History of Druskininkai is the history of the surroundings and mineral waters.

Even though in written sources Druskininkai was mentioned for the first time only in the beginning of the 17th century, people had already been living in this area in the Stone Age.

In the 18th century Druskininkai was an ordinary Lithuanian village, until Stanisław August Poniatowski, the Grand Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland, issued the decree and declared Druskininkai to be the health resort on 20 June 1794.

In 1837, when Ignacy Fonberg, professor of Vilnius University, analyzed the chemical composition of mineral water and publicised the results, the emperor Nicholas I of Russia approved the project of Druskininkai resort.

The middle of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century is considered to be the period of the resort prosperity. Druskininkai has become both a place for treatment using the salt springs, mud, kumis, and recreation - concerts, shows, dances that are arranged here as well. In 1924-1931 the Sun, Air and Exercising Procedure treatment facility (park) of doctor E. Levicka was functioning in Druskininkai.

 Fires, floods, wars, occupations have swept by and left their marks. Architecture had been changing as well: new buildings would appear instead of the ruined ones, therefore there is not much left of the old town.

Treatment traditions had been changing along. Only the peace surrounding Druskininkai throughout the times remained the same.

Today’s Druskininkai is a modern and distinctive international resort, providing high-quality wellness, recreation, and tourism services, famous for sound resort treatment traditions as well as rapidly developing tourism service infrastructure.

Article author: Zivile Akstiniene