Hill of Crosses, Siauliai, Lithuania

[meathiel]

The Hill of Crosses (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The precise origin of the practice of leaving crosses on the hill is uncertain, but it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising. Over

Comments

[gaspardgroupie]

I'm a Catholic, but I find this really eerie! (and kind of beautiful, in an odd way)

[meathiel]

It definitely was eerie ... I had strange feelings there.

[gi_jules]

That is amazing.

[meathiel]

It definitely is.

[gairid]

Fascinating! It's beautiful and eerie at the same time.

[meathiel]

Yes, definitely.

[cata_clysmiic]

Oh, this is INCREDIBLE. The folklorist in me is squealing with delight. Gorgeous photos.

[meathiel]

Thank you.

[eullipia]

Beauty in excess? It has something. I'd love to know the story behind it. When was the first cross planted and why?

[meathiel]

It says in the little paragraph I posted ... in the 1830s. It was demolished several times in Soviet times but the Lithuanians always started it again.

[eullipia]

Fascinating. So, I assume, the place itself has inspired this phenomenom?

[meathiel]

It seems to be a place to protest against oppression ...

Maybe you'd like to read the article in wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Crosses