Freedom Monument

1928 independence monument at the eastern end of Laisves aleja

The Freedom Monument stands at the eastern end of Laisves aleja, at the entrance to the Old Town, marking the spot where the central axis of the city meets its historic heart. A female figure — symbolising Liberty — holds a sword aloft and faces east. The sculpture by Juozas Zikaras was unveiled in 1928 on the tenth anniversary of Lithuanian independence.

The monument has had a turbulent history: demolished during the Soviet occupation, it was replaced with a Lenin statue. The original casting mould survived in hiding, and after independence a replica was erected in 1991. Today it is a gathering point for national commemorations and a useful landmark for orienting yourself in the city.

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A story
During the Soviet occupation, the Freedom Monument was demolished and replaced with a statue of Lenin. When Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the Lenin statue was removed and an exact replica of the original Freedom Monument was unveiled in its place in 1991. The original mould, which had been hidden by Lithuanians throughout the Soviet period, was used to cast the new figure.