Zarasai (photos T. Tumalovičius)

Zarasai (photos A. Samuilov)

 

 

         Once upon a time, a family of giants lived on a hill. The giants had a son called Azerasas, who was cheerful, nimble and fond of playing “hide and seek“. Mother and Father loved their son very much and often played with him. One day all the family went to the forest. The young giant sweet-talked his parents into play “hide and seek“ with him, and then hid on a hill in the forest. Mum and Dad walked around the forest trying to find their son, but couldn’t find him anywhere. Then Dad started calling out his son’s name: Azerasai! Azwerasai! Azerasai! But an echo came back: Zarasai! Zarasai! Zarasai! Mum also started calling her son’s name, but the echo repeated: Zarasai! Zarasai! Zarasai! The voices weke the young giant, who had fallen asleep in his hiding place, and he rushed to his parents. They were all happy to find each other again, and returned home. Later, the people who settled on the same hill named their town Zarasai in commemoration of the family of giants...

(Text J. Kukonenko)

 

Zarasai town is situated over 140 km away from Vilnius, 180 km from Kaunas and hardly 3 km from Lithuanian – Latvian state border.

             Today Zarasai is the centre of the region, town with respectful past and present that celebrated already the 500^th anniversary of its existence.

            The date of establishment of the settlement is supposed to be the date when the first church occurred. In the book “Chronology and Statistics of Lithuanian Churches” by J.Gimbutas it is written that the wooden church was built in Zarasai before 1508 and it is supposed that the beginning of Zarasai town could be 1506. There also exists another, traditional opinion that Zarasai occurred in the 15th cent. So at the turn of 15^th and 16^th centuries there was a manor in the place of the present town.

             The construction of a new road from 1830 until 1836 was a major development in the life of the township. The road connected St. Petersburg with Warsaw, linking Daugpilis, Zarasai, Utena, Ukmergė and Kaunas on the way. For Zarasai it appeared an important communication artery and lent the town role of a point of connection.

            Some essential shifts took place over the second decade of the independent Lithuania. The status of a health resort and summer recreation site conferred on Zarasai in 1932 had redrawn the future prospects of the town.             

            At the 10^th of September 2008 cabinet of ministers of Lithuania decided to give a status of resort place to Zarasai city. Zarasai is one of the most beautiful towns in Aukštaitija surrounded by blue lakes and pinewoods breathing with health. It pleases a traveller and diversifies the peculiar beauty of Aukštaitija with the unique layout of central part of the town, laky landscape of its environs, picturesque hills and green forests.

 

 

         On the Day of Culture, 15 April 2008, great news reached the ears of the people of Zarasai  - City was declared the Cultural Capital of Lithuania! Zarasai had outdone all its 39 competitors in a contest arranged by the public institution ,,Vilnius – European Capital Culture 2009“ the project ,,Culture as Living Water“ presented by Zarasai district municipality administration was announced to be the most intersting, innovative and valuable project among all 57 which had been submitted for the contest.

         Zarasai was the Cultural Capital of Lithuania. The first! The town had been granted the honour, and given the responsibility to write in the first page of Lithuanian Cultural Capital history.

         The idea of the project ,,Culture as Living Water“ was to reveal the entire cultural process of Lithuania in a single colourful fair: presenting the best cultural projects, movements and events, and introducing their authors, performers and partners; and sharing ideas for future Lithuanian cultural projects.

         The aim of the project was to show Lithuania a new attractive cultural space – the unique island in lake Zarasas, where, in the untouched natural surroundings, music, dance, poetry, art and theatre could merge into one whole.

         “ Culture as Living Water“ embodied the belief that like life – giving water, culture can clean, renew and give people new ideas and the strength to create. And, there was the wish to renew the cultural life of Zarasai.

  (Text D. Pulokaitė)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sėlių square of Zarasai town

The Zarasai church of St. Mary’s ascension

The museum of Zarasai region  

Great island of Zarasas lake

 

 

Camping "Zarasai“

Guest houses  

Private apartments, B&B  

 

 

 

 

Zarasai aeroclub  

Massage cabinet