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62-534: The hill is located between the villages of Bitėnai and Bardinai on the right bank of the Neman River . The nearest towns are Pagėgiai and Vilkyškiai . The river serves as the border between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia . Rambynas is located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Neman (previously Ragnit, Ragainė) and east of Sovetsk (previously Tilsit, Tilžė). Geographically, it

124-728: A guestbook , which is known as the Eternal Book of Rambynas. After World War II, authorities of the Lithuanian SSR allowed to resume the celebration of the Saint Jonas' Festivals in 1957. They even built a cement stage for events (it was demolished in 2010). German writer Johannes Bobrowski described old time celebrations on Rambynas in his 1966 novel Litauische Claviere . The first preserves in Lithuania were established in September 1960. Among

186-566: A dozen to 300. However, the quality of presentations and discussions was limited by lack of education among Birutė's members, most of whom only had primary education. In one of the early meetings, Vilius Bruožis, future chairman of the society, spoke for three hours trying to prove that the Lithuanian language was spoken in the Garden of Eden . The society considered and took tentative steps to establish Lithuanian-language schools, publish books (including

248-508: A frequently visited location and developed into a kind of resort. The nearby village of Bitėnai had three restaurants. Celebrations of the Saint Jonas' Festivals became grand affairs attended by many dignitaries. For example, in 1929, the celebrations were attended by a delegation from the League of Nations ; its head even swore an improvised oath in the name of pagan thunder god Perkūnas . In 1928, Martynas Jankus built an altar and started keeping

310-446: A history of Lithuania that would incorporate the history of Lithuania Minor), its own newspaper, or calendars, but those plans were not realized. The society considered but rejected the idea of taking over the publication of bankrupt Aušra . Instead, it financially supported (15 marks per month) the short-lived newspaper Garsas published by Jankus. In 1888, the society officially dropped book publication from its goals and reduced

372-446: A pre-war restaurant, owned by Gustavas Volbergas, was reconstructed into a visitor center. At the top of the hill, there was a large stone known as the altar stone. It was first mentioned by Georg Christoph Pisanski in 1769. According to an 1867 description by Otto Glagau, the stone had a flat top and measured about 15 cubits (approximately 10 metres (33 ft)) in diameter. The taller side measured 2.8 metres (9 ft 2 in) and

434-523: A small metal altar for sacred fire. In 1928, for the 10th anniversary of the Act of Independence of Lithuania , Martynas Jankus decided to create a guestbook for those who visited Rambynas. Signing in the book became an integral part of the tradition during the interwar celebrations of Saint Jonas' Festival . The book, known as the Eternal Book of Rambynas, is one of the largest in Lithuania. It measures 61.5 by 44 centimetres (24.2 in × 17.3 in) and

496-551: A society that would study Lithuanian culture and heritage and that would actively promote it among the Lithuanians both in Lithuania Minor and Lithuania Major. They went as far as collecting membership applications and dues and scheduling the organizational meeting for 11 January 1894, but due to various difficulties, including financial hardship faced by Aušra newspaper, such society was not established. Basanavičius established

558-608: Is 10 centimetres (3.9 in) thick. It weighs 18.5 kilograms (41 lb) and is accompanied by a wooden case that weights another 10 kilograms (22 lb). The covers are wood upholstered with leather and metal corners and close with two buckles. The second page is a portrait of Grand Duke Vytautas by Adomas Varnas . The first comment was left by Vydūnas . The visitors left notes and comments in Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Russian, German, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Hindi. The Japanese comments were left by Yotaro Sugimura  [ ja ] , Assistant Secretary-General of

620-636: Is a small village in the Pagėgiai Municipality , in western Lithuania . According to the 2011 census, it had population of 76, a decline from 119 in 2001. It is situated along the Neman River near the Rambynas hill and is known as the location of the Martynas Jankus printing press. Jankus Museum and the visitors' center of the Rambynas Regional Park are located in the village. Bitėnai

682-526: Is best remembered for organizing festivals and celebrations that featured Lithuanian-language performances of various folk and patriotic songs as well as amateur theater performances, including the first Lithuanian-language theater performance in 1895. The Lithuanian Literary Society was established in Tilsit in 1879, but it took more academic interest in Lithuanian language and culture. The society considered that

