"Essential Lithuania" gives a short glimpse into todays culture, unique traditions and tourist attractions. It captures different sights of Lithuania: todays capital Vilnius, modern and beutiful city; unique castle of Trakai, surrounded by lakes; the capital of middleage of dukes and Lithuanian rulers Kernave; beautiful beaches and towns of Lithuanian seaside. This movie gives a real perception of todays Lithuania.

You can see the movie here.

Švenčionys is settled in an unique valley on both side of Kuna river. Old road from Russia to Prussia goes through town. First time Švenčionys mentioned in historical documents in 1486, but it is believed, that Švenčionys was the center of area already in XIII century. In XV century there was a manor of Vytautas here. During 1392-1414 Vytautas built Švenčioniai church. Also he moved here many Tatar people and city became the center of crafts.

In 1800 town hall was established in Švenčionys and town got the self-government rights. In 1812 Napoleon and his army stopped in Švenčionys while coming back from Russia.

Švenčionys inhabitants were active in revolt of 1831. It is believed, that czar's army was hanging rebels in the nearby hill, which is called the mountain of Kartuvės (gallows) now.

Town was know as crafts and trade center during all times. In 1883 herbs factory was established here.

Švenčioniai name is mentioned in the famous novel by Russian writer Tolstoy „War and Piece“.

Now the All Saints church, the orthodox church stand in Švenčionys. Also there is Nalšia museum in town.

Švenčionėliai town is situated in Švenčionys municipality. River Žeimena floats through the town. It is very green and full of nature town, so many tourists from other parts of Lithuania comes there on holidays. There are about 7 thousand inhabitants in Švenčionėliai.

The name of the town comes from nearby biggest town Švenčionys. For some time Švenčionėliai was called the New Švenčionys.

Nobody knows, when exactly the settlement was established here. The oldest document, related to Švenčionėliai is dated year 1686. It is the inventory, which shows, that Švenčionėliai was part of Juodiškis manor.

Švenčionėliai grown up after the railway Petrograd-Warsaw was built through the town. In 1899 narrow railway from Lentupys to Panevėžys was built in the town and Švenčionėliai became the crossroad of the railways.

In 1900 Švenčionėliai burned down, but soon it was rebuilt. In 1907 wooden church was built here. In 1920 Švenčionėliai was granted town rights.

From the end of XIX century industry started to settle in Švenčionėliai. From 1894 the locomotive repair workshop was working in town. During the First World War power station was built here. In 1924 the factory of matches was opened.

Švenčionėliai suffered the terror of both World wars. In 1941, 8 thousand Jewish people were killed in the wood near Švenčionėliai.

In 1989 monument was rebuilt and the original cross was put on top of it.

The building of the tower started in 1974 and continued for 7 years. The trunk of the tower is 190 meters high (18 floors). Its diameter in the down part is 15 meters, and  in the upper part – 8 meters. Walls are 50 - 30 centimetres thick.

There is a disk form part of tower on the trunk. It is in 160 meters height and weights 3500 tons. In this part there is a restaurant and the sightseeing area. The floors of the restaurant and sightseeing area are turning round, so you can view all panorama, standing in one places. It goes all around in 45 minutes.

There are 917 steps between down and the disk part of the tower. Every year there is a maratone of climbing these stairs up the tower. 

The TV tower was the centre of dramatic events in the 13th of December, 1991. It this the time, then Lithuania gained independence and Russians were on the way to occupy some strategic buildings and cause disorder in the country. There was a peaceful and not armed demonstration, guarding the tower from Russians. Russian forces took over the TV tower by attacking an unarmed crowd and by going with tanks over people. 14 people died and 600 were injured during that night events at TV tower. Now the tower hosts a museum, dedicated to these events.

Next to the village flows Strūna River. There is a post office in Vidutinė.

It is believed that Vykintas, the duke of lowlanders had castle in Tverai. Archaeological sources show that Vykintas ruled this are in XIII century.

There are more than 400 inhabitants in the village.