Merkinė - the historical center of the region

Merkinė is one of the fastest growing new tourist centers in southern Lithuania. Merkinė attracts visitors with its unique history, nature and gastronomic experiences. Merkinė was once one of the four largest cities in the current territory of Lithuania and suffered great losses during the decades of occupation. The town was particularly affected by the bombings of World War II, losing not only the old town, but also huge Jewish community. The town is also famous for the fact that almost all the rulers of Lithuania and Poland visited and rested here, and in 1648, the ruler of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Władysław Vasa, died here. In the central square of the town, there is still a building associated with the place of the ruler's death, which is called the House of Vasa. The medieval importance of Merkinė is commemorated by the hillfort, which is located in one of the most beautiful places in the region and is visited by many tourists. Nearby is the site where the Merkinė royal manor once stood. Today, it is a particularly popular place because there is a restaurant with a beautiful view of the Merkinė area. In the old town of Merkinė, there is the oldest surviving church in southern Lithuania, the construction of which dates back to the 16th century. It has an exceptionally rich interior, some of the holy paintings date back to around 1600. In the museum located in the central square of Merkinė, in its basement you can find the remains of the Merkinė Town Hall, built in the 16th century. The town hall was demolished in 1887 as part of the Russian Empire's Russification program. On the outskirts of the town, there are still surviving town boundary pillars dating back to the 16th century. These are unique land management facilities, marking the times when Merkinė had Magdeburg city rights. One of these pillars, which was renovated at the end of the 18th century, was dedicated to commemorate the anniversary of the May 3 Constitution in Lithuania and Poland. In memory of the Jewish community of Merkinė, the building of the Merkinė Jewish School has survived to this day. The old Jewish cemetery in Merkinė is impressive, being the third largest surviving Jewish cemetery in all of Lithuania. The 20th century occupations are commemorated by a memorial dedicated to Lithuanian partisans. The occupiers buried the bodies of murdered Lithuanian freedom fighters at this site. Now there are dozens of crosses and a chapel at this site.

Merkinė fascinates not only with the depth of its history, but also with the beauty of its pure nature and the uniqueness of its landscape. At the confluence of four rivers (Nemunas, Merkys, Strauja and Stangė), picturesque valleys lie, islands surrounded by the Nemunas flow attract the eye, and forests rustle before the eyes. This is a sight that, like a calling card of this region, is etched in the memory of every traveler who has climbed the Merkinė hillfort at least once and gazed at the vastness that has opened up.

The town falls within the territory of the Dzūkija National Park. In total, the national park has 36 rivers and streams, hundreds of springs, differing in their origin, characteristics and histories. Impressive creations of nature: continental dune massifs, unique sources of Skroblaus (Boba's Garden), Ūla Eye Spring, Ūla Cliffs and Nemunas River Gorges. Dzūkija National Park has a special biodiversity. Boundless forest areas, meadows and floodplain meadows, raised bogs and lowlands, cold-water rivers and springs are a refuge for many plant and animal species.

Unicorn - coat of arms of the city of Merkinė since 1569

The building in Merkinė where the ruler of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Wladyslaw Waza, died

A 16th-century city boundary pillar near the town. KPC archive