Inland on the North stands the old town of Siauliai
dating back to the battle of Saule in 1236,
when the Samogitians under the leadership of duke Vykintas
defeated the Germanic knights of the Livonian Order.
The subsequent history of Siauliai included battles with the Swedes,
suffering the plague and fires, yet on many occasions over the succeeding centuries
it grew into a prosperous centre.
The 750th anniversary of the battle of Saule was commemorated
by an erection of a 21 meter high sundial topped by an archer of gilded bronze,
and is today one of the many sights of Siauliai.