In 1387, Lithuania became the last European nation to convert to Christianity. However, Romuva, the old, native Lithuanian religion, did not die out. In fact, it’s in the middle of a resurgence, with the number of followers doubling in recent years.
What do a paper bag, a sheep, a duck, a rooster, and hot air have to do with Lithuania's most beloved hobby?
On one day in 1989, two million people formed Baltic Way: the longest human chain in history. It connected three capitals and represented unity and freedom.
When thinking about the oldest universities in Europe, the first that come to mind are probably Oxford or the Sorbonne. That would be a good guess, as those are indeed among the ten oldest universities in the world, most of which were founded in the 13th century or earlier.
The whole of Europe can be divided into two parts, just based on the name of this staple drink - tea. The only countries that escape this division are the former members of the Polish-Lithuania commonwealth. So, what can we glean from this fact?
A city foretold by an iron wolf, built by a pagan Duke, developed by Christian kings, drowning in green vegetation, and home to hundreds of angels – Vilnius might just be the most exceptional European capital.
Klaipeda is the main port of Lithuania and the second largest in the Baltic Sea by tonnage. Around 40 million tons of cargo are shipped here annually by almost 7,000 vessels that begin or continue their journey in this hub.
"Mariupolis 2," a documentary film by Mantas Kvedaravičius, was named the Best in Europe in 2022. Mantas was murdered by the Russian Army in Mariupol while shooting it.
There is no other city in Lithuania where social, political, and cultural trends are reflected in architecture to such an extent. The history of the past few centuries becomes crystal clear in Kaunas as the city gained its modern form only recently.
Sometimes it is called the most beautiful place in Lithuania. And there are thousands of reasons why – the Curonian Spit is a 98-kilometer-long peninsula that forms a lagoon separating Lithuania from the Baltic Sea.
Boasting a 17,000 sq. m space, €25 million investment, and five-year development, Šiauliai Airport's state-of-the-art hangar, the largest in the Baltic region, officially opened.
Lithuania's Interior Minister, Agnė Bilotaitė, in discussions with Baltic and Polish representatives in Warsaw, announces plans to close additional border crossings with Belarus.
As Taiwan's beer market diversifies, Lithuanian brews, particularly the notable "Ekstra," are gaining momentum, resonating with the tastes of the younger generation and reflecting global health trends.
Q2 2023 sees Lithuanian startups significantly boosting the economy, with a 15% increase in tax payments amounting to €93.8 million, and the employment sector expanding by 5%
In Lithuania, VMG is set to spearhead its industrial expansion with the inauguration of a state-of-the-art furniture factory in Akmene.
After a two-week transit, the Orlen Lietuva oil refinery welcomes a colossal 100-meter reactor, weighing 2.5 thousand tons, for a 970 million euro upgrade, targeting full operation by 2025.
Lithuania’s Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas urges to revisit its stance on the Convention on Cluster Munitions amid global debates on the weapon's ethics.
Lithuanians, lured by lower prices, boosted their spending in Poland to 3.2 million euros, marking a 2% increase from the previous year, especially on school supplies and essentials.
Lithuania's public sector embarks on a sustainable journey with a €38 million EU boost for electric and hydrogen transport.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki discuss a plan to reroute Ukrainian grain exports through Baltic ports, capable of handling 25 million tons annually.
Defying economic predictions, Lithuania's economy has displayed remarkable resilience with a surprising 2.8% GDP growth in the second quarter.
Amidst evolving immigration patterns in 2023, Lithuania experiences a significant increase in foreign residency.
Baltic states, including Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, have reached a significant agreement to disconnect from the Russian-controlled by early 2025
The ambitious plans anticipate a further tripling of capacity by the year 2025
The funds reached 11 start-ups under the InoStartas program, with plans to fund more projects, reinforcing Lithuania's burgeoning tech industry.
The poll indicates that the issue of inflation and living expenses has seen a 7-point dip since the start of the year.
Lithuania wants to increase competition and the range of financial services. Poland is natural candidate.
Main goal: To Increase R&D investments to 3% of national GPD
Bertalan Farkas (Hungarian), Mirosław Hermaszewski (Polish), Vladimir Remek (Czechoslovakian), and Franz Viehböck (Austrian) were among the first astronauts, or cosmonauts as they were called in the Soviet space program, from Central Europe.
On the other hand public institutions continue to maintain a high degree of trust
Over €400 million will be allocated to this initiative, with Lithuania alongside 15 other European Union nations
One of two competing bidders is a mystery. Could it possibly be Polish Orlen?
Today NATO leaders are meeting in Vilnius for a summit to discuss Ukraine's NATO membership prospects and defence funding.
"Via Baltica" is a major highway project in Lithuania. The plan is to expand and improve the existing road by constructing a four-lane highway from Kaunas to the Latvian border.
Lithuania's central bank would gladly welcome the entry of German banks into the country's banking sector, in an attempt to increase competition.
Anyone who grew up in the early 2000s knows "Gladiator" by Ridley Scott. Yet another Hollywood movie that came out only a year later also tapped into the sword-and-sandals success of its Golden Globe-winning predecessor - but with a Central European twist.
The largest event of its kind in Lithuania, posing a significant challenge for the country's institutions.
The revolution against the Soviets took different and unique forms in each country in the Eastern Bloc. In Estonia - it took the form of choirs.
The biotech industry has always been one of the most promising fields in the Lithuanian economy. But the growth it has experienced in the last decade was unexpected for everyone. Since 2010 it has grown tenfold and now contributes around 2.5% to the country's GDP.
