The Great Decadent Space

The nearby city was founded in 1236 and occupied by Teutonic Knights of the Holy Roman Empire during the 14th century. Crosses are thought to have first appeared on the site during this time as a way of expressing the desire for Lithuanian independence, and continued to be placed on the site throughout the medieval period by local Catholics.

During a peasant uprising against Russian control of the area in 1831, the practice of placing crosses in remembrance of missing and dead rebels began. By 1895 it is recorded that there were 150 large crosses on the site. By 1940, the number had grown to 400.

During Soviet occupation of the area from 1944 to 1991, the Hill of Crosses became a symbol of defiance. Three times the hill and its crosses were bulldozed. Despite these attempts to end the symbolism of the site, both locals and pilgrims soon once again begin erecting crosses.

Estimates are that there is over 50,000 crosses on the hill as of 2007.