Safe travel route for the weekend: Šiauliai through the car window

You can find the exact map and coordinates of all objects here.

More travel itineraries can be found here.

We hope that this route to Šiauliai invites travelers from all corners of Lithuania, so that you can start the route from anywhere that is most convenient for you. We will begin the description of the route from the entrance to Šiauliai from Vilnius, Panevėžys and other directions on this side of Lithuania.

When entering Šiauliai, follow the direction of the city center, go down Vilniaus street. If you see the “Vanda Kavaliauskienė Cat Museum” sign, follow their directions to the museum celebrating its 30th anniversary. If, due to quarantine or an after-hours visit, you can’t get into the museum, you’ll even see some really impressive cat sculptures next door.

1.Vanda Kavaliauskienė Cat Museum

Exact coordinates here

If you park your car near the museum, you can walk down Meškerių Street to Lake Talkša. The panorama of the city from here is a bit unusual. This is a great place to take a photo from across the lake with the Šiauliai City Cathedral. A great opportunity for a personal travel album or compliment on Facebook or Instagram is guaranteed. And for those who want to exercise at least a little, they can do it here in the newly equipped gym.

2. Talkša Beach

Exact coordinates here

Drive back to Vilniaus St., which will take you through the city center and past the legacy of Ch.Frenkel. It could be the name of your family’s residential villa, factory buildings, synagogue. Across the road, near the villa, a monument to this important personality was erected for Šiauliai.

Leave the car in the parking lot. From here, you can easily walk to Ch.Frenkel Villa and other related attractions. Also, you can walk to the sandy beach. Here in summer the fountain lights up, it is fun to play beach volleyball, swim.

3. Chaim Frenkel Leather Factory Workers Synagogue

1907 At the initiative and with the funds of Chaim Frenkel, a two-story brick synagogue was built for the Jews of the factory next to the tannery. It appeared on the site of a wooden synagogue that was once there. There were rooms on the first floor of the new synagogue for men to pray, and on the second floor for women. In the basement was a department for a synagogue servant who ordered and cared for the building and invited Jews to worship. The synagogue was dedicated to factory workers, but Jews from surrounding areas of the city also gathered here during the festivities.

During the Soviet era, the synagogue building was converted into a gymnasium, so the interior plan was changed: part of the windows were demolished, the altar was destroyed, and the living room on the ground floor was installed. To this day, only the exterior of the building has hardly changed.

4. City Beach and Poodle

5. Monument to Ch.Frenkel

In front of the village of Chaim Frenkel in 2014 A sculpture of Chaim Frenkel, one of the most famous industrialists in Šiauliai, with a height of 1.8 m (author Romas Kvintas) was built in The sculpture is placed on a pedestal marked with soles red. Ch.Frenkel is represented here as a calm person, sure of herself and at the same time warm and affectionate. The red footprints on the pedestal symbolize the famous waterproof red soles made by the Ch.Frenkel factory, which accounted for around 80 percent. factory outlet

Ch.Frenkel not only founded a world-famous leather factory, which employed almost 1,000 people, but was also responsible for the well-being of the townspeople. This industrialist maintained the Šiauliai Grandparents’ Shelter (now the central building of Šiauliai University), founded the Talmud Torah School (the current building of the Institute for Continuing Studies at Šiauliai University), a Jewish hospital (former polyclinic), built a Jewish house of worship, a synagogue, a children’s camp in Bubiai. and the Chaim Frenkel villa that adorns Šiauliai today.

In the spring, Sakura blooms near the Ch.Frenkel monument. So be sure to stop here to take photos of the flowers and the important person for Šiauliai: thanks to him, the industry flourished, his house still attracts tourists from all over the world. Look at his villa across the road and the surviving buildings of the leather factory.

6. Villa Chaim Frenkel

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Looking at Ch.Frenkel’s villa, don’t be surprised if a strange feeling overwhelms you. Only a vigilant passerby can see that this villa is a “glued” building from two identical houses, including a palace. And try to find at least 10 differences between those two sides. Don’t miss the opportunity to stop by Ch. The modern style park of Frenkel. There are concerts, celebrations and up to 1000 rizio bushes. Among them you can find the rose of President Gitan Nauseda.

