Want a genuine midsummer celebration?

Go to Lithuania’s pagan capital Kernavė!

Kernavė is a unique five mounds complex, honoured as being the first capital of Lithuania almost a 1000 years ago. The first settlers appeared here as early as in 9th-8th millennium BC, in the Epipaleolithic period. Since then until the very Early Middle Ages, the territory was continuously settled by people who left their traces. In written sources Kernavė was first mentioned in 1279 in the Livonian Chronicle and the Herman Vartberg Chronicle, where it was described as Grand Duke Traidenis’, the Great Duke’s of Lithuania, estate (1269-1282). At that time Kernavė was the most significant economic-political centre of Lithuania. In 1390 Kernavė was burnt in an attack by Crusaders. After the fire the wooden town and castles was never rebuilt, and the remaining residents moved to the top of the hill instead of staying in the valley.

In later years, the remains of the city were covered with an alluvial earth layer, that formed wet peat. It preserved most of the relics intact, and it is a treasure trove for archaeologists, leading some to call Kernavė the "Troy of Lithuania". For example, Kernavė has the oldest known medgrinda, a secret underwater road paved with wood. The road was used for defense and dates from the 4–7th centuries.

Kernavė is world known for its annual celebration of Joninės – Lithuania’s famous midsummer festival dating back to the pagan times, and since 1967 also for its traditional Rasa festival. For several decades this festival was not only a way to clean the soul, but also to protest against the humiliation of national consciousness and the forced implantation of Soviet traditions. Attempts to prohibit this festival were not successful.

Kernavė is famous for national celebrations of King Mindaugas (1200-1263) coronation day on 6 July. On that day a festival is held, where medieval authentic crafts, war games and folk music are presented. The craftsmen come from around the Baltics and neighboring countries.