A horse market was held twice a week in Žiežmariai town square. A brick inn with a hostel, called ‘austerija’ (1845). Here you could rest, eat and spend the night while travelling between Vilnius and Kaunas. In the interwar period, the luxurious cinema Aušra (1926) was opened. A couple of posters of the films shown there have been preserved. Tickets cost between 20 and 50 cents. At that time, there were two competing orchestras in Žiežmariai, and it was even possible to buy a violin without leaving Žiežmariai. In the town square stands the Freedom Monument (1928) by sculptor Aleksandras Jakševičius, which was demolished many times and rebuilt 30 years ago. The municipal board house, where the residents of the district paid their taxes, was also used as a lockup. Today it is the Žiežmariai Cultural Centre. Already in the 15th century, the manor of Žiežmariai was mentioned as belonging to the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. 90 years ago, the Žiežmariai Winter Agricultural School was established in the manor house, and it successfully operated until the first occupation. Today the estate is privatised.





