The origin of the place name Šeškinė is not very clear. According to the opinion of the linguist Jonas Jurkštas, the area may have once belonged to a man with the surname Šeškas. Another version suggests that the place name Šeškinė may have been derived from a stream or lake with a similar name.
The first mention of Šeškinė (Šeškiniai) in historical sources is from the 14th century (1390). In the middle of the 16th–19th centuries, the territory of Šeškinė – a village of wooden houses – belonged to the Radziwiłł family of noblemen of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The hills of Šeškinė have always been used as a natural barrier for the defence of Vilnius. They have seen many battles, not only against the Crusaders, but also the Russian, Swedish, and French armies, as well as witnessing the 1794 Uprising and many other historical events. From a village of 84 inhabitants to a micro–district of more than 30,000, these were the changes that awaited Šeškinė in the 20th century.
The route will surprise those who have so far only associated the name of Šeškinė with a transport stop on the way to some major shopping centres.
What you’ll learn/see on the route:
- Where was the village that the neighbourhood was named after?
- Which forest are the sculptures by M. Sauka hidden in? Do you know their names?
- Which TV station is located in Šeškinė in a former cinema building?
- What events does the chapel by Ukmergės g. remind us of?
