The Eternal Borderline – a theatralised cultural programme to explore Eastern Lithuania Minor from Smalininkai to Vilkyškiai

Discover the archaic towns of Lithuania Minor by traveling along the eternal borderline from Smalininkai to Vilkyškiai. Travel time: 4 hours.

A trip that spares no surprises designed to explore the former Kingdom of Prussia awaits you: we will travel a few hundred years back to the past. At the beginning of the trip, you will face the peculiarities of the Prussian customs at the borderline and participate in the first part of the Eternal Border theatralised cultural programme. Following a strict inspection conducted by the Wachtmeisters Fritz and Dot, you will be accompanied to the old Smalininkai School to meet Frau Marta, a teacher. Having learned to bring out several words in a local dialect, you will continue your journey through the wooded surroundings of Viešvilė to Mociškiai.

Mociškiai has long been famous for its exceptionally tasty baked ‘woffles’ and cakes, while a strong drink called ‘meškinė’ (bear drink) sold at the pub quickly raised the spirit of tired travellers. You can taste the dishes of the culinary heritage of Lithuania Minor in Mociškiai to this day – šiupinys (a local hotchpotch), ‘woffles’, various ‘kuchens’, ‘tija’ (tea), ‘Kafija’ (coffee) and other local dishes. Therefore, we will definitely visit the Mociškių palivarkas rural tourism homestead, the hosts of which will welcome you and present the peculiarities of the culinary heritage of this region. During the tasting, you will have a substantial meal and learn about the traditional foods and drinks of lietuvininkai (inhabitants of Lithuania Minor), as well as about the peculiarities of the preparation of such dishes, and the differences from and similarities to the Samogitian and Lithuanian traditional cuisine. You will also learn about the tools the inhabitants of this region used for hunting bears.

When getting to know the region that has maintained evangelical traditions, visiting the town of Vilkyškiai is a must. There still stands a well-preserved Vilkyškiai Evangelical Lutheran Church, which monumentalises the history of the Salzburg colonists of the 18th century and the ideology of Martin Luther. In Vilkyškiai, you will also become the participants of an exclusive final part of the Eternal Border theatralised cultural programme – the Witches’ Hammer.

The essence of the Witches’ Hammer plot is the witch-hunting and the Inquisition in the 17th century. ‘Here and now’ you will become members of the theatrical programme and perform a witch trial based on real facts recorded at the time of the Kingdom of Prussia.

Good impressions guaranteed. See you in Eastern Lithuania Minor!

The price of the trip includes services of a guide.

Additional charges will apply for educational activities, the price of which depends on the number of visitors and is adapted to visitor groups individually.

Clothing: comfortable.

Programme duration: about 5 hours.

Price:

Group of 10 people – from 15 EUR/person.

Group of 20 people – from 8 EUR/person.

Group of 30 people – from 6 EUR/person.

Group of 40 people – from 4 EUR/person.

Group of 50 people – from 3 EUR/person.