to the centre. Sanatorium Draugystė is a perfect combination of longstanding traditions and most advanced medical as well as SPA novelties, which is a result of successful usage of EU support. In 2011, using EU structural funding villa Kolonada and its café-gallery Mūza are famous for exceptional design and perhaps the tastiest coffee in Druskininkai.

Guests frequently compare Druskininkai to the beautiful Swiss resort parks. Vijūnėlė park is one of the most attractive leisure sites for walking. In spring, the park becomes a sea of blossoming 130 thousand narcissuses. Next to the pedestrian trail, 20 sakuras are growing. 4.5 km long bicycle roads are built.

Guests wishing water attractions are offered to visit Druskininkai Health and Leisure Centre AQUA covering 30 000 square metres. Tropical heat of +30 degrees Celcius, palms up to 9 metres tall, azure pool water, 22 baths equipped according to traditions of various countries of the world, exotic massages… Those longing for winter and snow should visit the Snow Arena, a close mountain skiing complex, one of the biggest in Europe, with the total length of ski runs exceeding 1100 metres. The Arena with artificial snow covering is one of the newest and most modern in the world. A pleasant temperature of minus 2-3 degrees Celcius is maintained all year round. Modern Swiss chair lifts can take up to 2 thousand people to the top an hour. The hoist CableWay connects the Snow Arena with the centre of the town.

Druskininkai is the town of M. K. Čiurlionis. In 1878, the family of Čiurlionis settled in Druskininkai. Living in parents’ house, the artist painted a lot, created music. This house now is a museum, in summer concerts of piano music take place. Druskininkai is the birthplace of the world famous sculptor of Jewish origin Jacques Lipchitz. The Jewish museum named after the sculptor displays his work.