Continuing the journey down Ežero Street, you will come to another Šiauliai celebrity: the Golden Boy, Sundial Square. It is possible to pass, but it is also possible to test the acoustics of that plaza by stopping in the parking lot. Maybe the concerts will return to this place, and now you can look at that eternally young gold-plated boy with his head closed. By the way, it is not advisable to check the time on the sundial in this square. There is an error

7. Šiauliai Sundial Square

Exact coordinates here

If you’ve already stopped here, it’s definitely worth a visit to the famous Šiauliai Iron Fox. Iron Blade for 10 years. You may also know petanque players playing side by side. This sport is becoming increasingly popular in the city.

8. Sculpture “Iron Fox”

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Šiauliai St. The Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul is one of the oldest buildings in the city, which will soon invite you to get even closer and … rise higher! An elevator will appear in the tower, it will be possible to go up and look at Šiauliai from above. Although the facade of the building has been renovated, excavations at the cemetery have provided many surprises to archaeologists.

9. Šiauliai St. The Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul

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When you return to Ežero Street, you will come to Vytauto Street, and there are even some truly exceptional and important places for Šiauliai. One of those Venclauskiai houses.

10. Venclauskiai house

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It is a multi-functional center for learning about history and culture, a non-traditional space for communication and leisure in Šiauliai. It is a brilliant object of interwar modernist architecture (architect Karolis Reisonas), unique and one of the most characteristic of Lithuania in the 20th century. examples of private interior painting decoration in the first half.

2019 The restored cultural heritage object presents historical exhibitions, organizes events and education, has creative workshops and an open reading room. Visitors are invited to entertain the playground or simply relax, socialize and participate in various educational and entertainment activities.

In the summer, a museum exhibition that talks about the 20th century will be presented to the public at Venclauskiai House. The history of the city of Šiauliai in the first half of the 19th century and which reveals the place of the exceptional, national, civic and active family of Stanislava and Kazimieras Venclauskiai in it.

1991 Gražbylė and Danutė donated the Venclauskaitė house to the Šiauliai Aušra Museum, on condition that the building always belongs to the public and that the museum operates there. Her parents’ house is open again to visitors and is waiting for everyone who wants to know and create the history of the city of Šiauliai.

Šiauliai can be proud not only of the person who created the penny dollar design, but also of another interface with the United States. After many years, one of the most ornate buildings in the city, the Venclauskiai House, recovered its former appearance. Once even called the White House, because of the color, because of the family that lived in it. Can you imagine that the Venclauskiai family raised up to 100 children?

11. Museum of Water Management (Šiauliai Water Tower)

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A little further on Vytauto Street, you will notice an exceptional looking building: a water tower. The construction of the water supply tower began in 1939. according to the sketches of Professor P. Morkūnas and some drawings of the work of A. Janulionis. During Hitler’s occupation, the construction of the water tower was stopped. 1945 Construction work resumed in late June. The construction of the tower was supervised by the engineer Jonas Vencius. The intermittent construction of the tower took nine years, until 1948.

1948 The tower was filled with water from the first city of Šiauliai. The well basket, which was launched in 1948. October 30 This year is the official date of establishment of water management. Until 1991. The water tower was used to supply water. 1991 disconnected from the water network.

Commemorating the changes in water management, the achievements of the people who work here in 1974. The Museum of Water Management was established on the ground floor of the tower in 1983. Given the name of a public museum.

Šiauliai residents know very well where and how water travels in their city: there is a full exposition about it in the museum installed in the water tower.

The Rūta Chocolate Factory Museum is just a minute’s walk from the Water Management Museum.

Brussels, famous for its chocolate industry, can also envy that museum. The “Rūta” candy factory, which has attracted passers-by for almost a century with sweet aromas of chocolate, caramel, roasted nuts and boiled berries, in 2012. It opened the doors of its old building to visitors. It is here, in the old factory building, where the Rūta Chocolate Museum is located.

