The strength of Sudargas Region in harmony of nature, history and literature | Virtual tour

On the left bank of the Nemunas River, close to the frontier between Lithuania and Kaliningrad Region, in the outskirts of Šakiai District, Sudargas complex of five hillforts keeps alive the memory of battles of Lithuanians against Crusaders. The said complex is considered the second important set of hillforts of Lithuania in the historical, archeological and cultural aspects after Kernavė complex of hillforts.

Žydkapiai (in Lithuanian - the Jewish Cemetery) is the second hillfort of Grinaičiai group in the western direction; its name is related to the abundant Jewish diaspora that lived in Sudargas Village since the 18th century and chose this flat picturesque hill as a burial-ground. The archaeological finds (2005-2012) show that people settled there before Christ.

In the end of Basakoju Path (its name in Lithuanian means “The Path for Barefooted”), a swinging bridge and a cage-like summerhouse with benches are arranged. After the foot massage, it is very pleasant to wash them in the Nemunas River and to relax. A visit of the Path is free of charge. A good mood is guaranteed!

Basakoju Path that’s length up to the Nemunas River is 187 metres is arranged in Sudargas pine forest. A promenade on the surface covered with natural substances provides abundant benefits. It is a pleasant attraction in the open air and simultaneously an excellent way for improving the own health. The beginning of the Path is marked with a signboard made by a local woodcarver.

The abundant recreational facilities provide opportunities to arrange various events in the open air, such as family celebrations or feasts of the staff, excursions, sporting contests or camps. There are two bonfire sites, a site for children games, swings, arbors and various outdoor training equipment for active recreation of the local population and guests.

It is an exclusive object. The amphitheatre created by the nature and artfully adapted by people is situated in the centre of the territory of the hillforts – the pine forest. Here cultural, entertaining and sporting vents are arranged.

In Sudargas, there is a sculpture related to the book “The Catcher in the Rye” by Jerome David Salinger. The sculpture reminds the most famous creation of the writer and his Lithuanian roots. His grandfather was a Jew of Lithuanian origin who left Sudargas for America in the 19th century. The sculpture created by sculptor Nerijus Erminas in 2020 is a hollow silhouette of a human as if standing on the edge of a precipice. The author of the idea is R. Skaisgirys.

In 2007, on commemoration of the 690-year anniversary of the combustion of Sudargas castle, the monument “In memoriam of defenders of Sudargas castle in 1317-2007“ (sculptors V. Cikana and A. Cikana) was unveiled close to Bevardis (Nameless) Hillfort. It was a monument of general Sudargas who defended the region against Crusaders in the early 14th century. The said monument turned into a symbol of historical education related to Sudargas and an object of attraction.

Vorpilis is the most impressive hillfort in Sudargas. From its top, views of exciting beauty can be seen in all the directions. After the exhaustive archaeological research on the base of informative artifacts, the hillfort in course of its renovation became similar to its image that took place in the first millennium or even the early second millennium.

The stony Catholic church of the neoclassical style was built in Sudargas in 1929. It was burst in 1944, during the World War II. In the period of renaissance of Lithuania, the parish cleaned the territory of the church. The foundation of the church in the centre of the borough provides a specific aura. At present, the sacral site is used for arrangement of concerts.

The monument was built in 2004, on commemoration of the 100-year anniversary of Lithuanian press recovery (sculptor V. Cikana). At the monument, a resident of Sudargas or a guest of the borough can be often found. On a commemoration of The Day of Lithuanian Press Recovery, Language and Book, the paying homage to book-hawkers at the monument turns into the space of thoughtful educative communication between generations.

The virtual tour „The strength of Sudargas Region in harmony of nature, history and literature“ is a modern interactive measure for access to culture based on decisions of recent technologies is intended for improving the visibility of Sudargas region and its further strengthening. The local activities under the Project are directly related to preservation of culture, heritage and traditions. We create this 30 minute virtual tour in three languages (Lithuanian, Russian and English) and it describes places of interest in Sudargas, such as 5 hillforts, the church, the cultural monuments for book-hawkers; in addition, we provide views of the traditional Saint John‘s Eve festivities upon striving to make the region more prominent, visible and attractive.

The Project was implemented by the club „Saudargo piliakalnių aidai” /„The Echo of Sudargas Hillforts”/
The Project was financed by Šakiai Region Group of Local Activities and Šakiai District Municipality
The Project Contractor: UAB „Inverse ir Gidas 360”

It is not precisely known when Jews started settling in Sudargas. In some sources, it is stated that Jews settled in Sudargas about a middle of the 18th century; however, some facts attest that they appeared there much earlier. In the 1730th, it was talked already about 17 Jewish families and their house of worship; the said concentration had all the specific features: maintained its native language and culture, did not assimilate with the local population and strived for good neighborly relations with them only. The Jewish diaspora was increasingly growing: as early as in 1860, it was mentioned that 785 residents of the total population of the borough (860) are of Jewish origin. Sudargas as if turned into a Jewish settlement. The said numbers reflect the growing and development of Sudargas borough only; however, they do not reflect the development of surrounding villages of the same parish. Jews chose a presentable hillfort of Grinaičiai group as their cemetery. In Sudargas, Jews lived up to the beginning of the World War II. In the period of the World War II, the hillfort suffered very much because of building the defense structures and unsustainable human activities.

It is the first object of Grinaičiai group in the east. Balnakalnis („The saddle hill“) is oblong, but not wide. The formations in the southern and the northern ends provide an exceptional shape to the hillfort: it is similar to a back of a horse fit for placing a saddle. In Lithuania, hillforts of this type are usually referred to as „balnakalnis“ (i.e. saddle hills). The archaeological artifacts found in the depth of 1.5- 1.7 m should be dated to the limit between the period before Christ and the period after Christ. The artifacts found in the upper layer (60-70 cm) are dated to the 5th-6th centuries anno Domini. Hillfort reconstruction works are dated to the same period.

The monument was built in 2015 on an initiative of the local population and using the funds collected by it for this purpose. On the monument, a map of the parish with names of 26 villages was embossed; in addition, the number of homesteads in them and their population were specified. In Sudargas parish, there were congregations of three confessions: Catholics, Evangelical Lutherans and Israelites. The author of the monument’s idea was local resident - former exile J. Gylys.

Pilaitė Hillfort is a part of Burgaičiai group of hillforts. The hillfort suffered much in course of times. This impression is strengthened by the fact that the hillfort is very close to the watercourse of the Nemunas River. The archaeological artifacts found in the cultural layer it the depth of 30-40 cm allow supposing that it was arranged in the middle of the first millennium and abandoned in the 14th century.

In the period of Lithuanian press ban (1864-1904), priest Martynas Sederevičius (a successor of Motiejus Valančius) was very active in the battle for Lithuanianness. He was appointed to Sudargas parish in 1973. With an assistance of the local population, the priest rapidly formed a network of book-hawkers and increasingly extended it. His activities became particularly intensive when his friend Serafimas Laurynas Kušeliauskas came to Sudargas for permanent residence. M. Sederevičius was not only a priest and a dean; in addition, he was a teacher and even supported a construction of a Catholic school. He prepared and published 30 publications. M. Sederevičius died in 1907 and was buried in Sudargas cemetery. The monument was built in 1932 (author D. Ruseckas) thanks to efforts of members of Catholic federations Ateitis and Pavasaris (ateitininkai and pavasarininkai).