Kalnu park (Mountain Park) and Hill of Three Crosses

  The easiest way to reach Kalnu Park is from T. Kosciuskos Street. Having climbed the hill, You will find yourself on the stage. In summer, a number of different concerts and festivals are held here. The area of the park adjoins Uzupis (Kriviu Street) and the Vilnia River. Kalnu Park consists of several hills. The most spectacular of them is the Hill of Three Crosses. It is believed that the three crosses were first erected here in XVII century – to commemorate a group of monks from a nearby monastery, who were martyred in XIV century. According to the legend, seven were killed and seven were tied to wooden crosses and floated down the Neris River, with the instruction to return to the west from whence they had come. The monument has changed many times. The current one was built by architect and sculptor A. Vivulskis in 1989, at the beginning of the Rebirth Movement. It was built to replace the one that had been removed by the Soviet authorities in the 1950s, pieces of which still remain on the slope on the far side. The Hill of Three Crosses is also known as Kreivasis (crooked) Hill or Plikasis (bare) Hill, or Tauro Hill (the gleaming white monument marks the site of the former Crooked Castle, which is believed to have stood there (in Latin, referred to as the curvum castrum)).

  Stalas (Table) Hill was given this name because of its shape. The top is as even as a table.

  The Hill of Gediminas Grave marks the burial site of Duke Gediminas. This hill is great not only for enjoying a superb and wide panoramic view of the city, but also for members of the religious Balts communities who gather here, near the pagan altar, to celebrate their festivals.

  Bekesas Hill was named after Kasparas Bekesas (a famous Commander of then joint Lithuanian and Polish State), who was buried here in 1580. He came from a famous family of Hungarian noblemen. He was buried here, because he practised Arian religion and the Catholic Church of that time didn't give permission to have his remains buried in the churchyard. In the middle of the XIX century, the monument, together with the grave of Kasparas Bekesas, fell into the Vilnia River.

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