Wellness Springs resort
Druskininkai town is the gateway to Lithuania and, in the most explicit description of the geographic location of Druskininkai, is the largest resort in the south of the country. The resort celebrated its 210th anniversary four years ago, and since ancient times, it has been aplace famous for its treatment traditions and wonderful nature.
The first written source to mention Druskininkai is the Lithuanian Metrics. It writes that in1596, the village of Druskininkai was given to Voropajus, a manager of Pervalkas manor. The healingpower of sources was first verified by local rural residents. They noticed that after wadingthrough some surrounding springs, wounds on their legs began healing more completely.For this reason, in the 17th–19th centuries, smarter residents of Druskininkai began to “heal.” Inthe 18th century, the dynasty of folk doctors Sūručiai (Sūrmiečiai, Suraučiai) became especiallyfamous. However, Druskininkai became a real resort after the publicised analysis of the chemicalcomposition of mineral water of Druskininkai springs by I. Fonberg, a professor at VilniusUniversity, in 1835. After delivering data to the Russian Tsar Nicholas I, permission was obtainedin 1837 for the development of the Druskininkai resort, even though unofficially mineral andmud baths had already been operating since the beginning of the century.
Having been promoted at the resort for centuries, mineral waters and moor mud arenow combined with modern technologies and have a higher value in health and wellnessservices and in the subsequent promotion of the resort.
Currently, Druskininkai is known as a modern and specific international resort, providinghigh-quality wellness, tourism, recreation services, and ensuring high life quality standards.Now, the mineral water and moor mud that has been promoting the resort from ancient timeshas become a constituent part of the leisure and entertainment industry in Druskininkai.
 Geographic location of the resortand ways of access
Druskininkai is a unique place of nature located in the south of the country, full of greenery and encircled by a blue stripe of the Nemunas River and dense pine forests. It is the most southern spot of Lithuania, bordered by the Byelorussian border on the south, and the Polish border on the west. By car: Kaunas to Druskininkai 130 km, Vilnius to Druskininkai 130 km. By bus: International bus routes from the major Lithuanian cities and from the airports of Vilnius (www.vilnius-airport.lt), Kaunas
(Karmėlava) (www.kaunasair.lt), and Palanga (www.palangaairport. lt).
Climate
Mild continental climate and low temperature fluctuations are factorsthat are favourable for recreation and tourism. Average summerair temperature: +18.2º C, winter: -5º C, annual precipitation 600 mm,sunny days per year, up to 200; prevailing western winds of 2.09 m/s.Resort guests are attracted by the Raigardas valley chanted by legends,with impressive banks of the Nemunas River, rare plants andmysterious Švendubrė mycological stone.Near Druskininkai, there is a national park, exceptional for its uniquelandscapes of Dainava land: arrays of dunes, springs and cold rivers,their valleys, lake
s, mounds and hills.
 History
Druskininkai history is closely related to the history of mineral watersin this territory. Even though Druskininkai was first mentionedin written sources in the beginning of the 17th century, the countryhas been inhabited since the Stone Age.On June 20, 1794, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of PolandStanislovas Augustas Poniatovskis by his decree announced Druskininkaia treatment area. Until that time, Druskininkai had beenconsidered an ordinary Lithuanian village.In 1837, a professor of Vilnius University, Ignatius Fonberg publicisedthe analysis of chemical composition of mineral water ofDruskininkai, and the Russian emperor Nicholas I approved theproject of a Druskinink
ai resort foundation.
From the middle of the 19th century up to the beginning of the 20thcentury, the resort flourished. Druskininkai was not only a place fortreatment with salty springs, mud, and kumis, but also a place ofentertainment; concerts, performances and dances were stagedhere. In 1924–1939, the doctor’s E. Levicka’s treatment facility (park)of sun, air and physical exercises was functioning in Druskininkai.However, fires, floods, occupations and wars left their mark. Thearchitecture was changing and new buildings replaced the destroyedones, therefore there is little left from the old town. Healingtraditions were changing as well. Only the serenity encircling Druskininkai survived.