12. Rūta Chocolate Museum

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Another place worthy of mention is the stained glass “Battle of the Sun”. The stained glass windows are located in the “Saulė” concert hall (old cinema). The three walls of the lobby of the second-floor building of post-war architecture are adapted for stained glass. The stained glass windows were unveiled in 1986. and is dedicated to the 750th anniversary of the city of Šiauliai. Stained glass height – 3.8 m, length – 52.1 m, total area – 200 square meters.

13. Stained Glass “Battle of the Sun”

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After a short trip, there is another major intersection at the stoplight. On the left, the city clock “Gaidys”, on the left and the boulevard maintained, on the right, part of it renovated a decade ago.

14. Šiauliai “Gaidis” clock square

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15. Šiauliai Boulevard (Vilniaus pedestrian street)

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Come to the Šiauliai Resurrection Square by car. Of course, you can also stop at the cathedral. But we offer to park the car in the reconstructed Plaza de la Resurrección, on Varpo str. sides Why And here you will only go about a block, and you will hardly be able to count the unique objects. Let’s start:

16. Šiauliai Resurrection Square

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1. Resurrection Square and Radio. Of course, it looks best at night, but even during the day it’s easy to spot the lightning bolt that crosses the plaza.
2. “80 butterflies – 80 years of theater construction”. Measure the wings on the dramatic theater wall. When the theater celebrated its 80th anniversary, the artists painted exactly the same number of butterflies. Both small and large wings can grow.
3. Souffler. When the actor forgot the text, it reminded him of a hidden souffler. Today, he “whispers” the news into his repertoire.
4. Sculpture “Where do the voices of the bells come from / Bell of Love” During the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun shines directly on the plane of the heart.
5. Massive advertising accent “Robes”. If Vilnius is a city of fairy tales, then Šiauliai could be called a city of shoes. A few decades ago, there was a shoe store here, and that huge shoe sculpture was a high-volume advertisement.
6. Bulk advertising accent “Dos Golondrinas”. Another example of advertising volume. Here was a parlor for newlyweds, now a jewelry store.

If you want to buy souvenirs to visit Šiauliai, visit the Šiauliai Tourist Information Center. In addition to the memories, you will also receive many other useful information about Šiauliai and the must-see places in this city, places of entertainment, accommodation and catering services, etc.

Attention Due to the quarantine, the door of the information center is closed at the moment, but if necessary, you will definitely receive it by phone: +370 41 523110.

17. Šiauliai Tourist Information Center

Exact coordinates here

Later on Vilniaus Street you will find the rebel hill. Buried here in 1863-1864. Participants in the uprising who were sentenced to death were shot dead on the spot. Eventually this place became known as the Rebel Hill. 1931 In autumn, according to the project of the engineer Karolis Reison, the construction of a carved granite obelisk-monument began. The monument was unveiled in 1935. Buried in its foundations from 1863 to 1864. The remains of eleven participants in the uprising found during the management of the hill area. During World War I, the Germans established their military cemeteries here. In addition to the German soldiers, the soldiers of the Russian tsarist army were buried in these cemeteries, and then the German soldiers who died in World War II were buried there. Some 1,270 German soldiers from both wars were buried on the rebel hill.

18. Rebel Hill

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There is a surprise just off Rebel Hill. You have already visited a fox, and here, at the other end of the city, the brightest fox. Great background for a photo!

19. Drawing “fox Šiauliai”

Exact coordinates here

If you are hungry on your trip, we recommend that you try the following places while you are in the central part of the city:

Later on the route, we recommend that you stop and get out of your car at the Žaliūkai Windmill. The Žaliūkiai miller farm is a space for ethnoculture, traditional customs and entertainment, surrounded by a modern city. The miller’s farm was restored on the farm, the only surviving 19th century building in Šiauliai was restored. In the second half of the 19th century, the building of traditional Lithuanian wooden architecture was the Žaliūkiai windmill. Throughout the year, the daily life of the miller’s family takes place on the farm: the grain is milled, the bread is baked and daily life is diversified with the celebrated feasts of the Lithuanian calendar. In the miller’s cabin, the popular educational activities of the museum “Bake a bread”, “Excursion with a mill and tasting of bread” are held.