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744-472: Is developed as a pantheon of Lithuania Minor . In 1996, German writer Ulla Lachauer  [ de ] published Paradise Road ( Paradiesstraße. Lebenserinnerungen der ostpreußischen Bäuerin Lena Grigoleit ), a memoir by Lena Grigoleit (Elena Grigolaitytė-Kondratavičienė). Grigoleit and her family were displaced three times, but each time returned to Bitėnai showcasing the turbulent history of

806-612: Is home to the park's administration (established in 2001) and visitors' center (established in 2012 in a pre-World war II restaurant). In 1972, a memorial column with a bell was built near the destroyed printing press of Jankus. A memorial exposition dedicated to Jankus was unveiled in May 1981. It was housed at the primary school until the printing press was rebuilt in 1998 and the Martynas Jankus Museum officially opened in July 1999. In 2015,

868-474: Is kept at the Martynas Jankus Museum in Bitėnai. Museum visitors are free to sign in the book. The copy has 1,000 pages and at 22.5 kilograms (50 lb) is heavier than the original. The sacred hill is surrounded by many legends and stories. According to one of them, the altar stone was put on Rambynas by thunder god Perkūnas who also buried a treasure of gold and silver harrow under the stone. Perkūnas then chose

930-600: Is part of the 35-kilometre (22 mi) long moraine ridge known as Vilkyškiai ridge formed during the last glacial period . A large landslide 400 metres (1,300 ft) in length and 27 metres (89 ft) in width occurred on 12 September 1835. Smaller landslides occurred on 21 July 1878 (about 115 metres (377 ft) in length) and in summer 1926. Today, only its northern slope survives. The remaining hill measures 270 metres (890 ft) in length and up to 60 metres (200 ft) in width. It rises about 46 metres (151 ft) above sea level and about 40 metres (130 ft) above

992-544: The League of Nations . The last entry was made on 16 March 1939, four days before the German ultimatum to Lithuania . Jankus took the book to Kaunas where it was kept by polkovnik Juozas Šarauskas  [ lt ] . In 1963, it was transferred to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania where is it kept in the rare manuscript section. In 2002, a copy was made by Dalia Marija Šaulauskaitė and

1054-826: The Lithuanian Literary Society with building the Lithuanian House in the Jakobsruh Park in Tilsit. In 1905, the society celebrated its 20th anniversary. The celebration included two plays written and staged by Vydūnas and his Lithuanian Choir. The plays were specifically written for the occasion and poked fun at Birutė's weaknesses and strengths. In 1908–1909, the society resumed the tradition of organizing concerts and theater performances at various rural locations of Lithuania Minor. For example, it organized an Easter concert in Katyčiai in 1909. Initially it enlisted

1116-578: The Lithuanian Scientific Society only in 1907. Instead, on 15 February 1885, four Prussian Lithuanians ( Martynas Jankus , Jurgis Mikšas, Kristupas Voska, Ernestas Vejeris) established purely cultural society Birutė. At the time, they were its only members. The society was named after Grand Duchess Birutė (died in 1382) possibly as a result of a poem published in Aušra . The name was later criticized for being too feminine and for not reflecting

1178-669: The Lithuanian book smugglers to Lithuanian lands located in the Russian Empire since the Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . After the Klaipėda Revolt in 1923, Bitėnai became a part of independent Lithuania. In 1926, the village had 72 homesteads and its population reached 391 in 1941. Due to its proximity to the Rambynas hill, Bitėnai developed as a kind of resort and boasted three restaurants. It

1240-625: The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . From the 18th century, it was part of the Kingdom of Prussia , and from 1871 it was also part of Germany , within which it was administratively located in the province of East Prussia . The village was a frequent resting place for those traveling via the Neman River. It developed in two sections: the southern Šilėnai (along the Žiogis rivulet) and the larger more densely populated northern Užbičiai (along

