When you hear there is a self-proclaimed independent republic located in and surrounded by the heart of Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius — a republic proclaimed on April’s Fools Day, no less, and recognized by no other countries or bodies — you don’t hesitate, you just go. That’s how we found ourselves walking into the Republic of Užupis one overcast summer day, a place where the speed limit is 20 and a smile is a requirement (luckily, it’s hard not to smile when you’re in Užupis).
Užupis is one of the younger countries in the world, established by a group of artists and residents, including the former mayor of Vilnius, on April 1, 1997. Their current president, Romas Lileikis, is a film director, lyricist and composer, and they have their own currency and an army of 11 (We didn’t see the president, the currency, or the army, so this is all anecdotal). Located across the river from Vilnius’ sprawling old town, the border between Lithuania and Užupis is unlike any other we’ve crossed: it is located at the edge of a bridge covered in rusted love locks and crossing a river canal decorated with art.
Apparently, the town’s residents set up a formal border each year on Užupis’ national day, April 1st, when it’s possible to have your passport stamped. Sadly, we’d missed this show by several months, so we slipped across the border and began to explore. The pièce de résistance of Užupis is the 41 article constitution, posted in eight different languages for all to see near the centre of the republic (my favorite is number 32, followed closely by 25 – I would like to have dual citizenship with Užupis, please!).
- Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, and the River Vilnelė has the right to flow by everyone.
- Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
- Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
- Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
- Everyone has the right to be unique.
- Everyone has the right to love.
- Everyone has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.
- Everyone has the right to be undistinguished and unknown.
- Everyone has the right to be idle.
- Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat.
- Everyone has the right to look after the dog until one of them dies.
- A dog has the right to be a dog.
- A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of nee (sic).
- Sometimes everyone has the right to be unaware of their duties.
- Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not an obligation.
- Everyone has the right to be happy.
- Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
- Everyone has the right to be silent.
- Everyone has the right to have faith.
- No one has the right to violence.
- Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance.
- No one has the right to have a design on eternity.
- Everyone has the right to understand.
- Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
- Everyone has the right to be of any nationality.
- Everyone has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.
- Everyone shall remember their name.
- Everyone may share what they possess.
- No one can share what they do not possess.
- Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
- Everyone may be independent.
- Everyone is responsible for their freedom.
- Everyone has the right to cry.
- Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
- No one has the right to make another person guilty.
- Everyone has the right to be individual.
- Everyone has the right to have no rights.
- Everyone has the right to not to be afraid.
- Do not defeat
- Do not fight back
- Do not surrender
Being what is essentially an artists’ commune, Užupis is rather picturesque, in a dilapidated kind of way.
I’ve never heard of this part of Vilnius; it sounds pretty neat! Street art is always interesting and gives a telling glimpse into a place’s culture. Whenever I manage to get over to the Baltics, I will definitely seek this out (hopefully on an April 1st). Thanks for the tips, Katie!
Hey Ryan,
Yes – it is a pretty cool area of Vilnius, and has been compared to Christiania in Copenhagen and Monmartre in Paris. We were there on a Sunday, so it was rather sleepy – much sleepier than I remember Christiania to be – but still quite delightful!
Excellent! How weird… we must have been there at almost the same time, and our articles have ended up very similar – black and white photos, with a message of just how great Uzupis is. Thanks for sharing this article with me on twitter. Nate.
I stumbled across your post when I was researching Uzupis. I love the photos you posted! I especially loved the street art! I am a teeny tiny bit envious that you have actually been to Uzupis.
Mostly my ramblings are merely dreaming and a desire to feel more firmly rooted on this planet. I got so tired of hearing about a country on NPR and having no “earthly” idea where it was. So I started this year learning about various countries. This month, ironically, my focus is the Baltic States and when I found out about Uzupis Day being April 1st –score!
Being new to the blogger’s world (oh so new) I am a bit taken aback by those who comment merely to get others to read THEIR blog. so please feel no urgings by me to read my modest diatribes. I did mine to keep me beholdin’ to my new year’s resolution.
I look forward to reading more about your travels and reawakening the wanderlust/wonderlust for our big blue marble.
Happy travels!
Thanks for the comment, Renee. Uzupis was certainly a unique experience. We were actually watching a video on Youtube last night that made me think of the place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AivEQmfPpk
Good luck with the blogging – it is a lot of fun!
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Hi Katie – cool article. I also loved Uzupis – was there last week. It does have its own money but only banknotes as far as I could tell. I got 1 Uza as a souvenir. I have some stuff on Uzupis on my site and I have a fascination for Micronations, of which there are between 65 – 90 on the planet. Safe travels. Jonny
Ooooh…micro-nation travel. What a cool way to focus your journeys! And that’s awesome you got an Uza as a souvenir…I had no idea Uzupis had currency :)
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Hello how I can get work there
I’m a dentist which is something near to be an artist too ;)
Vilnius was also the only place to install a bust of the genius musician Frank Zappa, on their own.