Lithuanian's Symbol of Resilience: The Hill of Crosses

​After six days of traveling through Lithuania, from Vilnius to Trakai, Kaunas, Klaipėda, and the Curonian Spit, we made one final stop before heading north to Latvia. Just 30 minutes south of the Latvian border, near the city of Šiauliai, lies the Hill of Crosses, a must-see pilgrimage site. The tradition of placing crosses here began in the 19th century after uprisings against Russian rule, as families sought to commemorate those lost in the struggle for freedom. During the Soviet occupation, the hill became a symbol of peaceful resistance, as Lithuanians continued to place crosses despite efforts to remove them. Today, the Hill of Crosses stands as a powerful symbol of Lithuanian resilience and faith, attracting visitors and pilgrims from around the world - Šiauliai, Lithuania