1302-546: The Soviet era (exact circumstances are not known). In 2010–2011, Pagėgiai Municipality cleaned up Rambynas' territory, strengthened the eroded slopes, and improved the sightseeing platform. At the same time, the altar was demolished and replaced by an abstract sculptural composition by sculptor Regimantas Midvikis  [ lt ] . It is meant to symbolize the Prussian trinity – Potrimpo , Perkūnas , and Peckols – and includes

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1364-439: The 100th death anniversary of the beloved Louise, Queen of Prussia . In June 1910, Prussian Lithuanian youth gathered on Rambynas . It started a boom of youth organizations in various town; in a few years more than 15 local organizations were established. In 1912, they united under the umbrella organization Santara. These organizations took the initiative and overshadowed Birutė, which ceased its activities altogether in 1914 at

1426-407: The 89 preserves established on that date, there was a landscape preserve of Rambynas covering 2,798 hectares (6,910 acres). In September 1992, Lithuania established 30 regional parks , including the Rambynas Regional Park with initial area of 4,520 hectares (11,200 acres). The landscape preserve was reduced to 396 hectares (980 acres) and became an integral part of the park. However, the directory of

1488-452: The Bardehnen (Bardinai) village to make a millstone . As he could not find local help, he had to hire three German workers from Tilsit ( Sovetsk ). According to local legends, the workers were injured and the miller soon died. The circumstances of his demise vary: he lost his mill in a storm in 1818 and died in an accident working in another mill; he lost his business and became an alcoholic; he

1550-578: The Bitė rivulet). The village had a wind mill, an inn, a police station, a dairy . Its primary school is known from the 18th century. The village belonged to the manor of Šereitlaukis  [ lt ] . The village gained prominence during the Lithuanian press ban when Martynas Jankus moved his printing press from Tilsit (now Sovetsk ) to Bitėnai in 1892. The printing press operated until 1909 and published six short-lived Lithuanian-language periodicals and 104 books. Many of these publications were brought by

1612-629: The Garden Beautification Society in Tilsit and by the Tilsit Landkreis  [ de ] . In 1910, Prussian Lithuanians established a society that collected money to buy the entire hill and charged 10 pfennigs for the admission to the hill. There were plans to build a monument to poet Kristijonas Donelaitis on Rambynas, but they were not realized due to World War I. After the Klaipėda Revolt in 1923, Klaipėda Region (including Rambynas) became part of Lithuania. The hill became

1674-639: The German Empire or the Church. Prussian Lithuanians knew more about the House of Hohenzollern and Margraviate of Brandenburg than about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was an early attempt at finding own distinctive history and identity, which was continued by other organizations. While Birutė was plagued by lack of leadership and internal disagreements, its amateur concerts and theater performances sought to prove that

1736-492: The Lithuanian culture was dying due to Germanization and sought to record and study it but took no steps in keeping the language and culture alive. Thus Lithuanian activists began preparations for their own society. The issue was first raised by Georg Sauerwein in Lietuwißka Ceitunga in 1882. The idea was supported and further crystallized by Jonas Basanavičius , Jonas Šliūpas , and others. They decided to establish

1798-488: The Lithuanian language was viable and equal to other languages. In March 1908, Birutė transferred its library and archaeological collection to the Lithuanian Scientific Society in Vilnius. At that time, the library had about 750 books, most of which were acquired via donations. The donors included linguists Jan Baudouin de Courtenay and Adalbert Bezzenberger , publishers of Aušra and Varpas , and others. About 61% of

1860-664: The Neman. The hill and the surrounding area was long inhabited as evidenced by two socketed axes from the Bronze Age (1100–850 BC) found on Rambynas. Historians believe that the hill was the location of Ramigė, a fort of the Skalvians , one of the Baltic tribes . In 1275, the fort was attacked and destroyed by the Teutonic Order . The vogt of Sambia first attacked Ragnit ( Neman ), then crossed

1922-627: The Teutonic Order. The report also mentioned a sacred forest to the east of the hill. The 1422 Treaty of Melno established the border between Teutonic Order and Lithuania. The hill remained on the Teutonic side, later part of Prussia inhabited by a large Lithuanian-speaking minority ( Prussian Lithuanians ). While the region officially converted to Christianity, old pagan beliefs persisted. In 1595, cartographer Caspar Hennenberger published an explanation to his map of Prussia. He mentioned that Rambynas

