Vilkaviskio town has been mentioned in historical chronicles since the beginning of the 16th century. In 1660 it was granted the Magdeburg rights.

Vilkaviskio region municipality was established in 1991 after Lithuania had reestablished its Independence. The territory of the municipality stretches in the south-western part of Lithuania. It covers the area of 1,259 sq. km. The number of residents here is around 50 thousand people, the major part of them reside in villages. The municipality comprises 12 sub districts: Vilkaviskis, Kybartai, Virbalis, Pilviskiai, Seimena, Bartninkai, Gizai, Gražiškiai, Keturvalakiai, Klausuciai, Pajevonys, and Vistytis.

Suvalkija – a land of plains, however a diversity of the conformation is typical to Vilkaviskis region. In the northern part there are plains, while in the south-western we can see heights. Residents of the region have something to be proud of, especially of natural values. The territory counts many lakes, including the most famous-Lake Vistytis. There are many impressive mounds in the land of Vilkaviskis.

The Vistytis regional park is distinguished by a very hilly landscape.

This amazing little land of Suvalkija includes many cultural monuments and places of interest that are related to the history of the land and literary heritage.

The region was once a birthplace of many famous Lithuanian figures: a patriarch, a signatory of the Independence Act Dr. J. Basanavicius, the author of the Lithuanian national song V. Kudirka, poets P. Tysliava, S. Neris, and K. Bradunas, writers V. Pietaris and A. Krisciukaitis-Aisbe, a sculptor P. Rimsa, and others.

The region municipality is in good terms with many European cities. Success is achieved in the development of cooperation of borderline regions in the fields of economy, culture, education, environment protection, territorial planning, and tourism. One of the primary purposes of the municipality is to invite investments and to establish favorable business conditions.

The municipal board has approved the first strategically plan of regional development, which is oriented towards the perspective of several-year development. One of its purposes was to determine the most relevant priorities of regional development for the coming several years and find common solutions. It is a document that offers a perspective of the region and which unifies implementation of long-term purposes and principal functions of the municipality. The vision of the plan – Vilkaviskis region – a safe and unique land of Lithuanian frontier, where a modern civil society creates welfare. Priorities include: development of modern soviet, expansion of competitive ability of economy, as well as formation of safe and clean surrounding. Our principal aims are the following: to capacitate the development of informational society, to raise the quality of education and training, to motivate activeness of residents, to enshrine the regional culture, to expand facilities of business support, to expand competitive ability of industry, to expand sector of services, to expand competitive ability of agriculture, to improve service facilities, to develop communication and energetic facilities, to develop facilities of public tourism, to secure clean and healthy environment, public safety, etc. We hope that the strategically plan of Vilkaviskis region development will help focus human, organizational, and financial resources for implementation of common purposes, in order to achieve welfare of our region. It should be mentioned that the municipal board and specialists of administration prepare and implement various projects that can make people’s life better. Such purposes require more money than the budget allows, therefore it is constantly pursued to raise finance of the EU funds as well as national investments. Businessmen and communities of people contribute to the same purpose on their own initiative.

Dear guests, I invite You to come and see amazing plains and heights of Vilkaviskis region, mounds that hide history, people and their good deeds. Our hospitable region welcomes everyone of You

Algirdas Bagusinskas
Mayor of Vilkaviskis region municipality