Anyksciai

About

First mentioned in the 15th century, the medieval town of Anykščiai is known for its beautiful surroundings. Little remains of the town’s historic heritage, though its neo-Gothic church is the tallest church in the country. Visitors can immerse themselves in the surrounding pine forests on a gorgeous walk along the tree-top walking path, which provides stupendous views of the region’s natural beauty. This serene setting provides the perfect backdrop for the town’s narrow gauge railway, which visitors can ride to the lakeside resort of Rubikiai, or learn about this historic locomotive in the Narrow Railroad Museum. The town’s other museums of note are dedicated to the influential writers who once lived here - A. Baranauskas, Antanas Vienuolis-Žukauskas, and Brone Buivydaitė. Nearby, the Puntukas stone, which is the largest in the country, commemorates two other important figures in Lithuanian history - the pilots S. Darius and S. Girenas, who died attempting the first non-stop flight from New York to Lithuania.