Of all the great things Lithuania has to offer, visiting the Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas) was absolutely the most interesting (weird, unsettling, and fascinating) experience I had during my 10 day trip through the Baltic States.
Description from Wikipedia:
Kryžių kalnas, or the Hill of Crosses, is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising. Over the generations, not only crosses and crucifixes, but statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 55,000 in 1990 and 100,000 in 2006.
Disclaimer: This video is primarily a walk-through of the site. To exaggerate on my personal feelings walking through the first time, I have edited this video to match a far creepier tone and ambiance. In reality, the site had much more color, and was not as haunting as I make it out to be. If you are ever in Lithuania, I highly recommend you check it out.
28 авг 2024
