Laisvės Alley in Plungė

The Laisvės (Eng. Freedom) Alley in Plungė was designed and planted with two rows of linden trees in the beginning of the 19th century. During the rule of Tsarist Russia, it was called Bulvarnaja ulica, meaning Boulevard Street. It is one of the oldest streets of Plungė.

Ever since its construction, it has always served one function – it linked the mansion and the rest of the town. The most important city institutions were established on this street: the City Hall, the pharmacy, and the Plungė Fire-fighter’s House (very much liked by the intelligentsia), where the drama America in a Sauna was first performed.

During World War I, the name of the street was changed to Liepgasio st. In 1928, the Monument of Freedom was placed on this street to commemorate 10 years of Lithuania’s independence. The monument had the following date marked on it: 1918-1928. Moreover, the street was renamed to Laisvės Alley.

Some old buildings, constructed by M. Oginskis, still stand in this street. Most of them belonged to the Jewish population of Plungė, but were later expropriated by the state. During the interwar period, the street was considered one of the main ones in the city because it was the location of many state institutions and companies: the Plungė City Committee, the police and fire stations, the Riflemen’s Club, a restaurant, and a pharmacy.

Following World War II, the Monument of Freedom was demolished and the alley was renamed to Žemaitės Alley. When Lithuania received its independence, the former name was restored and so was the Monument of Freedom just two years later, in 1992.