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1984-424: The books were in the Lithuanian language with German books accounting for 13%. The society did not have separate premises and stored the books at home of its librarians, who included Dovas Zaunius and Jonas Smalakys . While the majority of the books were from the 19th and 20th centuries (92% and 5%, respectively), the collection included several rare books, including Postil of Jonas Bretkūnas (1591). After 1908,

2046-468: The celebrations featured first plays by Vydūnas staged by his choir members. Due to inappropriate behavior by Birutė members, the Lithuanian Choir refused further collaborations and the society's activities diminished. Rambynas, a sacred hill in the Lithuanian mythology , was a private property and therefore access to it was limited. Birutė bought a plot of land (11 morgens ) on the eastern part of

2108-683: The first performance in Lithuania Major by five years. The play was followed by living scenes which depicted a battle with the Teutonic Order and post-battle negotiations. Other performances included a concert by an orchestra of Prussian dragoons and seven singers from Tauragė (Lithuania Major). Among the songs performed was Lietuvininkai we are born by Georg Sauerwein to a melody of Vincas Nacevičius  [ lt ] . Other songs included polka and mazurka by Vincas Kudirka , compositions by teacher Eduard Gisevius  [ lt ] , works by German and Italian composers. The festival

2170-595: The flag eventually became the flag of Lithuania Minor. While the society promoted events and symbols from the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (such as the struggles against the Teutonic Order during the Lithuanian Crusade or the image of Grand Duke Vytautas as the great leader), it remained politically loyal to the German Empire . Birutė provided the first alternative to the historical memory promoted by

2232-474: The help of a choir from Tauragė , but soon reestablished its own choir (1909–1912), directed by Albert Johann Niemann. However, the events were not as popular or well executed as those of the Lithuanian Choir of Tilsit. Vilniaus žinios in particular harshly criticized the performance of Ponas ir mužikai in 1908. In 1910, the society commemorated the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald . The celebration

2294-401: The hill and his home. Another story has it that the altar stone was brought by giant Rambynas, one of three sons of Nemunas, who offered it as a sacrifice to Perkūnas. The hill became a temple attended by priests (krivis) and priestess (vaidilutė). They were driven away by the Teutonic Order , but laumės cursed the stone – while the stone stood, good fortune would bless the region; if the stone

2356-600: The hill and would leave small sacrifices. The most extensive description of the hill and its legends was provided by Eduard Gisevius  [ lt ] , a Lithuanian-language teacher in Tilsit. In 1838, he published Scenes from Lithuanian People's Lives ( Szenen aus dem Volksleben der Litauer ). He also described a 600-year-old three-trunk linden tree that grew near the hill and was worshiped as goddess of fate Laima's tree. Gisevius' stories popularized Rambynas among Prussian Lithuanians. In 1881 or 1884, Vidūnas began organizing Saint Jonas' Festival (also known as Rasos) on

2418-439: The hill to provide public access, but it lacked funds to pay the purchase price and the plot was eventually transferred to Wilhelm Gaigalat  [ de ] . In 1899, an idea was raised to build a monument (a Lithuanian girl playing kanklės ) on Rambynas dedicated to Kristijonas Donelaitis , Prussian Lithuanian poet and the author of the first Lithuanian-language poem. It seems that the idea originated from Birutė, though it

2480-403: The hill. However, it was a private property and thus it was difficult to host larger and more frequent events. Therefore, Birutė Society purchased a plot of land in 1896 and the same year organized a larger festival on the hill. However, Birutė lacked financial strength to pay the purchase price and the plot was transferred to Wilhelm Gaigalat  [ de ] . Two other plots were owned by

