Traces of history

Šeštokai Railway Station was built under the reign of the Russian tsar. From here, the deportations of the brightest people of Lithuania to Siberia began on 14 June 1941. To commemorate these Lithuanian exiles, a cross and a monument were built in the square next to the railway station. After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence, Šeštokai became the Lithuanian gateway to Europe.

The ethnographic homestead of Pranas Dzūkas may remind you of your grandparents’ home. It’s a place where the younger generation can learn about the past, the generation that’s a bit older can remember their childhood, and the most senior generation will be reminded of times from their youth. The spacious buildings store large exhibits that include an oil press, wood chipping tool, threshing machine, etc. The homestead reflects the daily life of a Dzūkija villager in the beginning of the 20th century.

On 16 May 1945, one of the biggest battles between the Lithuanian partisans and the Soviet army took place in Kalniškė Forest. There was a fierce battle in which 44 partisans and a few hundred of their enemies were killed. Today, there is a monument commemorating the dead partisans in the battlefield of Kalniškė, where annual events honouring the fighters are held. You can also learn about the course of the battle and its history by walking along the Kalniškė Battlefield Trail.