Today, Druskininkai is a modern and characteristic internationalresort providing high-quality services of wellness, recreation andtourism, and is famous for its deep traditions of sanatorium treatmentand rap
idly developing tourism service infrastructure.
Sightseeing places
Druskininkai treatment facility, Spring of beauty, DruskininkaiSculpture Park of Ž. Lipšicas, old cemetery in Ratnyčisa village, DruskininkaiJewish community cemetery, Island of Love, Švendubrėethnographical village with the “Devil’s Stone”, Liškiava, Raigardaslandscape reserve, homestead of geographer Prof. A. Basalykas.Museums and galleries: Druskininkai town museum, branch ofDruskininkai town museum, Druskininkai museum of resistanceand exile, M. K. Čiurlionis memorial museum, Grūtas Parkas Sovietsculpture museum, Crafts museum, Antanas Česnulis’ sculptureand recreation park, V. K. Jonynas gallery, Small gallery, Sofa gallery,Girios Aidas forest m
useum.
Traditional festivals and events
May
Druskininkai Resort Festival
June
Rasos Festival-Joninės (Midsummer Festival)
July – August
International Art Festival “Druskininkai summer with M.K.Čiurlionis”;
International Theatre Festival; Summer of Fortepiano Music; International
Festival “Muzika Be Sienų”
August
Summer Farewell Festival
Natural treatment factors and their main composition
The resort has mineral water of different mineralization, enrichedwith calcium, sodium and chloride, having higher amounts of magnesiumand bromine. Its chemical composition resembles famous European mineral water used for treatment.
Water from mineral springs has a positive effect on the stomachand digestive tract, as well as various muscular, articular, vertebral,peripheral nervous system, cardiovascular, gynaecological, dermal,endocri
nological disorders.
Many people have heard about the miraculous Druskininkai mud.
The resort boasts the deposits of moor mud. Peat mud procedures feature thermal, mechanical and chemical effects.
Moor mud is used for the treatment of connective tissue and skeletonmuscles, digestive organs, articular, nervous, urogenital andrespiratory system diseases.
Mild climate and ionised air is another treatment factor of the resort.
Pine forests surrounding Druskininkai and a large number of waterbodies surrounding the town make the air very clean and their prevailingnegative (light) ions are an essential feature of clean air.
 Treated disorders
Endocrinological, neurological, traumatological-orthopaedic, gastrological,gastroenterological, nephrological, blood circulation,respiratory, digestive, articular, gynaceological, psychosomatic, renalillnesses, muscle and skeleton system, oncological disorders, intellectual,emotional and physical stress, nervous stress, and disorderscaused by ionising radiation.
Types of procedures and SPAs
Mud baths, moor mud, kinesitherapy, psychotherapy, massages,physiotherapy, doctor consultations, diagnostic procedures. All procedures: www.info.druskininkai.lt/sveikatinimo_paslaugos/
 Active leisure services and other entertainment
Recreation in nature is the perfect leisure because there are manyforests and water bodies. One can drive along the curvy bicycle roads of “Žvaigždžių Orbita” or “Žilvinas” and admire wonderful pine forests and Raigardas valley panorama; the canoeing sports fanscan test their skills in the rivers of Dzūkija. Those keen for adventurousand extreme sensations can drive cross-country and off-roadcars, four-wheelers, and play paintball.You may sail along the Nemunas River by a steam boat or cutterand admire the nature of Dzūkija National Park, and if you are deeplyinterested in the resort or surrounding areas of Druskininkai, thetown’s tourism agencies will be very helpful for you.Often the guests coming to Druskininkai are looking not only fortreatment but also for other various entertainment; the town’streatment facilities, convalescent homes, spa, leisure and entertainmentcentres offer their services. You can play billiardsor bowling there, exercise in fitness halls, visit saunas, swim inmineral water pools, and fans of water entertainment and exoticsmay enjoy Druskininkai Water Park and aqua park “SPA Druskininkai”.In addition, nightclubs are open for those wanting to dance andentertain themselves.
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