The Light of Happiness

Few people probably know where Liudiškiai Hill is, but one visit is enough to remember for the rest of your life what makes this place special. The Light of Happiness on Liudiškiai Hill is the tomb monument to the writer Jonas Biliūnas, and its name is no coincidence. The classic of Lithuanian literature died in 1907 in Zakopane, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, aged just 28. But J. Biliūnas's wish to be laid to rest in his native land was fulfilled in 1953, when his remains were brought back to Lithuania and laid to eternal rest here. In memory of the writer, a 14-metre monument with the symbolic name 'The Light of Happiness' was erected on Liudiškiai Hill in 1958; J. Biliūnas's fairy tale bore the same title. It tells of a miraculous light shining on the top of a hill – whoever climbs the hill and reaches the light will make all people happy, but will himself turn to stone. Not only local Anykščiai residents but also visitors from all over Lithuania believe that this hill is magical and that you can gather happiness here. To make your wish come true, though, you should think of it while climbing the steep 86 steps towards the Light of Happiness, without talking to anyone. You can also make a wish at the top by silently walking around the monument along its oval ledge. Most importantly, you must never tell anyone what you wished for. The hilltop is special not only because Jonas Biliūnas, author of the well-known stories 'I Hit It' ('Kliudžiau') and 'Brisius's End' ('Brisiaus galas'), rests here, but also because Antanas Baranauskas once wrote on this hill, and Antanas Žukauskas-Vienuolis admired the wide views of the Anykščiai countryside from here. It was he who chose the site for J. Biliūnas's grave.