Veisiejai
| Veisiejai | ||
|---|---|---|
| City | ||
|
Ančios lake and Veisiejai panorama | ||
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  Veisiejai Location of Veisiejai | ||
| Coordinates: 54°6′0″N 23°42′0″E / 54.10000°N 23.70000°ECoordinates: 54°6′0″N 23°42′0″E / 54.10000°N 23.70000°E | ||
| Country |
 Lithuania | |
| Ethnographic region | Dzūkija | |
| County |
 Alytus County | |
| Municipality | Lazdijai district municipality | |
| Eldership | Veisiejai eldership | |
| Capital of | Veisiejai eldership | |
| First mentioned | 1501 | |
| Granted city rights | 1956 | |
| Population (2007) | ||
| • Total | 1,637 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
Veisiejai (
pronunciation ) (Polish: Wiejsieje) is a city in the Lazdijai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located 18 km (11 mi) south-east of Lazdijai. The Esperanto language was created in Veisiejai where L. L. Zamenhof started his practice as an ophtalmologist in 1885. There is a church dedicated to St. George (built in 1817), an old estate with a park, high school, kindergarten "Ąžuoliukas", a post office (postal code LT-67043), a museum and monuments dedicated to the composer J. Neimontas and L. L. Zamenhof.
Veisiejai is one of few towns that are located in a lake peninsula. The western part of the town is surrounded by a park from the 18th century. There are several lakes in the vicinity of the town. The biggest of them – Ančia – divides the town into two parts. Lake Snaigynas is in the east, Lake Vernijis in the north, and Lake Veisiejis in the southwest. The town is named after the lake Veisiejis which is situated 6 km south-west of Veisiejai.
History
Veisiejai estate was first mentioned in 1501.[1] The town was first mentioned in the 1st half of the 16th century. Yuri Olelkovich, Duke of Slutsk, managed to get market privilege in 1525 and built first church in 1526.
Between 1950 and 1959 Veisiejai was a district center. In 1956 it became a town. Its coat of arms was created by Laima Ramonienė and was approved by the President of Lithuania on March 23, 2000.
Veisiejai has a rare surviving wooden synagogue.[2]
Estate and park
An estate in Veisiejai was established in the 15th century. In 1501 Grand Duke Alexander assigned his standard-bearer J. Glinskis to manage this estate. Later Veisiejai became the property of Masalskis family and the Lithuanian hetman V. Masalskis built a palace in the 18th century. Only one wing survived until present time.
Veisiejai estate park, situated near the estate, is one of the oldest parks in Lithuania. An initiative from Ogiński family in the 19th century, the park was redecorated to be a landscape park. In 1950-1959 the 17,5 ha area park was started to be looked after. 22 stores wheel of tilias and an growing ash tree with 30 m height and 5,1 size are important elements in the park. In 1988 was opened a memorial for L. L. Zamenhof, creator of the international language Esperanto.
Eldership
Veisiejai city has a separate municipality status in the municipality.
References
- ↑ "Veisiejų miesto seniūnija" (in Lithuanian). Lazdijai district municipality. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ↑ Center for Jewish Art (2004). "Preserved Wooden Synagogues in Lithuania". The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Retrieved on December 17, 2008. http://cja.huji.ac.il/Architecture/Wooden-synagogues-Lithuania.htm
External links
- The murder of the Jews of Veisiejai during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.
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