Krakės

Krakės (formerly Krakiai,[1] Polish: Kroki, Russian: Кроки) is a small town in Kėdainiai district, central Lithuania. It is located on the Smilgaitis River. In the town there are Catholic church of St. Matthew the Evangelist (build in 1907), Mikalojus Katkus gymnasium, library, medicine station, St. Catherine women convent, Krakės Agriculture Cooperative with former culture center, swimming pool and shop (build in 1983, architect K. Žalnierius). There is the Vytautas Ulevičius museum of wooden sculptures.

Krakės
Town
Center of the town
Coat of arms
Krakės
Location of Krakės
Krakės
Krakės (Lithuania)
Coordinates: 55°24′30″N 23°43′30″E
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionAukštaitija
County Kaunas County
MunicipalityKėdainiai district municipality
EldershipKrakės Eldership
Capital ofKrakės Eldership
First mentioned14th century
Population
 (2011)
 • Total841
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Krakės is on the eastern boundary of the Nevėžis Plain, on the Krakės Ridge (altitude 95–100 meters). Roads go to Betygala, Grinkiškis, Kėdainiai, Bokštai, Gudžiūnai and Josvainiai. The Krakės-Dotnuva Forest is 2–3 km away from the town.

History

The first mention of Krakės is from the 14th century. The Krakės Manor was a property of Samogitian bishops between 1421–1842. The first church of Krakės was built at 15th century. Krakės is mentioned as a town in 1579. A women monastery of St. Catherine Order was established in Krakės in 1615 and run till 1945 (the wooden monastery burnt at that time), then reestablished in 1997. A market privilegy was granted to Krakės in 1790. During 1863, Krakės was important center of the January Uprising, on the 28 April there was a battle against Russian imperial army. In 1863 and 1914 Krakės was devastated by fires.[2]

On September 2, 1941, 1,125 Jews from Krakės, Baisogala, Dotnuva, Grinkiškis, Gudžiūnai and Surviliškis were murdered at Peštinukai village, about 1.5 kilometers from Krakės.[3] The members of the Einsatzgruppen who committed this crime were Germans from Rollkommando Hamann and Lithuanians collaborators.

During the Soviet era Krakės was a center of kolkhoz and selsovet. Krakės kolkhoz was one of the leading ones in all Lithuanian SSR.

Demography
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1841594—    
1865871+1.61%
18971,846+2.38%
19061,000−6.58%
19231,386+1.94%
YearPop.±% p.a.
19591,047−0.78%
1970901−1.36%
1978904+0.04%
19791,028+13.72%
1985925−1.74%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1989954+0.77%
2001991+0.32%
2011841−1.63%
Source: 1902, 1923, 1959 & 1970, 1979, 1989, 2001, 2011

Images
  • Former kolkhoz swimming pool
  • Krakės cemetery
  • Krakės church
  • V. Ulevičius museum

References
  1. "Krakiai (later Krakės) 1919-1922". Lithuanian Philately. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  2. Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). 10. Vilnius: Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos institutas. 2006. p. 72.
  3. http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search/vcntfr=1000.vcntto=5000/page/3/item/56/


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