Parks of Lazdijai region
Veisiejai regional park
Sculpture park in Veisiejai town centre
Sculpture park was equipped in the central part of Veisiejai town, in the relief depression between the Vytautas street and Santarvė Square. The oak sculptures of Oracle, Warrior and Chronicler in Santarvės Square were built in 1984. Sculptures by folk artists Antanas Česnius and Balys Dabrukas symbolize the historical past of Veisiejai. On April 30 – May 12, 2001, on the 500th anniversary of Veisiejai town, and 475th anniversary of the parish, one of the events was the woodcarving. Eight sculptors participating in it donated their works to Veisiejai.
Monument of inventor of Esperanto Ludvic Lazarus Zamenhof
Ludvic Lazarus Zamenhof (1859 – 1917) inventor of Esperanto, lived in Veisiejai since 1885 till 1887.
He was born in Bialystok, to the family of foreign language teacher. At school he thoroughly studied foreign languages, and spoke 12 of them. Graduated the Gymnasium, he developed the first project of international language, but father did not approve L. L. Zamenhof’s choice – he burned the manual of language project and sent his son to medicine studies. After completing studies in Moscow and Warsaw, Ludvic came to his sister in Veisiejai. In Veisiejai L. L. Zamenhof practiced medicine, restored and finished Esperanto manual. Thus Veisiejai is a legitimate motherland of Esperanto.
The Veisiejai Ash
The ash grows in southern part of Veisiejai park, on Ančia lake shore. It is the second ash by girth in Lithuania. The Veisiejai Ash is of 30 m height, with 5.1 m girth in the bottom. Veisiejai park with its gigantic ash was planed in the second half of the 18th century. The park was founded by Masalskiai family – the owner of Veisiejai at that time who also built the manor. In 1987 the Veisiejai Ash was declared as state-protected local dendrological monument.
In spring, when other trees come into leaf, this ash has still naked branches. As a legend tells, all trees have eyes and can see, but ash is blind. Therefore, already for 150 years, unable to see the awakening nature, the blind ash is the last to blow his buds…
Meteliai regional park