Purnuškės village in Nemenčinė District of Vilnius District
Municipality is located north of Vilnius city. In Purnuškės there is
a Europa Park (Europos parkas). According to a calculation by French
scientists from 1989, the center of Europe (Lithuanian Europos
centras) is located here. Geographers from the Institut Géographique
National, the national surveying authority in France, calculated the
coordinates ♁54° 54′ 0″ N, 25° 19′ 0″ E for the geographic center of
Europe, i.e. the centroid of all land areas counted as part of
Europe.
Strictly speaking, the middle point in the forest is
about 762 m south-southwest of Europapark and 180 km below the
surface of the earth. However, the calculation method allows for
this tolerance.
MUSHROOM MANOR STABLES™ For your rest and refreshment from the hustle
and bustle of the city, family entertainment and outings, children's and
adults' horse riding, fun sleigh rides, kindergarteners' and
schoolchildren's outings, education and graduation celebrations, in all
kinds of forms and occasions that only you can think of.
Our family's
private horse stable (although we call it simply stables) is suitable
for recreational and educational events, family recreation and
entertainment - we are waiting for you at the 26th kilometer of the
Molėtai highway, right next to the highway, near the European
geographical center and golf courses.
About children's birthdays:
After arriving, the guests look around, walk around the horses in the
pens and gather in the stables. You look around the stables, we pet, we
laugh. After congratulating the solinezant and presenting the gifts, I,
the gaspador, call everyone in the center of the stables and give a
programmatic speech about the place where we are, why it is the way it
is. What and how, I will tell you a little about horses and stables and
how important the horse is in the life of a Solinezant and in general a
person. I also congratulate the solinezant and give a real horseshoe for
happiness. We chat a little more about how to behave in stables, how to
communicate with horses, how to pet, what can and should not be done.
When I ask all our pets not to give treats, we invite everyone to feast,
the feast begins and so on.
The music starts playing and we have a
snack. All food is not portioned, served on a buffet basis and, as a
rule, in the stables themselves. You yourself do everything as much as
you want, you help the children to serve themselves, who wants to sit at
the table, who wants to stand or any other place, if you find a nice
place for yourself. For larger options, some or all of the action is
moved outside, to an outdoor patio, a carport, and even a garden, and
sometimes some of the food is served in the garden. But that requires
bigger companies and more serious ambition.
The stables themselves
have a table where you can sit, a corner for coffee, tea and drinks.
Some of the food assortment changes depending on the season, but not a
single party has passed without boiled potatoes, which we eat with
semolina salt and simply with our hands, because it tastes better that
way. Sometimes we cook real borscht, and sometimes we serve real
crackers with freshly pickled cucumbers to the potatoes. To drink, we
offer water, cranberry jelly, rhubarb drink or similar. In a word,
tasty, stylish and filling. Small and large will eat, apparently even
those children who do not seem to eat anything at all. Then, right here
in the stables, on a real fire with real ancient pans, we bake real worm
pancakes, maybe even the best in the world. Therefore, the cake you can
bring with you should be small, because you won't be able to eat the big
one.
When the children have eaten their first meal, we saddle up the
pony, take them to the arena and start riding, while the parents watch
everything, take pictures and continue to eat, because the entire riding
arena is clearly visible from the table through the open gate of the
stables. At the beginning, the children go around the circle, then they
get a second one, and the biggest enthusiasts do that. The horse is
usually chosen according to the age of the children, because it is a
very small pony, so two-year-olds ride it, it is bigger, and it can be a
small horse or even a big horse. We seat the children, walk them, give
them small helmets and hold them, or father or mother can hold them to
make them more comfortable.
After riding, the children have a meal,
walk in the stables, talk to the horses, watch and pet them, play and
run outside, but then the cooking of worm pancakes already begins, so
the children gather at the bar, watch the baking process, sometimes
fight over the pancakes and eat until will not explode. Adults will also
have to, but either before the children see, or when they are full, or
when they lose their vigilance.
At that time, it is already time for
the birthday cake, followed by tears that "I will stay here", "I don't
want to leave", "I still need to say goodbye to Pupa".
The
typical format of the celebration is about 20 people, for 3 hours, with
children's riding, main food and drinks, the price is negotiable. In
addition, it is possible to coordinate a larger number of participants
(about 30, 40 or as much as you wish), a longer duration of the event,
larger quantities and assortment of food and drinks, we can ride in a
carriage instead of riding, or you can also ride and ride, you can give
the celebration a theme, increase the educational part , even push out
the cannon and salute with three volleys of celebratory salute.
Purnuškės is a small village located in the Vilnius District
Municipality of Lithuania, approximately 26 kilometers north of the
capital city, Vilnius, and about 10 kilometers southeast of the town of
Paberžė. It falls under the Nemenčinė Elderate and is situated near
coordinates 54°54′N 25°19′E. With a current population of just 16
residents as of 2021, it represents a quintessential rural Lithuanian
settlement, characterized by its quiet countryside setting amid forests,
fields, and small lakes. The village's name follows a specific
Lithuanian stress pattern (Purnùškės in the nominative form), and it is
one of at least two places in Lithuania bearing this name—the other
being a lesser-known Purnuškės near Riešė, about 7 kilometers from
Ažulaukė, leading to occasional confusion in administrative records.
