Radviliškis

For a city in Panevėžys County, see Nemunėlio Radviliškis.

Radviliškis (pronunciation^ⓘ) (Polish: Radziwiliszki; Yiddish: ראדווילישאָק, Radvilishok) is a city in the Radviliškis district municipality, Šiauliai County, in north-central Lithuania. Radviliškis has been the administrative center of the district since 1950, and is an important railway junction.

Radviliškis
City
Culture Center and bell tower
Flag Coat of arms
Radviliškis Location of Radviliškis
Coordinates: 55°48′N 23°33′E
Country	Lithuania
Ethnographic region	Aukštaitija
County	Šiauliai County
Municipality	Radviliškis district municipality
Eldership	Radviliškis town eldership Radviliškis eldership
Capital of	Radviliškis district municipality Radviliškis town eldership Radviliškis eldership
First mentioned	1529
Granted city rights	1923
Government
• Mayor	Kazimieras Račkauskis
Population  (2022)
• Total	14,976
Demonym(s)	Radviliškian(s) (English) radviliškiečiai (Lithuanian)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Website	radviliskis.lt

History

Radviliškis was founded at the end of the 15th century. It was first mentioned in the book on state economics by M. Downar-Zapolsky listing the cities taxpayers in 1567. In 1687, King John III Sobieski granted the right of holding a market to it.

Radviliškis was devastated many times by military forces, plague and hunger in the 17th–19th centuries. There were no citizens left in Radviliškis after the plague in 1708–1710.

Railway station in c. 1920

City growth began when the Liepāja–Romny Railway line, crossing the city, was built in 1870 and Radviliškis–Daugavpils line was built in 1873. Railwaymen constituted the majority of the residents.

During World War II, from 1940 it was occupied by the Soviet Union, then from 1941 by Nazi Germany, and then from 1944 it was re-occupied the Soviet Union. Around July 12, 1941, all 300 Jews of Radviliškis were murdered in the Durpunas Forest near the Jewish cemetery by Germans and Lithuanian Activist Front members from Radviliškis.^[1]

In 1998, a sculpture of the Victory goddess Nike was unveiled in the center of Radviliškis to commemorate the eightieth anniversary of the victory over the united German–Russian West Russian Volunteer Army. It was created by sculptor P. Mazuras.

Name and coat of arms

Supposedly, the name originated from the name of the noble Radziwiłł (Radvila) family of Lithuanian origin. This family ruled Radviliškis for more than 200 years, from 1546 to 1764.

A rising and light-emitting horse, representing communication, motion, city development and flourishing, is depicted in the coat of arms of Radviliškis. The light is a symbol of civilization's role in the city development. It was created by artist Laima Ramonienė in 1992.^{[citation needed]}

Attractions

Windmill near Radviliškis

Lizdeika Gymnasium

Radviliškis, settled on everglades, was famous for its railway and black-from-locomotive-smoke sparrows.^{[citation needed]}

The two symbols of the city are the railways, and black swallows.^{[citation needed]}

There are Evangelical-reformed, Protestant, Lutheran, and Orthodox chapels, Jewish synagogues and Catholic Churches in Radviliškis.^{[citation needed]}

The stone windmill of Radviliškis was erected in remembrance of the violent and triumphant battles in 1919 against the German–Russian armed forces(Bermontians).^{[citation needed]}

The wooden belfry of Radviliškis parish's Blessed Virgin Mary church of the Immaculate Conception is a topical architecture monument. It was set in 1878. The belfry burned twice. It was reconstructed in 1984.^{[citation needed]}

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Lithuania

Radviliškis is twinned with:^[2]

• Bauska, Latvia
• Daliyat al-Karmel, Israel
• Gniezno, Poland
• Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Poland
• Kadzidło, Poland
• Khashuri, Georgia
• Lillehammer, Norway
• Saint-Seine-l'Abbaye, France
• Skara, Sweden
• Uman, Ukraine