Zervynos
Encyclopedia
Zervynos is an ethnographic village
in the Varėna district, Lithuania
. It is situated within the territory of the Dzūkija National Park
near the Ūla River
. The Saint Petersburg – Warsaw Railway runs through this village. Zervynos has 48 homesteads; 8 homesteads and 32 separate buildings are officially declared ethnographic monuments. The village was among the sites short-listed for nomination for the UNESCO
World Heritage Site
. Though the village is isolated by Dainava Forest
, it is a busy place during summer as tourists kayaking in the Ūla River pass through the settlement.
Zervynos was first mentioned in written sources in 1742. However, 24 campsites, dating from the Stone
and Iron Age
s, show that people lived in the area for much longer time. Inhabitants were mostly fishers, hunters, gatherers of many of the forest's goods. In the 18th century the village was divided by the Ūla River: the right bank was in the Varėna
eldership of Trakai Voivodeship
while the left side was in the Kaniava eldership of Vilnius Voivodeship
. The right bank evolved from a village owned by a noble and the left bank from a settlement of forest workers. Both sides had about 10 homesteads and a hundred inhabitants.
in the middle. As family sizes decreased, newer houses replaced one living room with a proper kitchen.
In the middle of the village there is a group of 3 crosses built in different years. Another two crosses are built on the bank of the Ūla River and at a crossroad near the cemetery. Zervynos was one of the earliest subjects of ethnographic expeditions and a monograph, published in 1964 and devoted solely to the village and its heritage, started a trend of localized ethnographic research.
Films Nobody Wanted to Die
(1966) about post-World War II resistance and Faktas (Fact, 1981) about Pirčiupiai massacre were filmed in Zervynos. Folk artist Algis Svirnelis, who rebuilt the Zervynos village crosses lives there, as well as 2005 Lithuanian National Prize
laureate writer Juozas Aputis. In 2001 the villagers hosted annual Mushroom Festival inviting people, including Speaker of the Seimas
Artūras Paulauskas
and U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft
, to hunt for mushrooms
in the surrounding forests. The village is also known for beekeeping: two old pines with hallows for bees are declared natural monuments.
Ethnographic village
An ethnographic village is a real or artificial settlement which portrays complete historical and ethnographic characteristics of life of a certain ethic group...
in the Varėna district, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. It is situated within the territory of the Dzūkija National Park
Dzukija National Park
Dzūkija National Park - a national park in Dzūkija, Lithuania, was established in 1991 in order to preserve the pine forests, the landscape, and the villages of the region. The area encompasses approximately 550 square kilometers on the banks of the Nemunas River.The park is the largest protected...
near the Ūla River
Ula River
Ūla is a river in Dzūkija National Park in southern Lithuania.The total length of the river is 84 km. Ūla flows into Merkys....
. The Saint Petersburg – Warsaw Railway runs through this village. Zervynos has 48 homesteads; 8 homesteads and 32 separate buildings are officially declared ethnographic monuments. The village was among the sites short-listed for nomination for the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Though the village is isolated by Dainava Forest
Dainava Forest
The Dainava Forest is the largest forest in Lithuania. Located in Dzūkija region in southern Lithuania, it covers the total area of of which is covered by trees. A large part of the forest is protected by the Dzūkija National Park....
, it is a busy place during summer as tourists kayaking in the Ūla River pass through the settlement.
History
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1798 | 104 |
| 1858 | 133 |
| 1959 | 190 |
| 1970 | 169 |
| 1979 | 133 |
| 1987 | 139 |
| 2001 | 67 |
Zervynos was first mentioned in written sources in 1742. However, 24 campsites, dating from the Stone
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
s, show that people lived in the area for much longer time. Inhabitants were mostly fishers, hunters, gatherers of many of the forest's goods. In the 18th century the village was divided by the Ūla River: the right bank was in the Varėna
Varena
Varėna is a city in Dzūkija, Lithuania.-History:The town was founded in 1862 near the Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway, south of Sena Varėna . At that time it was a small settlement, but following steady development it eventually became the center of the district in 1950. In the interbellum...
eldership of Trakai Voivodeship
Trakai Voivodeship
Trakai Voivodeship, Trakai Palatinate, or Troki Voivodeship , was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1413 until 1795.-History:...
while the left side was in the Kaniava eldership of Vilnius Voivodeship
Vilnius Voivodeship
The Vilnius Voivodeship was one of voivodeships in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, created in 1413, from the Duchy of Lithuania and neighbouring lands.- Geography and administrative division :...
. The right bank evolved from a village owned by a noble and the left bank from a settlement of forest workers. Both sides had about 10 homesteads and a hundred inhabitants.
Architecture
The village was untouched by lands reforms because it is isolated by forests and sandy soil is unfit for agriculture. The village preserved its original layout from the 18th century. The farm houses are aligned to the central street, running in a narrow strip between the river and slopes of river's valley. Various structures in the homestead are arranged depending on the terrain and size of the plot. All buildings are wooden, constructed mostly from pine logs by the families based on old architectural traditions. Older houses are simple with symmetrical composition and plain exterior. They are divided into three areas: two living rooms at the end and an anteroom and larderLarder
A larder is a cool area for storing food prior to use.Larders were commonplace in houses before the widespread use of the refrigerator.Essential qualities of a larder are that it should be:*as cool as possible*close to food preparation areas...
in the middle. As family sizes decreased, newer houses replaced one living room with a proper kitchen.
In the middle of the village there is a group of 3 crosses built in different years. Another two crosses are built on the bank of the Ūla River and at a crossroad near the cemetery. Zervynos was one of the earliest subjects of ethnographic expeditions and a monograph, published in 1964 and devoted solely to the village and its heritage, started a trend of localized ethnographic research.
Culture
Nobody Wanted to Die
Nobody Wanted to Die is a 1966 Lithuanian film made in Soviet Lithuania and directed by Vytautas Žalakevičius. Žalakevičius, actor Donatas Banionis, and cinematographer Jonas Gricius were awarded USSR State Prize for the film in 1967.-Cast:...
(1966) about post-World War II resistance and Faktas (Fact, 1981) about Pirčiupiai massacre were filmed in Zervynos. Folk artist Algis Svirnelis, who rebuilt the Zervynos village crosses lives there, as well as 2005 Lithuanian National Prize
Lithuanian National Prize
The Lithuanian National Prize , established in 1989, is an award granted for achievements in culture and the arts. It has been awarded annually in six categories since 2006...
laureate writer Juozas Aputis. In 2001 the villagers hosted annual Mushroom Festival inviting people, including Speaker of the Seimas
Seimas
The Seimas is the unicameral Lithuanian parliament. It has 141 members that are elected for a four-year term. About half of the members of this legislative body are elected in individual constituencies , and the other half are elected by nationwide vote according to proportional representation...
Artūras Paulauskas
Arturas Paulauskas
Artūras Paulauskas is a Lithuanian politician. He was the Speaker of Seimas, the parliament of Lithuania, from 2000 to 2006, and he served as Acting President of Lithuania from 6 April 2004 to 12 July 2004.-Early career:...
and U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft
John F. Tefft
John F. Tefft is the United States Ambassador to Ukraine. He has been a career Foreign Service Officer for thirty-three years.Tefft is also a former United States Ambassador to Georgia and Lithuania, as well as former Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S...
, to hunt for mushrooms
Mushroom hunting
Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking, and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for eating...
in the surrounding forests. The village is also known for beekeeping: two old pines with hallows for bees are declared natural monuments.