Molėtai

Molėtai
City

Coat of arms
Molėtai
Location of Molėtai
Coordinates: 55°14′N 25°25′E / 55.233°N 25.417°E / 55.233; 25.417Coordinates: 55°14′N 25°25′E / 55.233°N 25.417°E / 55.233; 25.417
Country  Lithuania
Ethnographic region Aukštaitija
County Utena County
Municipality Molėtai district municipality
Capital of Molėtai district municipality
First mentioned 1387 Feb. 17[1]
Granted city rights 1539
Population (2013)
 • Total 6,302
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Website http://www.moletai.lt/

Molėtai ( pronunciation ) (Polish: Malaty) is a town in north eastern Lithuania. One of the oldest settlements in Lithuania, it is a popular resort for the inhabitants of Vilnius. According to the 2013 census, it had 6,302 inhabitants.

The town is located about 60 km (37 mi) north of Vilnius and 30 km (19 mi) south of Utena.

History

It was first mentioned as a private property of the bishop of Vilnius.

On August 29, 1941, 700 to 1,200 Jews were murdered in a mass execution perpetrated by an Einsatzgruppen of Lithuanian nationalists.[2] The victims of the massacre were commemorated in a march to the site, and a memorial was unveiled there, on the 75th anniversary, in 2016.[3]

In modern times the city has Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, the only such facility in Lithuania. And Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology - the first such type of museum in the world.

References

  1. ↑ Jogaila (17 Feb 1387). "F6-1. Lenkijos karaliaus ir Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Jogailos privilegija Vilniaus katedrai" (in Latin). Vilnius, Lithuania. Retrieved 11 Sep 2013.
  2. ↑ Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania: Mass Murder of the Jews of Molėtai Accessed 26 April 2017
  3. ↑ The Road to Death (75th Anniversary of the Murder of the Jews of Molėtai) at lzb.lt Accessed 26 April 2017


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