Telšiai

The city was named after Telšė the stream flowing into Lake Mastis; the name means "flowing water". Telšiai was first documented around 1450 and became the chief town of Samogitia region, and remains so. During the 1831 and 1863 uprisings against Tsarist rule, Telšiai was a centre for the Polish–Lithuanian insurgents; Russia crushed them and strengthened its grip. In World War I the town was occupied by the Germans then by the Russians, who withdrew to leave Lithuania independent. Telšiai grew and industrialised during the next 20 years then again found itself caught between those ruthless powers. Memorials to the massacres of 1941 stand in several places.

Major industries in Telšiai are the Orlen oil refinery, food, furniture, wood and metal-bashing. These have left the old town centre relatively unscathed.

Visit Telsiai is the Tourist Information Centre, at Turgaus Aikštė 21 in town centre. It's open M-F 08:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-15:00.

The town is off Highway A11 from Šiauliai to Kretinga and Palanga on the coast. From Vilnius take A2 to Panevėžys then A9 to Šiauliai to join A11. From Kaunas take A1 towards Klaipėda then cut north via Laukava and Route 160.

Five buses a day run from Kaunas, taking 3 hr 40 min via Raseiniai. Some continue to Mažeikiai or Skuodas. Bus lines are Kautra and Toks. For timetables and fares see Autobusubilieta.

One bus a day runs from Panevėžys via Radviliškis and Šiauliai to Telšiai, and continues west to Plungė, Kretinga, Palanga and Klaipėda.

1 Autobusų stotis the bus station is 500 m west of town centre.

Three trains run daily from Vilnius, taking 3 hr 15 min via Šiauliai, and continuing to Plungė, Kretinga and Klaipėda (another 70 min). For timetables and fares see LTG Link.

2 Telšiai railway station is 1 km north of town centre.