Panevėžys is a city in northern Lithuania. Located on both sides of
Nevėžys, on the right bank is the old town of Panevėžys, on the left is
New Town, the current city center.
Located in the lowlands of
Central Lithuania. 136 km northwest of Vilnius. The fifth largest city
in Lithuania.
7 post offices (central LT-35001). Center of
Panevėžys District Municipality and Panevėžys Senior Citizens. Terminal
Siauruk station Panevėžys-Anykščiai. There is the Diocese of Panevėžys,
churches of various faiths.
The city's birthday (city day) is
celebrated on September 7.
In the center of Panevėžys, on the left bank of Nevėžio, there is the
Cathedral of Christ the King of Panevėžys (built in 1929), Panevėžys St.
Trinity (Marian) Church (built in 1803; former Piori and later Marian
monastery), Panevėžys St. Chapel of the Immaculate Conception of the
Virgin Mary (1939), Orthodox church (next to the Orthodox cemetery),
Panevėžys Old Church, Panevėžys Evangelical Lutheran Church (built in
1854), Panevėžys Evangelical Reformed Church. On the right bank -
Panevėžys St. the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul (built in 1885)
and the old city cemetery. in 2001 The Panevėžys New Apostles' Church
was built, and the Panevėžys Free Christian Church operates nearby. On
the left bank of Nevėžys there is an industrial zone that was formed in
the 19th century.
There are several theaters in the city, the
most famous of which is the Panevėžys Juoz Miltinii Drama Theater, as
well as the only Puppet Carriage Theater in Lithuania, the "Menas"
theater, musical theater, art and photography galleries.
Organized symposia: International Symposium on Ceramics, International
Art Glass Symposium "GlassJazz".
Since 2002 an international
children's and youth jazz music festival-competition "Jazz Fontanas" is
held every year.
There is a square of decorative sculptures of
Senvagė near Nevėžys senvagė. There is a museum of local history and
resistance to the Soviet occupation. The surviving interwar Palace of
the Bank of Lithuania (architect Mykolas Songaila, sculptor Juozas
Zikaras).
The city has the Panevėžys Republican Hospital, a
center for integrated health services, and an infectious disease
hospital in the city center.
Until 1970 the Panevėžys kenesa
stood in the city, the Karaite magazine Onarmach was published between
the wars. The Panevėžys Yeshiva was founded in Panevėžys, but was moved
to Bnei Brak in Israel.
The city was built by the Nevėžis river, which is why it was named accordingly: prefix pa- + name of the river. Water-based toponym, such a toponym is characteristic of the Lithuanian language, e.g. Pagėgii, Pakruojis, Pasvalys, etc.
In 1414, according to legend, Vytautas the Great, returning from
Žemaitija to Vilnius, found a temple of the old Lithuanian religion
here. in 1503 September 7 the name of Panevėžys was mentioned when the
Grand Duke of Lithuania and King Alexander of Poland mentioned Panevėžys
in a letter to the pastor of the Ramygala church about the donated lands
between the Nevėžys and Lėvens rivers (the lands of the Panevėžys manor,
which were on the right bank of the Nevėžys, were transferred to the
parish of Ramygala). in 1507 a church was built on the plot on the right
bank of the Nevėžius River, and next to it, as a church estate, there is
a tavern, a distillery, and a sauna. This is how Senasis Panevėžys (the
current Old Town) was created. in 1548 New Town (present-day New Town)
is already mentioned on the left bank of Nevėžys in the land inspection
certificate of the manor. New Panevėžys, belonging to the grand duke's
estate, was located on the left bank of the Nevėžys and quickly
surpassed the Old one.
The city gradually gained more importance.
In 1565-1566, during the administrative reform in Lithuania, Panevėžys
manor became the center of Upytė settlement. in 1568 the district court
was moved from Krekenava to Panevėžys. in 1661 Old Panevėžys received
the privilege of a market. Since 1780 Old and New Panevėžys began to
merge, Mikolajavas began to be built - a settlement named after its
owner M. Tiškevičius. 1791-1792 became a city (although self-government
was introduced, but it did not have time to receive privileges).
