Discover Pakruojis: Synagogue, City Park and Kruoja

The Kruoja shapes Pakruojis. Its history can be explored through a range of themes: Jewish cultural heritage, sacred architecture and the city park each represent distinct aspects of the town. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in Pakruojis, these highlights can guide your plans and help you get a sense of the town’s character in advance.

Synagogue and architectural history

The Pakruojis Synagogue is Lithuania’s oldest surviving wooden Jewish synagogue. This makes it a notable landmark if you’re interested in Jewish cultural heritage and historic building techniques. The synagogue’s cultural venue hosts exhibitions, concerts, gatherings and discussions. Its cultural uses range from artistic events to community exchange, linking the building’s history with a distinct cultural profile. If you’re planning to visit for a particular exhibition or concert, check the event dates in advance.

The present-day brick Church of St. John the Baptist was built in 1887. Compared with the wooden synagogue, it brings a different building method into focus: brick rather than wood. This offers another way to explore the town’s architectural history, through its materials. Pakruojis is also home to the Atžalyno Gymnasium Museum. If you’re planning a visit, check in advance what visitor arrangements are available. A fire station also forms part of the local history: it was built in Pakruojis in 1928 with the support of the Jewish community. Unlike the religious buildings, it points to a different type of building and a different historical function.

City Park, sculptures and Sakura Garden

The 14-hectare city park was established in the Kruoja Valley in 1974 and serves as a venue for events and a place to relax. Its development can be traced through several features. Wooden sculptures were installed there in 1987, following a nationwide symposium for woodcarvers. At the initiative of the Pakruojis Rotary Club, a Sakura Garden was created in the park in 2016. The park, sculptures and garden therefore bring together several stages: the park was established first, followed by the sculptures and later the garden. On July 18, 2024, the municipality reported that the sculptures created by woodcarvers had been renewed shortly beforehand; they welcome visitors to the park. The 1987 installation and the later reported renewal are two separate events.

The Kruoja and getting around

Pakruojis lies on both sides of the Kruoja. Three suspended pedestrian walkways and two bridges connect the old and new towns across the river. The Kruoja thus serves both as a geographical reference for the town and as the setting for the city park in its valley. In connection with a municipal project, the municipality described the area along the banks of the Kruoja and in the city park as being in poor condition and unsafe to use. Before your visit, check for current updates on the condition of the crossings and, for the riverbank area and city park, on any more recent reports about completion or safety.

Discover more destinations: Gaugariai, Šiauliai, Margiai, Kelmė, Šiaulių kaimiškoji seniūnija, Vijoliai, Kuršėnai, Jurgaičiai.

For the regional travel overview: Šiauliai District.