2542-752: The identity of Prussian Lithuanians. The new society was attacked and criticized by the Germans for competing with the Lithuanian Literary Society and by religious Prussian Lithuanians for being too secular. The society held monthly meeting to discuss new books, share folklore, deliver presentations, debate on ways to stop Germanization. The meetings took place not only in Tilsit, but also in Memel ( Klaipėda ), Coadjuthen ( Katyčiai ), Kaukehmen ( Jasnoje ), Ragnit ( Neman ), Lasdehnen ( Krasnoznamensk ), Schmalleningken ( Smalininkai ). The number of attendees grew from

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2604-403: The lower 1.6 metres (5 ft 3 in). According to Eduard Gisevius, the stone had carvings of a sword, human hand and feet, animal footprints, and something that resembled a Greek temple. This information is dubious as Gisevius wrote many years after the destruction of the stone and no other account mentioned the markings. The stone was broken up in 1811 by a German miller named Schwartz from

2666-462: The museum reconstructed Jankus' granary over the authentic arched red-brick cellar. The village cemetery located between Bitėnai and the Rambynas hill date as far back as the early 18th century. There are small mounds around the cemetery that resemble tumuli . There were some reports of archaeological finds in the area, but in 1991 it was determined that the mounds are natural sand dunes. The cemetery

2728-550: The number of meetings to once a quarter. In total, between 1885 and 1888, the society held about 30 meetings. The moribund society was revived in February 1895 for the celebration of its 10th anniversary. It organized a festival, attended by some 800 people, which included amateur theater performance of a play by Aleksandras Fromas-Gužutis about the Siege of Kaunas in 1362. It was the first Lithuanian-language theater performance preceding

2790-405: The outbreak of World War I . In September 1911, Vanagaitis started publishing journal Birutė which began using the term Lithuania Minor more often, competing with previous preferred term Prussian Lithuania. This reflected a shift in the understanding of the term Lithuania. The society early on adopted the green–white–red flag that was historically used in the region (its origins are unknown);

2852-439: The park was established only in 2001. The same year, Rambynas (area of 5.65 hectares (14.0 acres)) was added to the cultural object registry as a mythological object. The new directory with funding from Phare strengthened the eroded slopes, installed paths and staircases for visitors, conducted environmental and archaeological research. In 2007–2013, the park built further paths, viewing platforms, information stands, etc. A barn of

2914-639: The region. Her mother was deported to Russia during World War I ; the family evacuated to Germany at the end of World War II but returned when they were overrun by the Red Army ; the family was then deported by the Soviets to the Krasnoyarsk Krai in 1951 but returned in 1956. Birut%C4%97 Society The Birutė Society was the first cultural non-religious society of Prussian Lithuanians . Established in 1885 in Tilsit, East Prussia (present-day Sovetsk ),

2976-510: The river, and captured Ramigė. That signified Teutonic conquest of Skalvia. However, an exploratory excavation of about 150-square-metre (1,600 sq ft) area in 2002 by Valdemaras Šimėnas  [ lt ] found no significant cultural layer. The name Rambynas (as Rambyn ) was mentioned in 1385 and 1394 in the Die Littauischen Wegeberichte , a report of military routes into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania prepared by

3038-485: The society was intermittently active until the outbreak of World War I . The society sought to preserve Lithuanian language and culture and protect them form Germanization . While it discussed linguistic and cultural subjects, the society never raised issues of social inequality or protested against the political regime of Kaiser Wilhelm II . The society prompted the division of Prussian Lithuanians into two main groups: religious conservative versus secular liberals. Birutė

3100-441: Was occupied by Germany in 1939–1945. It was depopulated during the evacuation of East Prussia and the subsequent expulsion of Germans . About 80% of the village's buildings, including the former printing press of Jankus, were destroyed. The population declined from 287 in 1959 to 120 in 1989. In 1986, there were only 26 homesteads in the village. Bitėnai is part of the Rambynas Regional Park , established in 1992. The village

3162-629: Was a direct order from Moscow. The area of excavations was guarded by Soviet troops and involved two visitors from East Germany . In July 2003, Lithuanian newspapers published a story that a treasure was found near Rambynas, but it was quickly debunked as an embellishment of a previous April Fools' Day joke. The various attempts at finding the treasure damaged the hill, local cemeteries, and several other local archaeological and cultural objects. 55°5′15″N 22°1′16″E  /  55.08750°N 22.02111°E  / 55.08750; 22.02111 Bit%C4%97nai Bitėnai ( German : Bittehnen )

