Prienai
Prienai | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Prienai Church | |
 Coat of arms | |
| Country |  Lithuania |
| Ethnographic region | Suvalkija |
| County |  Kaunas County |
| Municipality | Prienai district municipality |
| Eldership | Prienai city eldership |
| Capital of | Prienai district municipality Prienai city eldership |
| First mentioned | 1502 |
| Granted city rights | 1609 |
| Population (2005) | |
• Total | 11,131 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Prienai () is a city in Lithuania situated on the Neman River, 39 km (24 mi) south of Kaunas. In 2001 the city had 11,353 inhabitants. The name of the city is a derivative from a surname Prienas.[1] Pociūnai Airport is associated with the city.
History
The first documented mention of Prienai is in 1502[2] when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander gave the land of Prienai to the noble Mykolas Glinskis. Magdeburg rights were granted to the city in 1609, beginning a period of growth that continued through the 17th and 18th century.
During World War II, when it was occupied by German troops, Prienai lost many of its inhabitants. People emigrated or were expelled, while the Nazis killed the Jews. On August 27, 1941, 1,078 Jews from Prienai and surrounding areas were assassinated in Prienai. The massacre was perpetrated by Rollkommando Hamann and local Lithuanians.[3]
Famous people
- Joseph Gottfarstein (1903–1980), German historic and philologist
- Bluma Zeigarnik (1901–1988), Russian psychologist
- Jonas Kazlauskas (1930–1970), Lithuanian scientist, philology professor of Vilnius University, historical grammatics and baltic philology researcher
- Justinas Marcinkevičius, poet
- Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, writer
- Vytautas Petkevičius, writer
- Matas Šalčius, writer, traveler
- Vytautas Jurgis Bubnys, writer
- Sonata Milušauskaitė, race walker
Industry
Industry establishment began at the end of the 17th century, when paper manufactory was founded. 1868 beer brewery of high quality beer founded. It was active until 1941. AB „Sportinė aviacija“ for a long time was the only glider factory in Soviet Union. It was founded 1969. Here was created the first Lithuanian glassfibre glider BK-7 "Lietuva".
Sports
Prienai is home to BC Vytautas (formerly BC Prienai / BC Rūdupis / BC Tonybet), a basketball team that competes in the Lithuanian Basketball League.
International relations
Twin towns - Sister cities
Prienai is a member of the Douzelage, a unique town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[4][5] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).
References
- ^ A. Vanagas. Lietuvos miestų vardai. 1996, p.182
- ^ "Prienai district municipality". Lithuanian Department of Statistics. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search/vcntfr=1000.vcntto=5000/page/3/item/36/
- ^ "Douzelage.org: Home". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
- ^ "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
European Union: Members of the town twinning "Douzelage" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current members |  | |
| Former members | ||
