🎉We are delighted to announce a pan-Baltic workshop on Integrating Military Heritage into Tourism and History Education. 🇱🇻🇱🇹🇪🇪 📅 Date: 10 January 2025 📍 Location: Latvian War Museum, Riga, Latvia 📝More info and registration ➡️ https://www.celotajs.lv/en/news/item/view/1360 This workshop is part of a joint initiative to expand military heritage tourism across the Baltic countries, uniting 🇱🇻Latvia, 🇪🇪Estonia, and 🇱🇹Lithuania to share the collective story of Baltic independence while connecting tourism, education, and military heritage. The workshop on 10.01. will bring together: ◾️stakeholders, including military heritage museums; ◾️history teachers and representatives of schools; ◾️history researchers, enthusiasts; ◾️owners of military heritage sites; ◾️tourism specialists, and others. 🎯Our aim is to inspire collaborative and creative approaches to interpreting military heritage in tourism, based on research and human experience. We will focus on the importance of historical knowledge, particularly for younger generations, and explore practical ways to make historical narratives engaging and accessible to all. 🤝Together, we will explore innovative methods for presenting history in meaningful and impactful ways. The programme will feature expert-led sessions from historians and heritage specialists across Europe, covering topics such as: 🔸Engaging young people through military heritage tourism 🔸Sharing authentic narratives at historical site 🔸Balancing personal stories with historical context for diverse audiences 🔸Integrating military history into school curricula The day will conclude with a guided tour of the Latvian War Museum. Join us for this unique opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and shape the future of military heritage education through tourism.

🔎 Step Back in Time at Joniškis Museum of History and Culture! 🇱🇹 Located in the heart of Joniškis, this museum is your gateway to the region's fascinating history. From archaeological treasures to ethnic culture and sacred art, each exhibit tells a story of Lithuania's rich heritage. 🎖️ Military History Lovers – This One’s for You! A standout feature is the Partisan Resistance Exhibit, crafted by historian Darius Vičas. Dive into the stories of brave partisans who fought for Lithuania's freedom against Soviet occupation. 💡 Highlights include: ✒️ An authentic “Olympia” typewriter used by the last Joniškis region partisans to publish the underground newspaper The Echo of Partisan Shoots. 🎶 A radio receiver playing songs from the freedom struggle era. 📸 Interactive experience: type on the vintage keys to uncover photos and hear stories of resilience and courage. 💬 “Discover the voices that echoed through Lithuania’s fight for independence.” Explore, connect, and honor history. See you there! ✨ #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

🌟 The Fate of Lithuanian Poet Vytautas Mačernis 🌟 In our previous post, we shared about the Battle of Seda and asked what connects this battle with Lithuanian literature. The answer is poet Vytautas Mačernis! ✍️ On October 7, 1944, during the Battle of Seda, a stray fragment from a Soviet artillery shell fatally struck the young poet in the head. At the time, 23-year-old Mačernis was traveling near Seda in a horse-drawn cart and became an unintended casualty of the battle. Despite his tragic fate, Vytautas Mačernis is regarded as one of the most significant creators of existential poetry in Lithuanian literature. Though his body of work is small, it left a profound and lasting impression. 🌿 The poet's birthplace was the village of Šarnelė, near Žemaičių Kalvarija. Today, you can visit: 📌 The Vytautas Mačernis Museum in Žemaičių Kalvarija. 📌 The Vytautas Mačernis Trail, located near his grave in Šarnelė. The Šarnelė Trail is a remarkable place! Nearby, at the Kerpauskas family homestead, Jews were saved from death during World War II. A spring flowing along the trail is dedicated to honoring this family. 🌊 Visit these sites to remember a poet whose legacy and creativity continue to inspire through time. 🕊️ Photos: Žemaitijos NPD archive, V. Mačernis museum. #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

Remembering the Heroes of the Battle of Seda 🇱🇹 📍This year, on October 7th, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Seda was commemorated. On October 6–7, 1944, soldiers of Homeland Defense Force attempted to halt the westward advance of the Soviet Union’s army. The Battle took place in the town of Seda, located in the Mažeikiai district. 📍In this uneven fight against the USSR's tanks and heavy artillery, inexperienced units of young men, aged 18–20, who had been assembled that same summer, stood their ground. Around 100 volunteers of Homeland Defense Force lost their lives in the battle, and many were taken prisoner. 📍This Battle became one of many symbols of resistance against Soviet occupation and remains significant in the memory of Lithuanian history. To honor the memory of the soldiers who perished during the Battle of Seda, a monument was erected in the town of Seda, near the church. 📍Read more about the Battle of Seda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatherland_Defense_Force 📍But the Battle of Seda isn’t just about history—it also has a unique connection to Lithuanian literature. Can you guess what it is? Drop your thoughts in the comments ⬇️, and we’ll reveal the answer later this week! #latlit #interreg #militaryheritage #heritagetourism #militaryheritagetourism

Šodien, 18. novembrī, 11. novembra krastmalā notika Latvijas proklamēšanas gadadienai veltītā militārā parāde, kurā piedalījās ap 1500 karavīru, zemessargu, policistu, robežsargu, ugunsdzēsēju glābēju un jaunsargu. Tika demonstrēta militārā tehnika.

