Places to visit

Monument for J. K. Chodkevičius

The founder of Kretinga town Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius had so many different titles, i.e. Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vilnius Voivode, count, military commander, builder of Kretinga Church and Franciscan monastery. Surprisingly, a monument for this outstanding man stands in the very centre of Kretinga town. The monument is exceptional, i.e. J. K. Chodkevičius is shown on the open door. As if he was looking to the future from the past: the ensemble of the Franciscan monastery and church is visible behind the back of J. K. Chodkevičius and the current life is buzzing in front of it. J. K. Chodkevičius who was born in 1560 and died in 1621 accumulated his assets not only in Lithuania but also in the lands of Belarus, Ukraine. Nevertheless, Kretinga was his favorite place. Most probably this is why J. K. Chodkevičius shown in the monument created in 2009 by the architect from Kretinga Adomas Skiezgelas is looking so confidently and calmly, as if he was home.