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Lithuania appeals for its novelty value (fresh, undiscovered), its EU credentials, the World Heritage Site designation of the Baroque Old Town of Vilnius (narrow streets, brightly coloured buildings, courtyards, spires, Cathedral square etc.), and attractions further afield that include the five archaeological mounds at Kernove, the island castle at Trakai, spa towns, and the so-called ‘Amber Coast’.
This is the oldest of the Baltic States (founded on the trading of amber), and is celebrated for its attention to the arts, historic estates and castles, folk traditions, wooden architecture, 200 varieties of beer, and not least, for its reminders of the Soviet era. Ethnic cuisines focus, for example, on soups, filled dumplings, mushrooms, smoked Skilandis sausage, fish dishes and honey cakes. Vilnius achieved the European Capital of Culture status for 2009.
High standards of business tourism infrastructure both in the capital (globally-branded hotels, congress centres), and the new conference zone of the Lithuanian coastal region can now be experienced.
Vilnius is reachable from the majority of major cities in Europe in two hours or less, and through international train services.
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