Antakalnis (literallyLithuanian: 'the place on the mountain') is an eldership in Vilnius, Lithuania. Antakalnis is one of the oldest, and largest historical suburbs of Vilnius. It is in the Eastern section of Vilnius, along the left bank of the Neris, with the river running along the whole Western side of the district.[2] Antakalnis Eldership is the second-largest in Vilnius, with an area of 77.14 km2 (29.78 sq mi).
Antakalnis is home to the historically important Antakalnis Cemetery, where victims of the January Events in 1991, killed by the Soviet Army, are buried; their graves are often visited, as they are considered national heroes of Lithuania.
Antakalnis Eldership includes the recreational area and prestigious cottage district Valakampiai, where two river beaches have been established. The current and former president of Lithuania, the prime minister of Lithuania, and other state officials reside in the Turniškės neighborhood of Antakalnis.
The name derives from the prefix anta- (meaning "on") and the word kalnas (meaning a "hill", a "mountain"), as the eldership is situated in the highlands, among the hills.[3] In other languages the eldership was formerly referred to as: Polish: Antokol[4]
The Jewish surnames Antokolec, Antokolsky and variants derive from the Polish pronunciation of the eldership's name.
History
1778 picture
Antakalnis is one of the oldest parts of Vilnius. Historically, the suburb of Antakalnis developed along a road to Aukštaitija and Viršupis, the summer palace of the grand dukes.[5]
The district is one of the growing in the city. It is estimated that in the last 20 years, the population of the district has increased by almost 10 percent. In 2001, the population of Antakalnis was 39,697, with a decrease to 38,940 in 2011 and an increase to 39,242 in 2021.
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