The Old Zapyskis Church

About

The old Zapyškis Church of St. John the Baptist. A national heritage monument of the Republic of Lithuania. According to the ancient legends, in the distant past near the river Nemunas, where the plains of Zapyškis stretch today, there was an ancient Lithuanian temple with a stone altar. After the introduction of Christianity, the Duke of Lithuania Vytautas the Great built a Catholic shrine on the site of these ruins. It remained being called after him until the beginning of 20th century. However, the archaeological research indicated that the old church of St. John the Baptist was built in the 16th century by John and Paul Sapiega. It is a valuable Lithuanian Gothic monument, that suffered from the misfortunes of wars and floods. In 2020 after several years of reconstruction, the church has opened its doors to the public. The whole area is adapted for cultural activities, but the inside has the same medieval atmosphere.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 30 minutes