19th century In the 1st half, Old Panevėžys and Mykolaiv became suburbs
of Panevėžys (joined to the city in 1915). 19th century, became
favorable for the development of the city of Panevėžys. Only three times
- in 1812. during the march of Napoleon's army and during the uprisings
of 1831 and 1863, the city experienced shocks, their consequences were
quickly liquidated. in 1811 Panevėžys was purchased by the Russian
authorities from a private owner, which improved its economic and
political situation. 19th century a community of old people settled in
the city. in 1881 the city suffered from a great fire. 19th century help
the development of the city was accelerated by the Radviliškis-Daugpilis
railway, and in 1899 and narrow Švenčionėliai–Panevėžys. Back then,
there were leather, candy, spirit, and tobacco factories in the city. It
was the city of Kaunas Governorate, the center of the county.
The
main feature of the following two centuries of the city's history is the
constant and rapid growth, which was manifested in the increase of the
population and the development of the economy, infrastructure, social
sphere and culture. The city suffered a lot during the First World War,
about a third of the city burned down. Between the wars, the city was
famous for its mills, flax processing, sugar and soap factories were
built. in 1927 Panevėžys Diocese was established. in 1944 July 22
Panevėžys was occupied by the Soviet army led by I. Bagramian. Panevėžys
was famous for its plants and factories.
After 1945 As the city
life was influenced by the Communist Party and the Soviet system, the
city began to expand into an industrial center. The territory of the
city expanded, large blocks of residential houses grew. 1955-1965 auto
compressors, "Ekrano", cable, precision mechanics factory, glass factory
were built. In the 1970s, the reconstruction of the central part of the
city began, and the old Nevėžio old town was repaired. New
micro-districts were built in the western part of the city - Klaipėda
(architects I. Daujotytė, I. Mumšienė, G. Bimbienė), Pilėnai (architect
G. Bilubienė), Kniaudiškiai (architects V. Andriuška, M. Steponavičius,
etc.), Tulpės (architects S Katilius and N. Garbaliauskienė). The city
was developed according to 1947, 1962. (architect I. Daujotaitė), 1973
(architect V. Bugailiškis) general plans.
Industry is an
important thing for the people of Panevėžys, which has shaped their
self-concept for several decades. The growth of the city and the
increase in population have caused many problems. The city has become
non-creative, only producing. The development of the cultural and social
spheres clearly lagged behind the economy. In Panevėžys, no important
scientific institution or educational system was established in ~300
years. did not progress from schools. Only the Panevėžys drama theater
reached a higher level than the national theater in ~20 years.
Intellectual potential is not formed in the city.
in 1993 the
current coat of arms of Panevėžys was approved.
It is in a convenient geographical position. The most important
highways of Lithuania intersect, "Via Baltica", which connects the two
capitals of the Baltic Sea - Warsaw and Riga. Klaipėda port is 240 km
away. The city is crossed by a railway line (most of the city is south
of the railway), and has three local airports (one of which is private).
~6 km to the east of the city center is the Belt Airfield.
in
1969 February 11 the longest natural blizzard in Lithuania raged in the
city (78 hours 25 minutes).
Economics
Large industrial center. in 2003 produced 5.1% of
Lithuanian goods.
The food (flour, sugar, milk, meat, oil) and
textile (linen) industries are developed. Large companies:
AB
Panevėžio statybos trestas is one of the largest construction companies
in the country. About 1,400 employees;
AB "Panevėžio keliai" is one
of the largest companies in Panevėžys. About 800 employees.
"Kalnapilis" - brewery. One of the oldest (1902) city companies;
UAB
"Viking Malt" - malt factory;
AB "Linas" (since 2005 has been
operating with subsidiary UAB "Linas Nordic") - production of linen
textile products;
AB "Lietkabelis" is the only factory of
installation wires and cables in the Baltic countries;
UAB "Schmitz
Cargobull" - Truck trailer factory
Linas Agro AB - production of
agricultural products
AB "Amilina" (formerly "Malsena") - production
of starch and gluten
AB Panevėžio energija - energy supply
UAB
"Devold" - knitwear production
UAB "Jaukurai" - Equipment for
heating, plumbing, engineering networks
UAB "Naftėnas" - wholesale of
oil products
UAB TETAS - Construction (electricity and
telecommunication networks)
"Ekranas" (~4 thousand employees) was the
largest kinescope factory in the Baltic countries, it was important for
Panevėžys farm. in 2006 bankruptcy raised social tension in the city,
~doubled unemployment).