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3224-594: Was a success and it was decided to organize such events twice a year, in winter and in summer during the Saint Jonas' Festival . The same year, Birutė established its men's choir which first performed in February 1896. The society convinced Vydūnas to direct it, but it soon disbanded. The last performance was in June 1897. Another Lithuanian choir was established at the Lithuanian Church in Tilsit  [ de ] and

3286-519: Was a village of peasants and fishermen. In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation . After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) the village was a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Knights, and thus was located within the Polish–Lithuanian union , later elevated to

3348-498: Was administered as a mandate of the League of Nations by the French, a group of Frenchmen dug up some boxes at a local cemetery. In 1930, a detailed map was purportedly discovered that showed where the treasure was buried. This inspired several expeditions in the 1930s in attempts of finding it. Another attempt was organized in summer 1974 by Soviet authorities. According to various stories, it

3410-438: Was also directed by Vydūnas. This Lithuanian Choir of Tilsit was more successful and, at different times, was either a collaborator with or the main competitor of Birutė. Songs sung at Birutė's event were patriotic and often originated from Lithuania Major attracting criticism for being too radical. The festivals were organized not only in Tilsit, but also on Rambynas in 1896 and 1900 and in Memel ( Klaipėda ) in 1897. In 1899,

3472-474: Was considered a sacred place and that women had to be clean and well dressed if they wanted to climb the hill or they would become ill. Georg Christoph Pisanski  [ de ] wrote in 1769 that locals performed pagan rituals on the hill despite prohibitions from the Christian priests. In 1867, Otto Glagau  [ de ] , a journalist from Berlin, visited Rambynas and wrote that newlyweds would climb

3534-399: Was damaged, bad fortunes would follow. There are many local stories and legends about a treasure supposedly buried on or near Rambynas by the retreating French Grande Armée after the unsuccessful invasion of Russia in 1812. The X Corps commanded by General Jacques MacDonald retreated from Riga via Tilsit where he spent five days. Stories circulated that in 1920, when Klaipėda Region

3596-410: Was found crushed and strangled by the millstone. In 1928, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Act of Independence of Lithuania , Martynas Jankus and Juozas Adomaitis decided to build the altar on Rambynas and carve Columns of Gediminas into the top stone. In 1939, Klaipėda Region was annexed by Nazi Germany and the altar was demolished. The altar, designed to burn fire, was re-built during

3658-572: Was inspired not only by the 25th anniversary of the society, but also by the German commemoration of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest a year earlier. Not all Prussian Lithuanians supported the event. In articles published in Lietuwißka Ceitunga and Tilžės Keleiwis , opponents argued for maintaining good relations with all neighbors and not following the example of Poles who irresponsibly provoked conflicts. They also directed people's attention to

3720-550: Was neglected and vandalized during the Soviet era – extensive damage was done during searches for the legendary treasure of Napoleon Bonaparte that was allegedly buried during the French invasion of Russia somewhere near the Rambynas hill. After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the cemetery was reconstructed and chosen as the re-interment place for the remains of philosopher Vydūnas . His remains were moved from West Germany and reburied on 19 October 1991. Martynas Jankus

3782-587: Was not realized. After a failed event in February 1901, the society became barely active and a liquidation meeting was called for December 1903. However, the meeting instead elected new chairman Jonas Vanagaitis who revived the organization. However, until 1908 the society was not very active as Vanagaitis and other members were more involved and focused on activities of the Lithuanian Union in Prussia ( Lietuvininkų susivienijimas Prūsuose ). In 1905, Birutė assisted

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3844-418: Was reburied on 30 May 1993. Other notable reburials include composer Valteris Kristupas Banaitis  [ lt ] (1999), political activist Jonas Vanagaitis  [ lt ] (2009), doctor and activist Valteris Didžys  [ lt ] (2013). Memorial monuments commemorate other personalities of Lithuania Minor – Kristijonas Donelaitis Martynas Mažvydas , Ludwig Rhesa . The cemetery

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