Valkininkai Lion Monument

Valkininkai is a town well situated on the banks of three rivers: Merkys, Šalčia and Geluža, which adorn this ancient settlement with their curves. According to legend, the Grand Duke of Lithuania gave refuge to the nobleman Wolff, who had fled from Germany - he gave him the rule over the area around Merkis and Geluža and built a wooden castle here. However, Wolff was a cruel ruler. They hated him and contemptuously called the newcomer "vagabond". It is believed that the name of the town may be derived from the word "vagabond".
The area of Valkininkai has been mentioned since the 14th century. In 1581, the town of Valkniks was granted town rights under Magdeburg law.
At the beginning of the 17th century, there were about 30 streets in Valkininkai, each of which was dedicated to a group of
craftsmen. This is how horse-riding, blacksmith, pottery, etc. streets were created. During the Vlach reform, craftsmen were expelled from the city to the lands allocated to them. This is how the surrounding villages were created, which together with the city formed a production area complex of one of the ruler's most industrial areas. Such an organic complex of towns and villages was unique in Lithuania. Valkininkai was occupied by Poland in 1920-1939. Many people emigrated and the city barely grew. During the Soviet period, the city became the central settlement of the Valkininkai collective farm. The lion is the heraldic animal of Valkininkai. Source: information board on site