Some local speculation, as noted in informal Lithuanian sources,
suggests the duplication may stem from historical district reforms or
relabeling errors, with the two sites potentially only 2 kilometers
apart and originally considered one entity.
Prehistoric and
Ancient Origins
The area's human habitation dates back millennia,
tied to broader patterns of settlement in the Baltic region.
Archaeological evidence points to activity from the Iron Age or earlier,
with the most prominent feature being the Bernotai Hillfort (Bernotų
piliakalnis), located within the village's vicinity. This hillfort, one
of the oldest in Lithuania, is estimated to originate around the 1st
century A.D. It consists of an oblong natural hill rising about 12
meters high, fortified with earthen ramparts and likely used as a
defensive structure or settlement site during the Roman Iron Age.
Hillforts like this were common in prehistoric Lithuania, serving as
refuges for local tribes amid regional conflicts or migrations. The site
also includes an ancient burial ground, suggesting ritual or communal
importance. These elements align with the broader history of Lithuanian
hillforts, which evolved from prehistoric farmsteads to more complex
fortified sites by the Bronze and Iron Ages, reflecting the transition
from hunter-gatherer societies to agrarian communities in northeastern
Europe.
Little is documented about the village's specific name or
organized settlement in ancient times, as Purnuškės itself does not
appear in early historical records. The region's prehistory is part of
Lithuania's broader narrative, where Baltic tribes inhabited the area
for thousands of years before the formation of structured states.
Artifacts from similar nearby sites indicate trade routes and cultural
exchanges with Roman and Scandinavian influences, but no direct
excavations at Purnuškės have yielded definitive village-specific
origins.
Medieval and Early Modern Period
Historical records
on Purnuškės remain sparse through the medieval era, a common challenge
for small Lithuanian villages whose histories are often overshadowed by
larger centers like Vilnius. Lithuania's grand duchy emerged in the 13th
century under King Mindaugas, uniting Baltic tribes against external
threats from the Teutonic Order and others. The Vilnius region,
including areas around Purnuškės, was part of this expanding polity,
which formed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1386 following Grand
Duke Jogaila's marriage to the Polish queen. However, Purnuškės is not
explicitly mentioned in key medieval chronicles or land grants from this
period.
The first potential references to the area may tie into
nearby settlements, but no confirmed "first mention" of Purnuškės
appears in accessible historical sources. Some travel guides and local
lore erroneously attribute a 15th-century origin to the village, but
this seems to stem from confusion with the nearby town of Paberžė, which
does have documented history from that era, including a beautiful
church. During the Commonwealth period (1569–1795), the region
experienced agricultural development, with villages like Purnuškės
likely serving as farming hamlets under noble estates. The area endured
invasions, plagues, and partitions by Russia, Prussia, and Austria in
the late 18th century, leading to Russian imperial rule over Lithuania
from 1795 onward.
19th and Early 20th Centuries
The 19th
century brought scientific and infrastructural developments to the
vicinity. Notably, the Struve Geodetic Arc—a chain of survey
triangulations stretching from Norway to the Black Sea and recognized as
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005—has a measurement point in nearby
Meškonys, about 4 kilometers from Purnuškės. Established between 1816
and 1855 by astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve, this arc was
used to calculate the Earth's shape and size, marking an early
contribution to global geodesy. While not directly in the village, this
site's proximity underscores Purnuškės's location in a historically
surveyed landscape.
By the early 20th century, demographic data
provides the first concrete insights into the village. In 1905,
Purnuškės had 42 residents, which grew to a peak of 138 sometime in the
interwar period before beginning a steady decline: 91, 79, 69, 60, 53,
40, and down to 16 by 2021. This trend reflects broader rural
depopulation in Lithuania, driven by industrialization, World Wars,
Soviet occupation, and post-independence emigration. During World War I
and II, the region saw occupations by German and Soviet forces, with
potential impacts on small villages like Purnuškės through conscription,
deportations, and agricultural collectivization under the USSR from 1940
onward (interrupted by Nazi occupation 1941–1944).
Late 20th
Century to Present: The Geographical Center of Europe
Purnuškės
gained international prominence in 1989 when Jean-George Affholder of
the French National Geographic Institute (IGN) calculated the
geographical midpoint of Europe using the center-of-gravity method for
the continent's geometrical outline. The point was determined at
54°54′24″N 25°19′12″E, just outside the village near Lake Girija. This
designation, which includes European Russia but excludes some islands,
placed Purnuškės as one of several claimed centers (others exist in
Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine depending on boundary definitions). A
subsequent revision, accounting for Malta's omission, shifted the point
about 100 meters, but it remained nearby.
