Hill of Crosses

The Hill of Crosses, one of the most famous symbols of Catholic Lithuania attracting crowds of visitors from all over the world, is located in close proximity to Šiauliai.  

People started placing crosses on this hill, in a form of a saddle, after the suppression of the Lithuanians’ liberation uprising in 1831. People are placing crosses here asking for heavenly graces or in a sign of gratitude for these or commemorating some significant events in personal or national life.

Hill of Crosses, Lithuania

The hill features a diverse panorama of crosses ranging from the most expressive sculptural compositions decorated with wood carvings to austere ascetic ones; some of them are 3-4 m high, others – of human height (over 20,000), and an infinite variety of tiny ones placed by tourists wishing their dreams to come true. Presently, the Hill of Crosses is the most frequented sacral site in Lithuania.

Hill of Crosses, Lithuania

(Sources: Lithuanian State Department of Tourism, MarvaoGuide.com)