VILKAVISKIS
          A small town in Southern Lithuania
Where the Jewish Community is no more
Visiting Vilkaviskis

Before your visit !

1] If you don't speak Lithuanian its essential that you travel with an interpreter and preferably a guide. On the " Contacts Page" I have listed 2 excellent guides that can offer you superb service.

2] Please remember that Vilkaviskis was devasted twice during the Second World War, once when the Germans occupied Vilkaviskis in 1941 and secondly during the advance of the Red Army in 1944.  The town has been almost entirely rebuilt so that very little remains
of the Vilkaviskis that our ancestors knew.
What to see in Vilkaviskis
* The Regional Museum
* The New Jewish Cemetery
+ The Jewish Age Old Home
* The Jewish Gynasium [ now the Municipal Buildings]
* The site of the Mass Killings and Memorial to the Jews of Vilkaviskis
* Several old houses that once had Jewish Inhabitants
Map with Jewish sites
Map with Jewish sites
Here was the Great Synagogue The original building of the Jewish Old Age Home The New Jewish Cemetery The Market Square The site of the Gymnasium Ha Ivri
Here was the Great Synagogue The original building of the Jewish Old Age Home The New Jewish Cemetery The Market Square The site of the Gymnasium Ha Ivri
The Regional Museum The site of the mass killings of Vilkaviskis Jewry
The Regional Museum The site of the mass killings of Vilkaviskis Jewry
Houses where Vilkaviskis Jewry lived
Jewish house in Kestucio street 2 Inside the factory This was the Bravol Cigarette Factory Jewish house in Kestucio street
Jewish house in Kestucio street 2 Inside the factory This was the Bravol Cigarette Factory Jewish house in Kestucio street
Traveling in this area !
Time is always at a premium but really a couple of days at least should be spent in here.
Where to stay ?
Marijampole can be the center for the stay in the area.
The very best place to stay is the small family hotel SUDAVIJA HOTEL Situated in the center of the town.
Its a small very comfortable hotel - the breakfasts are very tasty and the owner will do everything possible to make you comfortable. He even took me to Kalvarija !
I have only praise and can highly recommend this hotel.
Its kind owner Mr G. Gutauskas Sudavija Hotel
Its kind owner Mr G. Gutauskas Sudavija Hotel
In Marijampole you should see the Synagogue, which today is a Teacher Training Ceneter and walk through the old Jewish center of the town.
The Synagogue - its was Lithuanian Holocaust Day - on every public building
The Synagogue - its was Lithuanian Holocaust Day - on every public building
The old Jewish quater of Marijampole 2 The old Jewish quater of Marijampole
The old Jewish quater of Marijampole 2 The old Jewish quater of Marijampole
In Kalvarija there is the Synagogue, Rabbi's House, The Beit Midrash and Jewish Cemetery.
The Synagogue Beit Midrash Jewish cemetery
The Synagogue Beit Midrash Jewish cemetery
Some 20 Kilometers from Kaunas is the "Open Air Museum of Lithuania "

If you want to get a feel of the life of our Lithuanian ancestors you must not miss this excellent outdoor museum.

They even re-created the market place of a typical shtetl - there is even a Jewish merchant's house with an opening roof for celebrating Succoth.
market square weather vein shop inside the house 19th Century 2
market square weather vein shop inside the house 19th Century 2
inside the house 19th Century 3 Open Air Museum of Lithuania
inside the house 19th Century 3 Open Air Museum of Lithuania