Punsko krašto karčemos

ENThe article describes the network of inns in Punskas land since the establishment of Punskas Parish (1597) until the beginning of the 20th century. In the oldest times the inns were the property of the ruler, only from the 16th century other people could have them. There were many inns in the towns like Punskas. They differed in particular from the types of alcoholic beverages sold. Initially, mead, wine and beer, and later vodka were drunk in the inns. It is likely that before 1597 at least a few villages in the territory of Seivai Estate could have an inn; however, no more accurate data was found. In Punskas, as in other parish centres, an inn was built close to the church, and in the villages, such as Agurkiai, Ožkiniai, Šaltėnai, Vidugiriai, Paliūnai, Trakiškės, etc., the inns, as well as the blacksmithies, were located at the main roads. In some villages, the inns stood close to each other. In small villages there were no blacksmithies and inns. The innkeepers were mainly the Jews. Later, there appeared Lithuanians, Poles or Germans among the innkeepers. In the middle of the 19th century, a vodka tax was introduced, the working hours of inns were fixed, the volume of the sold vodka was determined. It was required that drunk customers were not sold alcoholic beverages. The stories of old people can help trace back the villages where the inns were and how they looked. Usually they were wooden, sometimes claycovered constructions. At one end of the house there lived an innkeeper with the family, at the other there was a table and several benches, an oven. In winter, travellers often stayed overnight and slept on the benches. The villagers came to the inn to discuss matters or spend time with the mug of beer. People usually preferred the inns of their neighbourhood.