Molėtai
City
Coat of arms of Molėtai
Coat of arms
Molėtai is located in Lithuania
Molėtai
Molėtai
Location of Molėtai
Coordinates: 55°14′N 25°25′E / 55.233°N 25.417°E / 55.233; 25.417
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionAukštaitija
County Utena County
MunicipalityMolėtai district municipality
Capital ofMolėtai district municipality
First mentioned1387 Feb. 17[1]
Granted city rights1539
Population
 (2022)
 • Total5,716
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Websitehttp://www.moletai.lt/

Molėtai (pronunciationⓘ; Polish: Malaty; German: Mulau) is a city in north eastern Lithuania surrounded by lakes. One of the oldest settlements in Lithuania, it is a popular resort for the inhabitants of Vilnius. According to the 2013 census, it had 6,302 inhabitants.

The town is located about 60 km (37 mi) north of Vilnius and 30 km (19 mi) south of Utena.

History

It was first mentioned as a private property of the bishop of Vilnius in year 1387.

On August 29, 1941, 700 to 1,200 Jews were murdered in a mass execution perpetrated by an Einsatzgruppen of Lithuanian "nationalists".[2] The victims of the massacre were commemorated in a march to the site, and a memorial was unveiled there, on the 75th anniversary, in 2016.[3]

In modern times the city has Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, the only such facility in Lithuania. And Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology - the first such type of museum in the world.

References

  1. ↑ Jogaila (17 Feb 1387). "F6-1. Lenkijos karaliaus ir Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Jogailos privilegija Vilniaus katedrai" (in Latin). Vilnius, Lithuania. Retrieved 11 Sep 2013.
  2. ↑ Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania: Mass Murder of the Jews of Molėtai Accessed 26 April 2017
  3. ↑ The Road to Death (75th Anniversary of the Murder of the Jews of Molėtai) at lzb.lt Accessed 26 April 2017
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