Papilė

History

The settlement was first mentioned in 1339, after the area was raided by the Livonian Order. Two hill-forts have been preserved since this time. After the Christianization of Samogitia, the settlement belonged to the Samogitian bishop, and the first church was built here in 1493. Since 1600 it has been known as a town. In 1703 the town was granted the privilege to hold a marketplace. On July 22, 1941, A total of 40 Jewish men were killed by an Einsatzgruppen of 20 Lithuanian policemen and white armbanders (Lithuanian nationalists). Following the slaughter of the Jews, several Soviet supporters were brought to the murder site and killed making a total of 55 people massacred. The remains of the victims have been moved to the Papilė cemetery.

Most-observed species

• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25
• White Stork

  Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  20
• White Wagtail

  Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  20
• Eurasian Marsh-Harrier

  Circus aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19
• Yellowhammer

  Emberiza citrinella Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  19
• Eurasian Skylark

  Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  19
• Northern Lapwing

  Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18
• Whooper Swan

  Cygnus cygnus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18