Kernavė: the outpost of Lithuanianism in Vilnius region in 1920–1939

At the beginning of the 20th century Kernavė, one of the most famous historical places in Lithuania, was heavily Polonised although until the second half of the 19th century the absolute majority of local people in Kernavė and its surroundings spoke Lithuanian. In the 1920s the national revival movement intensified in Kernavė, and local patriotic activists (teachers, priests), who were tolerant of local people and fostered the national values, took an active part in it. When the struggle for independence was over Kernavė, located very close to the demarcation line and far from the major roads and railways, faced danger to become a forgotten border village with a church. Kernavė was different for two reasons: firstly, its impressive history and, secondly, its local population, a group of patriots, priest N. Švogžlys–Milžinas, teachers J. Šiaučiūnas, A. Onaitienė and others, made every effort to regain Vilnius, revive Lithuanian identity in Kernavė and its surroundings which were very Polonised during several centuries, attract tourists and make the place the symbol of the legendary past of Lithuania and of protests against Polish rule. New, interesting and ideologically marked tourist destinations - the museum, the sculpture of the Iron Wolf with an altar, the cross along the demarcation line - were purposefully created by local enthusiasts. These undertakings were supported by associations and famous public figures such as Professors Zigmas Žemaitis, Mykolas Biržiška, Minister Stasys Šilingas and others. Thanks to the efforts of local patriotic population and associations rather than of local government Kernavė became known as “the bastion of Lithuanianism”. During the interwar period much attention was paid to patriotic education and popularising Kernavė all over Lithuania. The Archaeological Site Museum of Kernavė set up in 1930 is very popular. Kernavė was the outpost of Lithuanianism during the periods of the ideological struggle for regaining Vilnius, cultural resistance to Soviet rule, the national revival movement. Nowadays it is a famous and one of the most frequently visited historical sites in Lithuania