20. Žaliūkiai miller farm

Exact coordinates here

21. Žaliūkiai windmill

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Another recommended place to strengthen in case of famine is the “Gusto pizzeria”, which will go from Žaliūkiai to Rėkyva.

On the way to Rekiva, stop at the O. Truchan monument. Oleg Truchan (1923–1972) was born in Šiauliai. During the years of German occupation, he graduated from the Šiauliai Boys’ Gymnasium, and then worked in the Lithuanian underground resistance. In 1948 he left Lithuania and settled in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. Truchan became famous as a traveler, naturalist, and geographer. He captured all the beauty of Tasmania in photos and slides. Thanks to him, he managed to preserve the unique nature of Tasmania. Truchan tragically died while exploring the Gordon River. His body was burned and the ashes scattered over the Gordon River. Members of the Šiauliai Sailors’ Club built an oak memorial chapel for Oleg Truchan near the entrance to Rėkyva in 2006.

22. Monument to Oleg Truchan

Well, we recommend finishing this trip around Šiauliai by the Rėkyva lake.

23. Rėkyva Lake

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The lake area is 1179.20 ha, the basin area is 19.40 km2; volume of water – 24 million. m3 of average water level – 130.60 m; average depth – 2.04 m; maximum depth – 4.80 m; length – 4.70 km; width – 4.10 km; The length of the coast is 14.10 km.

Lake Rėkyva is the tenth largest lake in Lithuania and one of the oldest lakes of residual origin. It is interesting that no current flows into it, but three flow out: Kulpė, Šiauša and Tilžė. Lake Rėkyva feeds other Šiauliai lakes: Talkša (Talša), Prūdelis. The lake has been famous for its peat bogs. The first information on the operation of peatlands in the Šiauliai area was recorded in the 17th century.

From the 17th century. Pr. On the shore of Lake Rėkyva, the former lordship housed the Karpiai family, whose members include well-known personalities from Lithuanian history: the Bishop of Samogitian, Juozapas Mykolas Karpis, sent from Samogitian to the four-year-old ATR Seimas Mauricijus Pranciškus Karpis and others. Mauricio Francis Carp died in the Rėkyva mansion in 1817. At his request, a burial mound was dumped on the shore of the lake, which was later named Grabaučius Hill. An owners graveyard was located next to the graveyard.

24. Mausoleum of tents

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XIX c. In the mid-19th century, the Rėkyva mansion experienced financial difficulties. During World War I, the main building of the manor house burned down. In interwar Lithuania, during land reform, most of the manorial land was distributed to military volunteers, partly to Šiauliai Fisheries, and partly to the Šiauliai City Board. 1932 A two-story grandparents’ shelter was built on the site of the old manor house (Poilsio str. 1). In this building in 1964. the eight-year Rėkyva school was established. Only a few fragments have survived from the old manor park. One of them is an old poplar alley.

After World War II, the settlement near Lake Rėkyva grew and construction of new houses, peat and grain processing companies began. The settlement was connected to the city of Šiauliai in 1965.

Currently, the lake shore is attractive to tourists: there is a restaurant “Fishermen’s Inn” (also a hotel), a sandy beach, yachts and boats that sail from two yacht clubs, kitesurfing enthusiasts choose a more secluded beach ( bathroom), there is already a base. A cognitive trail around Lake Rėkyva should also appear.

25. Rėkyva Beach

Exact coordinates here

26. “Fishermen’s Inn” restaurant

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So stop in the parking lot at the end of the street. If you came here at night, wait for the sunset. It has little to do in Palanga. He reaches the end of the bridge, he feels how the water rocks him. A family of ducks lives by the bridge, do you agree?

If you’re tired of sitting in the car already, walk the slopes to the yacht club, or maybe you want to see a school famous for its beautiful surroundings? There is even an insect hotel there.

Where to eat

During quarantine, not all cafes can be visited, so a food ordering service can be an excellent solution when you are hungry during a trip. You couldn’t order food at home but take it with you.

Daily updated information on food orders and takeaway services in Šiauliai you will find it here.

Another excellent recommended location in Šiauliai, although further from the proposed route – GRAFAITĖ HOTEL – BAR. Grab a snack on the outdoor terrace or stay overnight.

More travel itineraries can be found here.