Hill of Crosses – Lithuania

The Hill of Crosses is located 12 km north of the small county town Šiauliai. The town was established in 1236 and was occupied by teutonic knights in the fourth century.

The Hill of Crosses is one of the most renowned pilgrimage places in all the country and it’s a symbol of desire for freedom, national pride and piety.

Spread on a hilltop, hundreds of thousands of Christian crosses are raised to the sky, as testament to the faith and Lithuanian national identity. Nobody knows the exact number of crosses located on this hill, but in 1990, it was estimated around 55,000, while in 2006 the total amount already exceeded 100,000.

No one knows for certain when the tradition of leaving crosses began, although it is believed that the first crosses were placed on the former fort Jurgaiciai – Domantai after the uprising in 1831. Over the centuries, not only modest crosses, but huge crucifixes, statues of Lithuanian heroes, statues of the Virgin and the Saviour, and thousands of rosaries and effigies were brought here by Catholic pilgrims.

In 1795 Lithuania was a part of the Russian empire. Polish and Lithuanian rebels revolted without much chance of success against Russian rulers in 1831 and 1863. These two uprisings are tied with the beginnings of the Hill of Crosses.

As the families of many of the rebels have not found their bodies after battles, they erected crosses on a site of a former military fort, located on a hill in the area.

When the old political leadership of Eastern Europe fell apart in 1918, Lithuania declared its independence for the second time. The Hill of Crosses was already famous as a place of prayer for the peace of the country and for the remembrance of heroes in the struggle for independence.

UnusualPlaces Field Notes

Location

Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas), Domantai, Šiauliai District, Lithuania

Coordinates

56.01536, 23.41675

Access

Open to visitors at any time of day. Park only in marked parking areas; vehicles and bicycles/scooters are prohibited within the site. Fires and camping are prohibited in undesignated areas; assistance dogs only. Commercial filming and organized events require administrator approval.

Admission

Entry to the Hill of Crosses is free. The separate parking lot charges per hour: passenger car €2, camper €5, minibus (up to 9 seats) €6, bus (up to 20 seats) €10, larger bus €25; pay at the exit kiosk.

Time needed

No official visit-duration estimate is published; time varies with how long visitors spend walking the open-air grounds and chapel area.

Best season

No official preferred season is stated. Lithuania Travel notes the annual indulgenced feast and pilgrimage walk on the last Sunday of July, and a pilgrimage route to Šiluva on the first weekend of September; time a visit then only if you want to join those events.

Opening hours

The municipal visitor rules allow visits at any time of day, year-round. The site administrator may temporarily restrict access to protect the heritage grounds; follow current signs and notices.

Location checked

2026-09-25

Facts checked

2026-09-30

Location

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