Why was the Hill of Crosses built?

Poles and Lithuanians unsuccessfully rebelled against Russian authorities in 1831 and 1863. These two uprisings are connected with the beginnings of the hill: as families could not locate bodies of perished rebels, they started putting up symbolic crosses at the site of a former hill fort.

How many crosses are there on the Hill of Crosses?

100,000 crosses
It is believed that there are over 100,000 crosses presently on the Hill of Crosses.

Can you leave a cross at the Hill of Crosses?

Lithuania was ruled by the Russian Empire at that time and there were constant uprisings against the Russian Tsar. After WWII, when Lithuania was occupied by the Soviets, it was strictly forbidden to place crosses or even come to pray at the Hill of Crosses.

What country is Hill of Crosses from?

Lithuania
The Hill of Crosses, or Kryziu Kalnas in Lithuanian, is a collection of over 200,000 wooden crosses erected on a small hill in Šiauliai in Northern Lithuania. It is one of the most spectacular sights in the Baltic countries.

How do I get to the Hill of the Cross?

Go to the hill of crosses from Siauliai Go to platform 12 of the Siauliai bus station and take a bus to Joniškis and ask the driver to let you go at the Domantai stop (if you do not speak Lithuanian it is very likely that the driver will offer it to you before you even have time to ask because they are used to it).

When was the Hill of Crosses built?

It became a sacred site in the 19th century. The first crosses on the Hill of Crosses are believed to have been erected shortly after the November Uprising, which lasted from 1830 to 1831.

How big is the Hill of Crosses?

The Hill of Crosses is a 60 metre (200 feet) long hill, covering more than 4500 square metres (1.1 acre), north of the city of Šiauliai, in Lithuania, in northern Europe.

Where is the Hill of Crosses located?

The exact origins of Lithuania’s Kryžių Kalnas, or the Hill of Crosses, remain a mystery. Just outside the northern city of Šiauliai, thousands of metal and wooden crosses—placed here for nearly two centuries—have found a home on the growing mound of religious fervor.