Camper Life
At the beginning was the great desire: to stand directly by the water. This has now almost become a habit. We often camp in places almost alone, with a view of the sea or a lake....
barbaraundkalleunterwegs
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Zuletzt in Litauen
A Mountain Full of Crosses
Published: 26.08.2026
Attraction
Berg der Kreuze
Šiauliai, Litauen
Accommodation
Campingplatz direkt am See
Free camping · Litauen
Yesterday we arrived in Lithuania. Our first destination today took us to the 'Hill of Crosses', a Catholic pilgrimage site. We found a hill with many thousands of various crosses, countless rosaries, and of course some images of the Virgin Mary.
Our thoughts on this are mixed: On one hand, this hill is an example of popular Catholic piety, where the worries, fears, and hopes of people find expression. On the other hand, it is a tourist hotspot where all sorts of kitschy devotional items are offered for sale.
On one hand, this place is a symbol of a resistant consciousness, as during the Soviet era, the victims of the system were particularly honored here, especially after the Soviet rulers sent bulldozers to destroy all the crosses. On the other hand, the cross as a symbol cannot defend itself when it is isolated from the faith and actions of Jesus, and thus becomes so emptied that in the end, piles of (garbage) crosses emerge.
Just before more tourist buses arrived, we continued on to one of the most idyllic campsites of our journey.
Again right by the lake, again almost alone, and this time with plenty of sunshine. It felt like a completely different side of life compared to the Hill of Crosses.
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