Liūdiškiai, Anykščiai District Municipality
Anykščiai District
writer's grave and memorial monument on a hill
55.51350, 25.08300
20-40 minutes
clear weather for the panorama over Anykščiai and the Šventoji valley
Laimės žiburys, Jonas Biliūnas grave monument, Liūdiškiai Hillfort
"Laimės žiburys": Jonas Biliūnas' grave above Anykščiai
"Laimės žiburys" is one of the best-loved symbols of the Anykščiai region: writer Jonas Biliūnas' grave and monument on Liūdiškiai Hill, also known as Liūdiškiai Hillfort, south-west of the town. From the hill there is a wide panorama of Anykščiai and the Šventoji valley, so the place is both a memorial and a viewpoint.
The name "Laimės žiburys" comes from Jonas Biliūnas' allegory and became the popular name of the monument in the town. Encyclopedic sources usually call it the writer's grave monument, so "Laimės žiburys" should be presented as a beloved but unofficial name.
Jonas Biliūnas
VLE states that Jonas Biliūnas (1879-1907) was a Lithuanian writer whose work helped establish the Lithuanian lyrical psychological short story. His best-known works include the novella "Liūdna pasaka" and the short stories "Kliudžiau" and "Brisiaus galas", still read in schools.
VLE states that the writer, ill with tuberculosis, died in 1907 in Zakopane, Poland. Although his life was short, Biliūnas' texts about compassion, guilt, and the fate of ordinary people became classics of Lithuanian literature.
Reburial and the 1958 monument
VLE states that in 1953 Jonas Biliūnas' remains were reburied on Liūdiškiai Hill near Anykščiai. In this way the writer returned to his native region, and the hill became his place of memory.
In 1958 a grave monument was built on the hill. VLE names V. Gabriūnas as its architect and Bronius Vyšniauskas as the sculptor of the bas-relief. The tall monument is visible from a distance and became a sign of the Anykščiai region, which people named "Laimės žiburys".
Place and the literary Anykščiai region
Biliūnas' grave is part of an especially literary Anykščiai region. VLE recalls that Anykščiai is connected with Antanas Baranauskas, who wrote "Anykščių šilelis", and Antanas Vienuolis, and that a memorial museum dedicated to them operates in the town. For that reason "Laimės žiburys" is best visited as one stop on a wider literary route.
Do not confuse two places: Liūdiškiai Hill is Biliūnas' grave, while his birthplace is in Niūronys village, where a separate memorial homestead museum operates. Both places are linked with the same writer, but they tell different parts of his life.
Visiting: how to climb and what to see
"Laimės žiburys" is an open-air memorial site that can be visited freely and without a ticket. A hill path leads up to the monument, so wear comfortable footwear. A short visit usually takes 20-40 minutes, including time for the panorama.
From the hill, Anykščiai and the Šventoji valley are clearly visible, making the place especially beautiful in clear weather. Biliūnas' grave combines well with other Anykščiai sights, such as St. Matthew Church, the canopy walk, and the Šventoji Nature Trail, for one day of literature and nature.