There is a sports hall Kalnapilis Arena,
PC "Babilonas" is being expanded, a logistics center has been created
near the city.
There is the Panevėžys SEZ industrial park, and
the Panevėžys Science and Technology Park operates.
In 1897 according to the first general population census of the
Russian Empire, 6,503 men and 6,465 women lived in Panevėžys, a total of
12,968 inhabitants. About half of the population at that time were Jews.
Before the First World War, the city already had about 14,000
inhabitants.
After the Second World War, the natural development
of the city was disrupted. As elsewhere in Lithuania, the process of
urbanization took place, people from smaller towns were moved to work in
the industry concentrated in the cities.
A large industrial
center was formed in Panevėžys, many large industrial companies were
built there in the 1960s and 1980s, which is why the population here
grew very rapidly. In 1959-1979, the population of Panevėžys increased
from 41,100 to 101,500, that is, they increased 2.4 times in 20 years.
Population growth rates remained high and reached 130,000 between 1979
and 1990, when the population increased another 1.28 times. Later, the
population declined due to emigration.
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė (1861–1943), writer, social and political
figure.
Šachnelis Abraomas Meras (1865-1930), doctor, Jewish public
figure in Panevėžys
Juozas Balčikonis (1885–1969), linguist,
translator.
Josifas Šleimė Kahanemanas (1886–1969), rabbi of
Panevėžys yeshiva, Talmud teacher.
Elžbieta Jodinskaitė (1877–1951),
the first librarian of the city.
Mykolas Karka (1892–1984),
choirmaster, composer, pedagogue.
Matas Grigonis (1889–1971), poet,
translator, pedagogue.
Salomeja Nėris (1904–1945), poet.
Juozas
Miltinis (1907–1994), theater director, actor.
Vilhelmas Martynas
Variakojis (1912–1988), table tennis player, basketball player, coach.
Antanas Belazar (1913–1976), composer, pedagogue.
Steponas Kosmauskas
(1918–1985), theater and film actor.
Vaclovas Blėdis (1920–1999),
theater and film actor, theater director.
Bronius Babkauskas
(1921–1975), theater and film actor.
Jonas Juodelis (1921–2006),
priest, doctor of theology, public figure, polyglot.
Gediminas Karka
(1922–1991), theater and film actor.
Eugenija Šulgaitė-Karkienė
(1923–2014), theater and film actress.
Donatas Banionis (1924–2014),
theater, film, and television actor and director.
Mykolas Sluckis
(1928–2013), writer.
Algimantas Masiulis (1931–2008), theater and
film actor.
Stasys Petronaitis (1932–2016), theater and film actor.
Stanislovas Algis Kavaliauskas (1938–2020), cyclist.
Donatas Pečiūra
(1938–2023), cinematographer.
Algirdas Alionis (1940–2021), poet,
prose writer.
Vidmantas Bačiulis (1940–2022), film and television
director, screenwriter.
Stasys Kropas (b. 1953), economist,
signatory, president of the Lithuanian Banks Association.
Albinas
Kēleris (b. 1957), theater and film actor, director.
Algimantas
Aleksandravičius (b. 1960), photographer.
Daiva Rudokaitė
(1969–2023), actress, psychologist.
Libraries:
Panevėžys County Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bite Public
Library
Panevėžys Elena Mezginaitė Public Library
Panevėžys
district municipal public library
General education schools see
Category: Municipal schools of Panevėžys city. Vocational training
institutions:
Panevėžys Margarita Rimkevičaitė Technological School
Panevėžys trade and service business school
Panevėžys labor market
training center
Panevėžys vocational training center
Other
schools:
Panevėžys Primary School
"Linelis" special
school-kindergarten
Higher education institutions:
KTU
Panevėžys Faculty of Technology and Business
Panevezys College
Historical schools:
Panevėžys Polish High School (1919–1940)