Siauliai: A Closer Look

Siauliai today is an important administrational centre and University city. It was founded in the 13th century and grew to be Lithuania's second biggest city by the end of the 19th century. Heavily
destroyed in World War II, the city was shaped by the industrial development during Soviet times.

The Hill of Crosses near Siauliai

Main attractions
The most famous destination in Siauliai, the Hill of Crosses is located about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed after 1831. Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here.The number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100,000 in 2006.

The only basketball museum in Lithuania is located in Joniškis (only 40 km from Šiauliai) and was founded in 2009 by Leonas Karaliūnas. The museum presents not only the Joniškis, but also the history of Lithuanian basketball. Here we find the world and the first basketball game photos, and different times, basketball medals, articles, autographs of famous Lithuanian stars. (web: www.joniskiokrepsiniomuziejus.lt)

Siauliai is also known by a lot of various unique and specialized museums: Bicycle Museum, Museum of Photography, Radio and TV Museum, Railway Museum, Cat's Museum, Siauliai Sports Museum.

Siauliai: Basketball History

Center Robertas Javtokas hails from Siauliai

The history of basketball in Siauliai began in 1925, when the Siauliai district championships took place. The city's first teams to participate in the Lithuanian National Championships in the 1960s until the 1980s were "Šarunas", "Žalgiris" and "Kelininkas". But the main force of Siauliai basketball is the Basketball club "Siauliai", founded in 1994.

The very first professional club debuted in the Lithuanian Basketball League and later in European tournaments (Korac Cup).

BC Siauliai has been the third best Lithuanian team behind the Lithuanian basketball giants Lietuvos Rytas and Žalgiris for the last seven years in a row. They finished third in the Baltic Basketball League in the 2009/2010 season.

The team is head coached by Antanas Sireika (the Lithuania, EuroBasket 2003 champions team coach). Donatas Slanina and Mindaugas Žukauskas started their careers in this club.

Other famous sons of Siauliai are Mindaugas Žukauskas and Robertas Javtokas.

Siauliai: Facts And Figures

Population: 125,000

Area: 81 sq km

Official website: www.siauliai.lt

Distances: Alytus 211 km, Kaunas 180 km, Klaipeda 170km, Panevezys 82 km, Vilnius 210 km

Distances from Kleipeda to border crossing points:
Poland (Ogrodniki) 290 km, Latvia (Kalviai) 60 km, Kaliningrad Region (Sovetsk) 190 km, Belarus (Asmiany) 290 km

Siauliai: Recommended Places To Eat

There are four big multi markets in Šiauliai with a lot of various places for eating. The closest (and the biggest) to the Arena is "Akropolis" (Aido 8, www.akropolis.lt ), called The Capital of shopping and entertainment witha variety of restaurants of different tastes.

In the center of the city is the Fashion and Entertainment Center "Saulės miestas" (Tilzes 109, www.saulesmiestas.lt) with "Bravaria", "Fortas restaurant", "Euro pub", "Mambopizza" and other places.

In the central part of the city are several places for eating: Lithuanian cuisine, music club tavern "Juone pastuoge" (Ausros aleja 31 A), "Čili pica" (Vilniaus 128), Entertainment club "Mega" (Rudes 27 A), Bar "Pegasas" (Vilniaus 225), "Martini" (Draugystes 25), Chinese dishes "Salingas" (Tilzes 168), "Savana" (Stoties 9), "Neopolis" (Vilniaus 47).