Starp Lāčplēša dienu un Latvijas Republikas proklamēšanas dienu STARO RĪGA.

Toreiz un tagad. Bermontiāde. Bermonta karavīri Pārdaugavā pie Āgenskalna kuģīšu piestātnes 1919. gada oktobrī. Un šodien uzņemta bilde. Vēsturiskā bilde - Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs (eMuzejs, 1. Maršruts: Pārdaugava). Šodienas foto - J. Smaļinskis.

🇱🇻 Sargājot Latviju: Latvijas Kara skolas kadetu varonība. 🇱🇻 Latvijas valsts svētku nedēļā aizicinām iepazīt Brīvības cīņu mazāk zināmās, bet ne mazāk nozīmīgās epizodes. 🎥 Šajā video uzzini par Latvijas Kara skolas kadetu varonību kaujā par Vareļu mājām, kur dzīvību atdeva 14 jaunie kadeti. Šis notikums iedibināja tradīciju Melnās kafijas vakars, ko turpina Latvijas Nacionālās aizsardzības akadēmija. Skaties un uzzini vairāk par mūsu vēsturi! 👇

No Rīgas padzīti Bermonta karavīri.

Latvijā un Rīgā svin Lāčplēša dienu. Rīga, Rīgas pils, 11. novembra krastmala šobrīd.

105 years ago! Latvian War of Independence. Positions of the Latvian Army on the evening of November 8, 1919. A small piece of them in the Kleistu Forest, near Riga. The pictures are taken today - a century and five years later. Map source: Digital collection of the National Library of Latvia. Photo: Juris Smaļinskis

Northern Lithuania, and especially the Pasvalys and Joniškis regions, since the time of the independence war in 1918-1940 was characterized by vivid traditions of partisan warfare. The first partisan units were organized here. 1944 - 1946 Jonas Alenčikas Dragūnas was the commander of a partisan unit operating in the Žadeikiai forest. In 1945 partisans led by him installed a rather large bunker in the Žadeikiai forest, the length of which reached 30 m and the width of 6 m. A bunker of this size perfectly reflects the first stage of Lithuanian partisan battles, when partisans operated in large groups and lived in spacious bunkers or forest camps. The bunker was destroyed during the battle, but after the restoration of Lithuania's independence, the bunker was rebuilt by the Pasvalys rifle company. Currently, the bunker is under the supervision of the Pasvalys Local History Museum, a partisan camp has been restored near the bunker, a new memorial cross and an information stand have been built. ℹ️ Project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #militaryheritage #latlit #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory

The Dimitravas Forced Labor Camp operated from 1937 to 1940 and in the latter half of 1941 to 1944 in Dimitravas (near Kretinga). Military commanders sent individuals selected by the political police and district chiefs to the camp when there was insufficient evidence to substantiate their guilt. These individuals could be held there for up to one year, with an additional six months for bad behavior. The forced labor involved stone-cutting. In 1939, 337 people were imprisoned in the camp, mainly for political offenses. Most of them were communists or individuals deemed dangerous to the authoritarian regime. In the summer of 1940, the camp was closed by the Soviet authorities. During the Nazi occupation, Soviet activists and farmers who failed to fulfill their obligations were held and executed there (1,770 people were killed). ℹ️ Project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #militaryheritage #latlit #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory

Hiding from persecution and prying eyes, Lithuanian partisans built bunkers in the strangest and most unexpected places: in the dense forests, in farmers' saunas, under barns and stables, on floating lake islands and in swamps. Although today the forest surrounding the Plunksnočiai bunker is easily accessible and suitable for walking, after World War II the bunker was surrounded by a swampy forest with a small hill in the middle of the swamp. It was on this hill that the partisans established their hideout, where they stayed hidden until 1956, when the bunker was betrayed. ℹ️ Project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #militaryheritage #latlit #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory

During the Military Heritage tourism experience exchange trip to Estonia in the beginning of October, project partners and stakeholders from Latvia 🇱🇻 and Lithuania 🇱🇹 visited Railway and Communications Museum in Haapsalu (Raudtee- ja Sidemuuseum), Estonia 🇪🇪 🚂 In the previous military heritage Estonia-Latvia Programme project, the oldest broad-gauge steam locomotive in Estonia was restored. 🚌 Experience exchange trip to Estonia was organized within the project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union and Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme. #militaryheritage #latlit #haapsalu #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory #visitestonia

