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In Vilkaviskis plenty of cultural monuments and places of interest that are related with the history of the region and literary heritage. The Vilkaviskis of the most significant cultural and educational centre in Suduva region. The region museum mounts stationary archaeological, natural and ornithological exhibitions as well as ones of the history of the region. There are standing expositions, too. A museum (a branch of the regional museum) has been established in an authentic barn (1867) of Vincas Kudirka (1858-1899) (author of the National song) in Paezeriai (Pilviskiai sub district). In Ozkabaliai, in Dr. Jonas Basanavicius’ living house of his homestead there was a museum established (a branch of the regional museum) that offers two expositions: J. Basanavicius’ scholarly works, manuscripts and photocopies of personal documents, photographs, books, and techno-cultural exhibits. Next to the museum there greens an oak-wood of Lithuanian national revival that was started to plan in 1989 (it covers the area of 39,5 ha). There are 12 catholic churches in the region as well as meeting-houses of other confessions. Architecturally valued are churches of Vistytis, Graziškiai, Bartninkai, Pajevonys, and others. Many outstanding personalities were born in Vilkaviskis region: Dr. J. Basanavicius, V. Kudirka, poets S. Neris, P. Tysliava, K. Bradunas, sculptor P. Rimsa, writers V. Pietaris, A. Krisciukaitis- Aisbe, and Pr. Masiotas. Vilkaviskis region municipality is located in the southwestern 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 region borders on Poland in the south and on Kaliningrad district of Russian Federation in the west. After the re-establishment of Lithuanian independence in 1991 Vilkaviskis region municipality was established. Its centre- Vilkaviskis- has been mentioned in historical chronicles since early 16th century. In 1660 it was granted the Magdeburg rights. The northern part of the region extends in the Sesupė plain, while the southern one-in the Suduva height. The larger part of the region is covered by agricultural lands, which are amongst the fertile ones in the whole country. It has definitely made influence on forest coverage of the region, which hardly reaches seven percent. Residents of Vilkaviskis region have something to be proud of, especially of natural values. The territory counts as many as 62 lakes and 14 mounds. Natural values are protected in the Sirvinta hydrographical as well as in the Virbalgiris botanical and zoological conservation areas, and Vistytis Regional Park. The ridged Kylininkai hill chain is distinguished by its expressive and picturesque relief. Mature broad-leaved forests, especially oak-woods with hornbeams and limes are very valuable. Forests can be proud of oaks of 300 years old as well as pines and spruces of 200 years old. There poppies Lake Vistytis covered by hills from all slides. On its strand there is a path in the Silelis forest that leads to a sacred spring let. On the edge of the park there broods the Great tracked Vistytis rock. The municipality designates around 6 percent of the regional budget for educational purposes. In 2004-2005 there 29 educational institutions in Vilkaviskis region municipality: Kybartai Kristijonas Donelaitis gymnasium, 9 secondary schools, 9 basic education schools, a special-boarding school, 2 schools-kindergartens, 4 pre-school institutions, and 3 institutions of complementary education. Nearly 9 thousand schoolchildren study at regional schools. Pre-school groups are attended by more than 900 children of the region. More than 900 educators work in educational institutions. All the basic education schools are computerized, and almost all educational institutions have wireless Internet access. In recent years more attention has been paid to the renewal of the school’s surrounding. Medical services in Vilkaviskis region supplied by 6 public personal healthcare institutions and 3 private ones. Besides, 24 medical stations observe health of residents of the region. Primary level services are rendered by eight institutions, including – public institution Vilkaviskis nursing hospital, while secondary level services – by one public institution Vilkaviskis hospital. Personal healthcare institutions employ more than 650 workers; hospitals have more than 230 beds. The Social security department around 18 percent of the regional municipality budget. Since 2001 the social security department organizes projects of fitting environment and dwellings to disabled people. These projects are being implemented by funds the Municipality and the Society for the Physically Disabled of Lithuania. Similar projects are due to be implemented in the future, too. Every year around 60 thousand litas are designated from the Municipality budget to finance programmers of rehabilitation and integration of the disabled. These funds are divided for non-governmental organizations of disabled people that operative in the region. In 2002 there was established a new public institution – Vilkaviskis social assistance centre. It covers services of Home help youth of dysfunctional intelligence. Since 2004 the centre provides technical help equipment for the disabled. Besides, the region has Gudkaimis foster home. Old and lonely people can get the following services there: accommodating, treatment, rehabilitation, as well as social and cultural services. There are two public institutions in Vilkaviskis region that are engaged in cultural activity: Kybartai and Vilkaviskis cultural centers. The Kybartai cultural centre can make a boast of a wind-instrument orchestra ‘Kybartai’ that glorifies not only the land of Kybartai, but also the entire region; a folk dance collective ‘Zemyna’, modern dance collective ‘Skac’, Girenai, Vistytis, and Virbalis country choirs, and vocal ensembles. The Vilkaviskis cultural centre has 6 branches – cultural houses in Alvitas, Bartninkai, Gizai, Graziškiai, Karkliniai, and Pilviskiai. The cultural centre and its branches employ 39 workers; there are 15 collectives of art lovers. The most famous collectives are: a folklore ensemble ‘Suduviai’, a choir of country music ‘Vingis’, a mixed chamber choir, a satire and humor group ‘Dagys’, and Graziskiai folklore ensemble ‘Grazupis’. The sports of the region is coordinated by a sports service of the municipal administration. It organizes traditional sports events, tournaments, and championships in the region. The region counts up to 15 sports clubs that are active in sport. The most popular of them would be a table tennis club ‘Sudavija’, a cycling club ‘Aira’, football clubs ‘Sveikata’ and ‘Atzala’, a track-and-field athletics club, a chess club ‘Sirvinta’, and a wrestling club ‘Ravyras’. Every year championships of the following sports branches are organized in the region: chess, table tennis, basketball, football, as well as track-and field athletics. A basketball tournament of the regional newspaper ‘Santaka’ has already became traditional. The sports activity of schoolchildren of the region is coordinated by a sports school of the Educational department of municipal administration of Vilkaviškis region. It was opened in 1964. Cyclists, wrestlers, table tennis players, and athletes of the region are invited to national teams of the Republic of Lithuania, participate in the championships in Europe and the world. In 2004 in the Paralympics games in Athens Tomas Kairys won the fifth place in pentathlon event. Cyclist Simona Muraskaitė was amongst participants in group racing in the world youth championship in Italy. Ausrinė Kulvinskaite became a champion on the youth match of the Baltic track-and-field athletics. A table tennis team became Lithuanian champions in 2005. The municipality constantly coordinates matters of agricultural maintenance and development with organizations of agriculture.
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