/Hill of Crosses

>Lithuania

The Hill of Crosses has about 100 000 crosses – it is an historical architectural monument, unique in its composition of folk art. It was visited by Pope John Paul II. It is said that first crosses were erected here by the next-of-kin of the rebels that fell in the 1831 rebellion. Even more crosses appeared after the rebellion in 1863. At that time the tradition of visiting and erecting crosses on the hill of crosses was formed. The Hill of crosses became a place of vows in Lithuania. In the beginning of the 20th century, the hill was already quite well known. It was being visited by many people, and services and feasts took place here.