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Still off the beaten path, Lithuania is one of the three Baltic republics that gained their independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. Its lush forests, beautiful national parks, the medieval Kaunas and Vilnius city centers (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), and rich historic heritage make this northeastern European country of 3.5 million inhabitants an attractive destination.

Roughly the size of Ireland, Lithuania is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south and the Kaliningrad region of Russia to the southwest. The Baltic Sea kisses the surprisingly lovely 99-km stretch of coastline to the west, covered with majestic pines and long beaches with abundant Caribbean-like sand.

The country offers vast expanses of undisturbed forests and a tradition of nature conservancy that can be traced back to pre-Christian times. In this last European country to renounce Paganism in order to embrace Christianity, you’ll find odd behavior (such as embracing trees in order to gain strength) that could perhaps be traced back to these beliefs. Moreover, Lithuania’s former status as the Soviet Union’s breadbasket has evolved into a rich agricultural tradition that ensures fresh produce and tasty local delicacies are available on every corner.

By A.Gracia

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