Between 1944 and 1949, this hideout served as the headquarters for the Eastern Lithuania (King Mindaugas) region of Lithuanian partisans. In the summer of 1944, Balys Žukauskas, along with his brothers Petras and Juozas Jovaiša, established the hideout and began to evade the mobilization into the Red Army, which had been announced in 1944. The hideout, which successfully sheltered partisans for five years, was betrayed on October 28, 1949. Surrounded by MGB (Ministry of State Security) troops, the partisans hiding in the homestead refused to surrender and detonated explosives, ending their lives. ℹ️ Project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme #militaryheritage #latlit #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory

Vakar "Lauku ceļotājs" novadīja pārgājienu pa JŪRTAKU ROJĀ ap 80 dalībniekiem no 22 EIROPAS VALSTĪM, kas Latvijā iepazina garo pārgājienu maršrutu izveides procesu, MILITĀRO MANTOJUMU gar bijušo DZELZS PRIEKŠKARU un piekrastes biotopu apsaimniekošanu. Apskatījām vācu armijas būvēto betona torni Rojā kā vienu no apkaimes militārā mantojuma objektiem.

The "Military Heritage II" project partners and stakeholders from Latvia 🇱🇻 and Lithuania 🇱🇹 visiting coastal batteries at Tahkuna, Hiiumaa island, Estonia 🇪🇪 🚌 Military Heritage tourism experience exchange trip to Estonia was organized within the project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union and Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme. #militaryheritage #latlit #visithiiumaa #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory #visitestonia

Today we conclude to explore 🔎 Hiiumaa and its military heritage 🪖 by visiting Orjaku military harbour ⚓️, and Elamuskeskus Tuuletorn - Windtower Experience, where it was possible to see and learn interesting and interactive solutions for creating experiences for visitors. Our Military Heritage tourism experience exchange trip 🚌 to Estonia 🇪🇪 began on Monday with first site visit to Railway and Communications Museum (Raudtee- ja Sidemuuseum) 🚂 in Haapsalu. This museum is housed in a train station built in the early 20th century and it showcases the one-and-a-half centuries of development of Estonian railways and mediums of communication. The outdoor exhibition also displays a World War II steam locomotive. 💡 It was really interesting and useful to get to know the military heritage tourism examples and experiences from the previous Estonia-Latvia Programme military hetitage project from our friends in Estonia 🤝 for the future product development in Latvia and Lithuania. ℹ️ This activity is organized within the project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme. #militaryheritage #latlit #visithiiumaa #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory Lauku Ceļotājs / Baltic Country Holidays | Zemgales Plānošanas reģions / Zemgale Planning Region | AtostogosKaime.lt | Žemaitijos nacionalinis parkas | Latgale.Travel

The "Military Heritage II" project team together with stakeholders from Latvia 🇱🇻 and Lithuania 🇱🇹 are in Military Heritage tourism experience exchange trip in Estonia 🇪🇪 Today we went to Hiiumaa island to learn 👨‍🏫 from practice examples of military heritage tourism objects in Hiiumaa with our guide Ain Tähiste. 📍 We visited Hiiumaa Military Museum (Hiiumaa Militaarmuuseum) and its exhibition introducing the military history of Hiiumaa. 📍 Afterwards we visited Tahkuna Lighthouse, which is the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the coasts of Estonia. 📍 Our itineray also included the Coastal Batteries at Tahkuna and a two-storey underground control centre with two entrance tunnels. ℹ️This activity is organized within the project LL-00052 “Extending the Baltic military heritage tourism product in Lithuania and South Latvia" (Military Heritage II), which is being implemented with the support of the European Union Interreg Latvia - Lithuania Programme. #militaryheritage #latlit #visithiiumaa #militaryheritagetourism #militaryhistory Lauku Ceļotājs / Baltic Country Holidays | Zemgales Plānošanas reģions / Zemgale Planning Region | AtostogosKaime.lt | Žemaitijos nacionalinis parkas | Latgale.Travel

2014. gadā tika izdota filma "Segvārds Vientulis" (rež. Normunds Pucis), kura vēsta par katoļu priestera Antona Juhņeviča traģisko likteni, kurš iesaistījās nacionālo partizānu cīņā pēckara Latgalē 🍁 Sekojot galvenā varoņa Antona Juhņeviča dzīves pēdējo gadu notikumiem, filma atklāj faktus par Latvijas okupāciju un nacionālās pretošanās kustības darbību Latgalē. Vanagu baznīca atrodas Preiļu novadā, apmeklējama arī mūsdienās, iepriekš sazinoties ar Visit Preiļi.