Social program after the Conference

After the conference (14th of September, Friday, 2012) there will be several opportunities for participants visit several places. For this you will have to pay extra costs.

We invite you to visit:

Mental health care or child care institution.

Grūtas Park is a sculpture garden of Soviet-era statues and exposition of other Soviet ideological relics from the times of Lithuanian SSR. Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur V.Malinauskas, the park is located near Druskininkai. The collection of the museum consists of monumental sculptures and bas-reliefs of “heroes” of the Soviet period symbolizing brutality and absurdity of the Soviet system and occupation, reflects manipulation of the facts of history and shows the distorted memory of history. After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, various Soviet statues were taken down and dumped in different places. V.Malinauskas requested the Lithuanian authorities to grant him the possession of the sculptures, so that he could build a privately financed museum. This Soviet-theme park was created in the wetlands of the Dzūkija National park. Many of its features are recreations of Soviet Gulag prison camps: wooden paths, guard towers, and barbed-wire fences. Grūtas Park and its founder Malinauskas won the 2001 Ig Nobel Peace Prize.
THE PRICE – 10 euro
More information: http://www.grutoparkas.lt/index-en.htm

Trakai Island Castle

The historical capital of Lithuania is Trakai which is otherwise known as the ‘town of lakes’. Trakai town owns a unique castle which is the only one of its type in the entire Eastern Europe. The castle is surrounded by waters on all four sides and is called the Trakai Island Castle. Though constructed in 1410 just after the famous Battle of Grünenwald as a defense fortress, it was turned into a residence of Grand Dukes of Lithuania Vytautas and Kęstutis. Later on, the Trakai Island Castle was used as a prison. At these times, however, it was almost completely neglected. The Trakai Island Castle today is the hub where plenty of concerts, events and festivals are held. In Lithuania, the castle is also considered to be one of the most beautiful historical monuments ever. In 1962, a museum was opened here. The Trakai Island Castle is also referred as the ‘Little Marienburg’. It was built by the famous Grand Duke Kestutis and later completed by his son Vytautas, who died in the Trakai Island Castle in 1430. These rulers were very important characters in Lithuanian history thus the Trakai Island Castle had also had an important role in Lithuanian history. Trakai Island Castle is an incredible architectural example of Gothic style. The castle has a high and well-constructed strong wall all around it and also a forecastle which was built for the purpose of protection. According to historical sources, the Trakai Island Castle was also equipped with a mechanism for forced-air heating and had many lovely wooden galleries, paintings of stained glass, murals, secret passages… Visitors now can come and visit the Trakai Island Castle museum which reflects the former beauty and takes everyone many centuries back in time.
THE PRICE – 10 euro
More information: http://www.trakaimuziejus.lt/#/lan=en