The lands of Aukštaitija (the present north-eastern and eastern part of Lithuania) were the prime nucleus of the Lithuanian State. Around the 11th century the Duchy of Lithuania was formed here. Due to insightful diplomatic relations it became the most powerful Baltic Duchy in the 12th century when compared to the neighbouring Poland and Russia.
People of Aukštaitija were first mentioned in the chronicle of Peter of Duisburg describing the fights of Duke Vytenis to protect and strengthen the territory of the Duchy (1294 – 1300) - Austechia, terra regis Lethowie (Aukštaitija, the land of Lithuania’s King).
Aukštaitija is the biggest ethnographic region of Lithuania. People used to live here in free planned homesteads or street-planned villages, where dwelling houses were situated along the road and outbuildings – in the back of the yard. The Aukštaitija National Park still accommodates 40 of such exotic “live” (inhabited) villages.
Vivid and bright colours prevail in traditional textiles and national costumes of this region. People still sing thousand-year-old sutartinės of Aukštaitija (ancient polyphonic songs). These songs have retained their archaic musical and poetical form. The tunes of these songs witness their ancient origin and elaborate polyphonic language speaks of high musical culture of those days. These polyphonic songs represent an exceptional phenomenon not only in Lithuanian but in the world’s folklore too. Along with vocal music Aukštaitija people enjoyed original instrumental polyphony performed by pan pipes and horns.
It’s hard to tell whether Aukštaitija people started singing or tasting beer first. Aukštaitija, especially Biržai district, is known as the land of brewers. Biržai castle is home to the Beer Museum and three breweries of the town offer different brands of beer. A big industrial brewery Utenos Alus is located in Utena, another town of Aukštaitija. Rich culinary heritage of Aukštaitija is a member of the Culinary Heritage Europe, so if you want to try some traditional specialties of the region – follow the sign “Kulinarinis paveldas. Aukštaitija” (Culinary Heritage. Aukštaitija).
The Aukštaitija of today is noted for a large variety of dialects, way of life and ethno- cultural heritage as it has inherited customs and traditions of three big ethnic formations – Sėla, Nalšia and Žiemgala. Maybe it is the result of diverse relief, an abundance of lakes, forests and hills turning each village into a small solitary world? Cheerful temper of Aukštaitija people is said to stem from remarkably picturesque nature, while Aukštaitija is also called the motherland of poets and story-tellers.
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