Alytus is the largest city in southern Lithuania. It is located near the border with Poland, and in the past was the subject of a Polish-Lithuanian dispute. It is picturesquely situated in the bend of the Nemunas, and the surrounding area is full of forests.
The history of the city dates back to the 14th century, but few monuments have been preserved here. The oldest is the church of St. Louis. An interesting example of architecture is the wooden church of the Guardian Angels. A memory of the city's former glory is the Alytus Mound, marking the site of a medieval castle.
Located in the south of Lithuania, it was on the border already during the partitions. For some time, its individual parts were in different partitions - Russian and Prussian. After World War I, Alytus was incorporated into Lithuania, but Polish protests over this decision continued for many years. If you want to learn about the history of Alytus, you can visit the small Ethnographic Museum.
A big attraction of Alytus is the Bend of the Nemunas, which stretches here for 16 km. The buildings are located on both banks of the river, which are connected by several bridges. The most famous is the White Rose Bridge, which is a high pedestrian bridge with nice views of the valley.
