The pretty village that’s the ‘centre of Europe’ but just 3 hours from the UK

This beautiful village is located at the exact midpoint of Europe and is just half an hour away from Lithuania’s capital.

The village of Purnuškės is just 30 minutes from Vilnius, which makes it easy for tourists to visit both areas in one day.

Interestingly, there are disputes about the exact location of the central point of Europe. Eight nations have recorded being home to the spot and several countries have claimed the title due to differences in how the central point is calculated.

However, after a final decision was enshrined in the Guinness World Record and Purnuškės was handed the title, Lithuania created a big sculpture to mark the location inside a park.

French scientists who had named the exact midpoint in the village in the first place, however, later warned they had accidentally misplaced it by a couple of kilometres, it has been reported.

The correct centre is now marked in a square and a small museum within the village.

One visitor of the village said on Tripadvisor: “It is located 30km north of Vilnius, in the middle of a vast area of forests, lakes and fields. The Memorial is a white granite column surmounted by a crown of stars and flanked by EU flags. There is a small information centre, picnic areas and a golf club just ahead for a pleasant day trip outside Vilnius.”

If you plan to visit the area, it would be best to stay in Vilnius and travel to the village.

While you’re in the capital, one of the best places to visit is the old town. One visitor on Tripadvisor said: “This is a beautiful area to visit and admire the architecture and history. As someone else recommended, read about its culture and history before you go to give it some context.

“I had an overnight layover in Vilnius, so I just had a few hours to sightsee. It was a quick and easy bus ride from the airport.

“I highly recommend spending a couple of hours exploring Vilnius Old Town.”

If you’re an art lover or looking to explore something more modern and contemporary, visit the Museum of Illusions. This incredible exhibit has won the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award and makes for an exciting visit.

One guest said: “I went to the museum without quite knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be a great choice. The exhibition is interactive, and the optical illusions and other phenomena that influence the way we see things can be fully experienced. Thanks again for the great tour, I can highly recommend a visit.”

Flights to Vilnius take just two and a half hours from the UK and with such a unique point to visit nearby, it’s a great place for an autumn weekend away.