In response, Lithuania
established a protected reserve in 1992 encompassing the site, including
woods, fields, Lake Girija, the Bernotai Hillfort, and the ancient
burial ground, to preserve its natural and cultural heritage. Informal
sources note a square with a column, monumental stone, and inscription
unveiled on May 24, 1997, to commemorate the center. The most iconic
development came in 2004, coinciding with Lithuania's EU accession: a
white granite column topped with a crown of stars, designed by sculptor
Gediminas Jokūbonis, was erected as the official monument. This site is
classified as a tourist attraction by Lithuania's State Tourism
Department and is the only such center listed in the Guinness Book of
World Records.
The designation boosted local tourism, with visitors
drawn to the symbolic "heart of Europe." Nearby, 17 kilometers away, is
Europos Parkas, an open-air museum founded in 1991 featuring
contemporary sculptures, including the world's largest made from TV
sets. Culturally, Purnuškės has endured lighthearted notoriety due to
road sign vandalism, where pranksters alter the name to resemble profane
words, a recurring issue noted in Lithuanian media.
Today, Purnuškės
remains a symbol of Lithuania's central position in Europe, both
geographically and historically, bridging ancient Baltic roots with
modern European integration. Its declining population highlights
challenges facing rural Lithuania, but the protected reserve and
monuments ensure its legacy endures.
Purnuškės is a small village in the Vilnius District Municipality, Vilnius County, in eastern Lithuania. It is situated approximately 26 kilometers north of the capital city, Vilnius, making it easily accessible by car or public transport. The village lies at coordinates around 54°54′N 25°19′E, in a region that forms part of the broader Baltic lowlands. With a population of just a few dozen residents, Purnuškės is primarily rural and agricultural, surrounded by a landscape shaped by glacial activity during the last Ice Age. This area is renowned for hosting one of the claimed geographical centers of Europe, a point calculated in 1989 by the French National Geographic Institute using the center-of-gravity method for the continent's boundaries (excluding remote islands). The exact center is located about 1.5 km northwest of the village proper, near the hamlet of Girija, and has been marked as a protected reserve since 1992.
The topography of Purnuškės is characteristic of Lithuania's gently undulating terrain, which alternates between moderate lowlands and subtle highlands formed by glacial moraines. The village sits in a relatively flat to rolling landscape, with elevations typically ranging from 150 to 180 meters above sea level—higher than the national average of about 110 meters but far below Lithuania's maximum of 294 meters at Aukštojas Hill in the southeast. Key landforms include Bernotai Hill (also known as Bernotai Mound), a modest elevation that adds variety to the otherwise lowland setting, along with scattered fields and wooded areas. This glacial heritage has left behind fertile soils ideal for agriculture, with no dramatic mountains or valleys; instead, the area features soft hills, shallow depressions, and occasional eskers (long ridges of gravel and sand deposited by meltwater streams). The overall relief is low, contributing to a serene, open vista that blends cultivated lands with natural features.
Water bodies are abundant in the Purnuškės region, reflecting Lithuania's status as a land of over 4,000 lakes and 800 rivers. The most prominent local feature is Lake Girija (Girijos ežeras), a small, shallow lake nestled within the geographical center reserve, surrounded by woods and fields. This lake, along with nearby wetlands and swamps, exemplifies the post-glacial hydrology of the area, where meltwater from ancient ice sheets carved out depressions now filled with water. Larger rivers are not directly in the village but nearby: the Neris River, a major waterway, flows about 20 km south through Vilnius and serves as a drainage basin for the region. Smaller streams and tributaries, such as those feeding into the Neris or Žeimena River to the east, crisscross the landscape, supporting local ecosystems but rarely posing flood risks due to the gentle topography. Wetlands are common, adding to the area's biodiversity and occasionally creating marshy zones that influence land use.
Purnuškės experiences a transitional climate blending maritime influences from the Baltic Sea (about 100 km west) with continental patterns from the east. This results in four distinct seasons: mild, rainy summers and cold, snowy winters. Average January temperatures hover around -5°C (23°F), with occasional drops to -20°C (-4°F) during cold snaps, while July averages 17°C (63°F), rarely exceeding 30°C (86°F). Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year, totaling about 650-700 mm annually, with slightly more in summer due to thunderstorms. The growing season lasts approximately 190-200 days, supporting agriculture and forestry. Winds are moderate, often from the west, bringing humidity that tempers extremes. Climate change impacts, such as warmer winters and increased precipitation variability, are increasingly noted in the region.
The landscape around Purnuškės is dominated by mixed forests, which cover over 33% of Lithuania's territory and include species like pine, spruce, birch, and oak. These woodlands encircle the village and the geographical center site, interspersed with open fields used for farming crops such as rye, potatoes, and flax. The protected reserve encompasses not only Lake Girija and Bernotai Hill but also an old burial ground, preserving a mix of natural and cultural heritage. Biodiversity is moderate, with common wildlife including deer, foxes, and various bird species in the forests and wetlands. Land use is primarily agricultural and recreational, with the geographical center attracting tourists via a monument—a white granite pillar topped with a crown of stars, erected in 2004—and nearby attractions like Europos Parkas, an open-air sculpture museum 17 km away. Environmental conservation efforts focus on maintaining the reserve's integrity amid growing visitor interest.