Hill of Crosses

The site of a wooden castle in the Middle Ages, the hillfort today known as the Hill of Crosses became a natural stage where local villagers and townspeople started building crosses in commemoration of the fallen fighters of the 1863 uprising. It was chosen due to its remoteness, which helped people avoid Tsarist repression. After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, it quickly became a major site of pilgrimage. It owes its international fame primarily to Pope John II, who blessed the Hill with his visit back in 1993.

Praying for health, family well-being, and wish fulfilment, pilgrims leave crosses, rosaries, and other items on the HIll – a symbol of faith and hope. The crosses, often hand-made, are a valuable example of traditional Lithuanian cross-making, recognised as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.