The location of the geographical centre of Europe was determined in 1989 by scientists from the French National Geographic Institute. The Lithuanian Ministry of the Economy supported the project and marked the site of the geographical centre. The Geographical Centre of Europe is a great place for keen travellers. You can even get a certificate confirming that you have reached the centre of Europe. On 24 May 1997 a stone marking the geographical centre of Europe was unveiled, and in 2004 a monument by the sculptor Gediminas Jokūbonis – a white granite column topped with a crown of stars – was erected nearby. In 1992 the area around the geographical centre was designated a reserve. It includes Lake Girija, the Bernotai hillfort, a sacred hill, the adjacent forest and other sites.