| Jašiūnai | |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Lithuania |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Jašiūnai |
| Coordinates: | 54.4389°N 25.3111°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Lithuania |
| Subdivision Type1: | Ethnographic region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Dzūkija |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Vilnius County |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Šalčininkai district municipality |
| Subdivision Type4: | Eldership |
| Subdivision Name4: | Jašiūnai eldership |
| Subdivision Type6: | Capital of |
| Subdivision Name6: | Jašiūnai eldership |
| Established Date: | 1402 |
| Established Title: | First mentioned |
| Population Total: | 2,383 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Timezone: | EET |
| Utc Offset: | +2 |
| Timezone Dst: | EEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
Jašiūnai (Polish: Jaszuny) is a town in Lithuania. It is situated on the Merkys River and an edge of the Rūdninkai Forest. According to the 2001 census, it had population of 1,879.[1] The town's population is primarily Poles (74.5%), with Lithuanians (12.4%) and Russians (8.4%).[2]
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1882 | 344 | |
| 1959 | 537 | |
| 1970 | 367 | |
| 1979 | 725 | |
| 1985 | 642 | |
| 1,879 | ||
| 2,383 |
In 1811 it was bought by Ignacy Baliński, father of historian Michał Baliński. His wife from the Śniadecki family initiated construction of the neoclassical Jašiūnai Manor, designed by architect Karol Podczaszyński.[4] The construction was undertaken between 1824 and 1828. The manor became a cultural center: it was a residence of Jan Śniadecki and Juliusz Słowacki frequently visited by Adam Mickiewicz, Tomasz Zan, Stanisław Bonifacy Jundziłł, Józef Mianowski. This generation of Polish Romantics studied and idealized the history and culture of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[5] These studies had great influence on the worldview of the szlachta of the Vilnius Region: they would identify themselves as Poles while remaining loyal to the Grand Duchy.
Alongside cultural life, the manor owners encouraged small industry: a ceramics workshop (still operating as of 2009), a factory of resin and turpentine, brickyard, paper factory.[6] After the Uprising of 1863 and Baliński's death, Jašiūnai lost its position as a cultural center. The valuable library collection was transported to Poland or lost during the wars.
As part of the Wilno Voivodeship, Jašiūnai belonged to the Second Polish Republic during the interwar period.
During World War II, Jews were assembled in a building in the Jašiūnai manor and locked there. In September 25, 1941, the Jews of Jašiūnai were shot, together with those from other villages by the Special Squad of the German Security Police and SD. According to the Jäger Report, 575 Jews were murdered that day: 215 men, 229 women and 131 children. Three Roma people were shot and buried together with the Jews.[7]
The first church, named after St. Anna, was built in 1515.[4] When the Radziwiłłs converted to Protestantism, the church was also transformed from a Catholic to a Protestant church. The church was destroyed during the Great Northern War with Sweden (1700–1721). For a long time the town had only a chapel. The current church was built in 1929. It is half-brick, half-wooden church with a single rectangular tower. Its central nave is separated from the aisles by wooden pillars. The wooden ceiling attempts to imitate vaults. The main altar is decorated with a copy of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn.[8]
There was a synagogue in Jašiūnai containing 800 books in the Jewish language.[7]
In 2001 the town received its coats of arms, designed by Arvydas Každailis. The coat of arms depict a silver column in a red shield with two golden stars on each side. The column represents classical architecture and the manor. It also carries symbolical meaning of strength and power. The two stars are dedicated to the two families prominent in town's history – Balińskis and Śniadeckis.[2]