Šiauliai

Šiauliai was first mentioned in written sources as Soule in Livonian Order chronicles describing the Battle of Saule in 1236.

The city was granted Magdeburg city rights in the 16th century and became an administrative centre.

By 1909, 56.4% of Šiauliai's inhabitants were Jewish.

Šiauliai has 16 parks, covering an area of 1,177 hectares.

Šiauliai is twinned with several cities, including Baranavichy in Belarus and Kaliningrad in Russia.