What led to the collapse of the Soviet Union? There are many possible answers – rock and jeans, the Pope, Americans, hippies, Gorbachev, and nationalism. But what first comes to the minds of those who lived through these times are two terms – perestroika and glasnost.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of the largest states in 17th-century Europe. But despite being a confederation, it is most widely regarded as a primarily Polish entity. So just how important was the role of Lithuania in the union?
Lithuanian lasers are very well-known worldwide, with an estimated 10% of world scientific lasers made in the country. This is the story of how a small country has become a powerhouse in innovative laser technology.
A distant relative of Spanish gazpacho, the cold soup of Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia involves beetroot instead of tomato. The one ingredient they do share is cucumber. Both suit their respective climates at either end of Europe.
Lithuania is one of the few European countries where football does not reign supreme. There are many reasons for this, but the most important is that basketball here has always been closely related to its historical ups and downs.
The fall of the Soviet Union seemed like a miracle for those that lived through the 70s and 80s. Many people could not believe what was happening until it happened – on 11 March 1990, Lithuania declared independence.
In 1937 Walter Zapp developed the Minox subminiature camera, a boon to real-life 007s across the world. His invention opened up the possibility of quickly and covertly smuggling countless thousands of pages of secret materials out from behind enemy lines.
Recurring summer heatwaves force many of us to turn to tested tricks of staying cool, such as wearing that favorite linen top, having the mid-day cool shower, or finally putting that souvenir fan to good use. But what to eat when it is just too hot?
Although now widespread in the Anglo-Saxon world, "egg tapping" very likely has ties to Central European Easter customs.
In Kruszyniany, a small village in northeastern Poland, you can still experience the culture (and even cuisine) of the Tartar. Steppe Warriors were introduced as a lethal weapon against heavy German cavalry. The last Tartar families integrated into a colorful mix of cultures and religions along the eastern borders of Poland.
In Lithuania's capital, pedestrian crossing lights recently got a makeover as part of the celebration to commemorate 100 years of women’s right to vote in the country. Lights featuring figures wearing skirts now dot the intersections of a bustling Vilnius neighborhood.
When the Fiddler on the Roof praised his home village, what part of Central Europe did he have in mind?
Books are probably the last things that come to mind when you hear the word “illegal.” Crazy as it sounds, this was once the reality in Lithuania. And it wasn’t just books – it was everything from newspapers to shop signs - which sparked a lucrative smuggling trade.
Today’s race for the tallest building in the world is usually a competition between the United Arab Emirates and China. However, a few short centuries ago, St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn held the title. (At least, maybe it did.)
Lithuania has always been at the crossroads between East and West, with hardly any moment in history when the people were not fighting for their freedom. The 20th century is no exception, but exactly then, a brand-new idea of ensuring security emerged.
Europos Park is a “monument valley” on the outskirts of Vilnius to celebrate the spot being exact center of Europe. But the celebration was a bit hasty, as now one of claimants to the title is 11 km away.
Cepelinai dumplings, the fist-sized Lithuanian delicacies, derive their name from Zeppelins - the long, cylindrical airships of the early 20th century to which they bear a striking resemblance. And like their dirigible counterparts, cepelinai will leave you high... on carbs.
The 20th century: a time when everyone wanted to touch the sky, but few were thinking about the dangers. Apart from one whose work was centered around the question of, “How can one survive if things go wrong?”
Perched high atop the list of countries with the most literate people in the world are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania... and North Korea. While the first three have some solid proof behind the statistics, the fourth makes the list based on more dubious claims.
Some say that the woods in Poland's Masurian Lake District harbor a secret: that an abandoned channel project from the Polish Lake District to the Baltic Sea wasn’t only for an inland trade route - it was to provide access to a secret German WW2 era submarine shipyard.
The Lithuanian medical startup Oxipit has harnessed AI and Machine Learning into radiology. By scanning and analyzing chest radiographs (CXRs), ChestEye and ChestLink, the apps detect pulmonary module signs of pneumothorax and other lung diseases.
This award-winning promotional campaign for the capital of Lithuania will make you pant and scream.
In the north of the 3 Seas Region, you can find a land adorned in a green gown of forests and crowned with the gold of sandy beaches. With her majesty accentuated by blue jewels of lakes, Lithuania is a mysterious land where the tales of old don’t seem old at all.
The most fascinating medieval castles are those which were impossible to force by the enemy. And, of course, those haunted by ghosts. Trakai Castle belongs to both categories.
Surrounded by entirely different language groups, the language Lithuanians speak is closer to Sanskrit than anything else.
At 16 square kilometers, the Lithuanian enclave of the Republic of Paulava was one of the tiniest countries in the known world. It was a progressive realm where personal freedom was protected, and even peasants could own land.
Laser beams from a small Central Eastern European country are beginning to reach the farthest corners of the world. How did Lithuania become a giant in the laser industry, and how have their lasers become such an export hit, playing a significant in their economy?
Who knows if it's the diet or just something in the air, but three out of the five countries that produce the most female models per capita are in the Baltic region: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
The fragile situation created by a Christian kingdom vs a Christian knightly order pressured medieval Polish lawyers to expand on an ancient Roman idea.
Thanks to significant economic growth in the Three Seas region over the last few decades, housing prices have risen accordingly. In today's housing market, where can you find the best deals, and which cities are the most expensive?
The government in Sofia is taking measures to replace Russian gas ahead of the warming season this winter while also helping Ukraine to survive the Russian’s Army’s onslaught in the Donbas.
Natural gas will now arrive in Lithuania from across the world to a floating regasification unit fully owned by the state.
The Baltic country is preparing the construction of its first offshore wind park to start in 2024.