|  Lithuania
- Accession to the EU: 2004
- Accession to the Council of Europe: 1993
- Surface area: 65 300 km2
- Population: 3,4 million
- Capital city: Vilnius (580 000 inhabitants)
- Official languages: Lithuanian
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- Main religion: Catholic
- Currency: Litas
- Political system: Republic
- Head of state: Dalia Grybauskaité (president since 2009)
- Head of government: Andrius Kubilius (prime minister since 2008)
- International code: + 370
- National holiday: 16 February
- The of the European Parliament
 University of Vilnius ©Lithuanian State Department of Tourism Lithuanian history is characterised by a strong desire for national independence and a strong cultural identity faced with powerful States’ ambitions to conquer this region, a natural crossroads on the edge of the Baltic Sea. Founded in the 13th century, Lithuania began its territorial expansion from the 14th century onwards, with the country being one of the most powerful States in Central Europe at this time. Incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland in 1569, Lithuania had to contend with successive attacks from its neighbours and ongoing warfare which considerably weakened the country until its annexation by the Russian Empire in 1795. From then on, the 20th century was a time of constant struggle to recover lost independence. - 1915 Germany occupies the country during the First World War.
- 1918 Lithuania proclaims its independence. It is only recognised by Russia in 1920, following a war of independence.
- 1940 The country is invaded by Soviet troops during the Second World War. Lithuania becomes a federated Republic within the USSR, this period of Soviet rule being interrupted during the three-year period of the German occupation.
- 1988 The reforms initiated by Gorbachev in the Soviet Union (with his policy of Glasnost) lead to a reawakening of Lithuanian national consciousness. The Sajudis movement leads a struggle for independence.
- 1991 Proclamation of Lithuanian independence.
- 2004 Lithuania joins NATO and the European Union.
- 2004 The outgoing left-wing government reaches an agreement with the Labour Party of the Russian-born billionaire Viktor Uspaskich (the winner of the parliamentary elections in October) to form a coalition. The former Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas heads the new coalition government.
- 2006 M. Gediminas Kirkilas was nominated for prime minister after a governmental crisis.
 Vue to Vilnius ©Lithuanian State Department of Tourism Vilnius is located in the southeast of Lithuania, not far from the Byelorussian and Polish borders. As the national capital, Vilnius is also a major communications hub. The city is home to the country’s main institutions, including the national parliaments, the Seimas. The town’s history dates back to the 10th century and bears witness to the political upheavals of this region. Lithuania’s capital was Polish in the 16th century and Russian in the 18th century before suffering successive occupations by Germany, Poland and then the USSR in the 20th century. The Lithuanian capital is a religious centre and the seat of the Catholic archdiocese, but also a cultural and artistic centre. Since 1579 it has had a university which was founded by the Jesuits and famous the world over. The old town includes a number of architectural treasures such as Saint Stanislas Cathedral (14th century), the baroque church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in addition to its Gothic or Renaissance style buildings. As a result of these buildings, the town was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List from 1994 onwards.  Amber The Lithuanian Baltic coast is rich in what has become known as the light of the world or the tears of the seabirds: Amber. Thirty million years ago, the sea covered the conifer forests of the Baltic lands. The resin (capturing the insects and plants in the process) became fossilised, thereby conserving traces of the distant past. After several million years, this resin turned into amber. This mineral is a great asset for the Baltic coast. It represents a precious heritage for Lithuania which over the centuries was the starting point for a number of “amber routes” crossing Poland, and Germany to reach the Mediterranean and sometimes reaching as far as China. The Lithuanians are masters in crafting amber and use it in particular to fashion superb items of jewellery. The biggest amber museum is also located in Lithuania. Situated in Palanga, it features permanent displays of almost 4500 amber items. More than 7 million people have already visited the Palanga Museum, demonstrating people’s continuing fascination with amber today.  ©Dumoulin/Alsace Region, Stork No, Alsace is not the only preferred region for storks in Europe! The white stork found in Lithuania is a bird which is both admired and protected. As the jewel in the crown of the Lithuanian ecosystem, the stork enjoys the marshland and the 3000 lakes and 700 waterways of this Baltic Republic. The birds can be seen gliding with their two metres wingspans through the Lithuanian skies or admired along the small country lanes. The relatively cold weather in winter leads to them migrating to Central and Southern Africa, but they are back again in summer, taking up their favourite positions on the rooftops of Lithuania’s many churches. This is the country in Europe with the highest density of stork pairs. According to an old Lithuanian saying, wherever you find a nest of storks, the people are honest. The stork has been the national bird since 1973 and is the symbol of Lithuania. 15 million migrating birds stop off each year on the Curonian peninsula on Lithuania’s Baltic coast. Its alphabet comprising 32 letters, 7 cases and 5 groups of declensions make Lithuanian a linguistic treasure and one of the oldest languages in the Indo-European group. On the Hill of Crosses in the centre of the country, visitors will find crosses of iron and wood of all sizes in memory of the many repressions endured by Catholics under the Tsarist and subsequently the Soviet regimes. This site subsequently became a symbol of national resistance. | |
