A small town near Vilnius with a 19th-century neo-Gothic church and a local folk art museum. The town's name comes from Swiss settlers who lived here in the 1790s.
In this Lithuanian village named Šveicarija (Switzerland), you can visit the St. Charles Hall villa where poet Maironis wrote his famous works, attend Swiss film screenings at the local community center, and explore art exhibitions featuring both Lithuanian and Swiss artists.
Arts and Culture Today
The community center hosts Swiss film screenings every Friday evening. Local galleries exhibit works from Swiss artists throughout the year, with new exhibitions opening monthly. Pro Helvetia supports cultural projects that bring Swiss performers and writers to the village for workshops and presentations.
Community Activities
Join the Swiss-Lithuanian community group's monthly gatherings at the village square. The 38 Swiss residents who live here organize language exchange meetings every Tuesday evening. You'll find art workshops on weekends and traditional Swiss celebrations during national holidays.
Key Buildings and Sites
At St. Charles Hall villa, you can see the room where poet Maironis wrote some of his most important works, marked by a memorial plaque created by the Lithuanian-Swiss Community. The building's white facade and green shutters reflect typical Swiss architectural elements. The village's community center, housed in a renovated 19th-century building, contains a small exhibition about Swiss-Lithuanian connections.
Historical Connections
Italian architects who worked across Europe in the 16th century built several structures in Lithuania's major cities, including Vilnius, Kaunas, and Šiauliai. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Lithuanian scholars like Stays Salkauskis studied at Swiss universities before returning to work at institutions such as the University of Kaunas. The Rapperswil-Jona castle in Šveicarija maintains this connection through its Museum of Poland, established by Vilnius-born Vladislovas Broel-Plateris.
