Viekšniai

Town in Samogitia, Lithuania

Flag

Coat of arms

56°14′0″N 22°31′0″E / 56.23333°N 22.51667°E / 56.23333; 22.51667Country

LithuaniaEthnographic regionSamogitiaCountyTelšiai County Municipality Mažeikiai district municipalityEldershipViekšniai eldershipCapital ofViekšniai eldershipFirst mentioned1253^[1]Granted city rights1725Population

(2024)^[2]

• Total2,249Time zoneUTC+2 (EET) • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Viekšniai (pronunciation^ⓘ Samogitian: Vėikšnē, Yiddish: וועקשנע Vekshne, Polish: Wieksznie) is a town in the Mažeikiai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located 17 km (11 mi) south-east of Mažeikiai. The etymology of the town's name probably comes from a former lake near Viekšniai.^[3] The town was famous for its large Jewish population prior to the outbreak of World War 2.^[4]^[5]

Notable people

Mykolas Biržiška, historian and politician who was a signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania^[6]

References

^ Žeimantas, Vytautas. "11.22. Viekšniai – jaukus Žemaitijos kampelis, Lietuvos Aidas - Valstybės laikraštis". Lietuvos Aidas. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ "Paieška - Oficialiosios statistikos portalas". osp.stat.gov.lt. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ "Lietuvių kalbos išteklių informacinė sistema E. KALBA". ekalba.lt. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ "Jie gyveno Viekšniuose". www.jmuseum.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ "Viekšniai". www.vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 6 May 2024.
^ "Mykolui Biržiškai – 140". Lietuvos švietimo muziejus (in Lithuanian). 24 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2024.