Antakalnis
| Antakalnis | |
|---|---|
| Eldership | |
|
St Peter and St Paul's Church against Antakalnis' hills | |
  Antakalnis Location of Antakalnis | |
| Coordinates: 54°45′N 25°22′E / 54.750°N 25.367°ECoordinates: 54°45′N 25°22′E / 54.750°N 25.367°E | |
| Country |
 Lithuania |
| County | Vilnius County |
| Municipality | Vilnius city municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 77.2 km2 (29.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 38,940 |
| • Density | 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Antakalnis (lit. 'the place on hills') is an eldership in the Vilnius city municipality, Lithuania. Antakalnis is one of the oldest historical suburbs of Vilnius City. It is located in the eastern section of Vilnius, along the left bank of the Neris River, with the river running along the whole western side of the district.[1] The Antakalnis eldership is the second largest in Vilnius, with an area of 77.2 km².
One of the greatest Lithuanian Baroque masterpieces, the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, is situated in Antakalnis, as is Sapieha Palace (Sapiegų rūmai). Sapieha Palace is surrounded by the only surviving Baroque-style park in Lithuania, which contains the oldest linden tree in Vilnius.
Antakalnis is home to the historically important Antakalnis Cemetery, where victims of the January Events in 1991, killed by the Soviet Army, are buried; their graves are often visited, as they are considered national heroes of Lithuania.
The Antakalnis eldership includes the favourite recreational area and prestigious cottage district Valakampiai, where two river beaches have been established. The current and former President of Lithuania, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, and other state officials reside in the Turniškės neighborhood of Antakalnis.
The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University lies in Kairėnai, the settlement in the eastern part of the district.
The Jewish surnames Antokoletz, Antokolsky and variants derive from the Polish form of the name of the city, Antokol.
Famous people
Famous Lithuanians having resided in Antakalnis eldership:
- Valdas Adamkus, former President of Lithuania
- Algirdas Brazauskas, former President and Prime Minister of Lithuania
- Rolandas Paksas, former President of Lithuania
- Andrius Kubilius, former Prime Minister of Lithuania
- Vytautas Kernagis, actor and composer
- Andrius Mamontovas, a rock singer
- Virgilijus Noreika, an opera singer
- Sofija Veiverytė, artist/painter
- Markas Antokolskis, Lithuanian - Russian sculptor
- Janina Degutytė, poet
- Paulius Širvys, poet
References
- ↑ (Lithuanian) "Vilniaus mikrorajonas Antakalnis" Antakalnis eldership official website. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
External links
- (Lithuanian) Antakalnis photogallery
- (English) Visitor's guide to Antalkalnis Cemetery
 |  | ||