The geographical center of Europe - is a hypothetical point, which indicates the geographical center of Europe. Location of the center depends on the definition of Europe's borders, as well as the chosen method of counting. In addition, the influence and the presence of inclusions of remote islands in the list of the most extreme points of the European territory. It is for these reasons that the title of the European geographic center claim the place: a point near the village of Business, point to the south-west of Polotsk, Purnushkyay village near Vilnius, Suchowola (north-eastern part of Poland), a point in the center of Slovakia - the village Krahule.

The first attempt to determine the geographic center was undertaken in 1775 by Shimon Anthony Sobekrayskim - cartographer and astrologer August Poniatowski - King Rzeczpospolita. Then they decided that the central point is located in Suchowola, namely in the market square in the western part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In the years 1885-1887, researchers, geographers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire decided to conduct a study surveying the area in the Carpathians in order to determine the place of construction of the railway. Studies have shown that the center of Europe may be in Verhnetisenskoy basin.

In the 1900s the German Empire began to carry out their own calculations. Geographers have found that the Austrian measure were erroneous. German researchers believed that a European center is located in Dresden - capital of Saxony, close to the church "Frauenkirche".

After the end of the Second World War, Soviet scientists found that the Austrian version was correct and then sign, located in Rakhiv, has been redesigned. May 27, 1977 next to the old familiar stele was built 7, 2 meters high.

In 1989, French scientists of the National Institute of Geography determined the presence of the European geographic center. They turned out to be a point near Vilnius (26 km north) in the village Purnushkyay. When the scientists used the scientific method of gravitation centers.

Once the location of the center was found, there was a question about his designation. The first sign of the geographical center of Europe was established in 1991, which represented the masonry stove. The point was located on a hill near the Bernotai. But to us, this monument has not survived. Only later, thanks to the efforts of the Lithuanian society geographers, in the center found their place found on the nearby golf 9-ton stone. Geographers have attached a metal panel with an appropriate inscription.

The following year, for the preservation of the environment of the European geographic center of the Lithuanian Supreme Council established the cartographic special reserve, devoted to the center of Europe. In the area of ​​the reserve is a lake Giriyos and Alkakalnis - zherstvennaya mountain on the disposal of pagans and Byarnotskoe settlement. On the one hand the surrounding forest reserve. Byarnotskoe fortification is considered one of the oldest in Lithuania. There is an assumption that in 1-5 centuries in its place was located a defensive fortress. Here archaeologists have found clay and stucco fragments of pottery.

Possible centers of Europe applies Krahule - Slovak town located not far from Kremnica. Now this place operates a ski resort. At the site, which is considered the center, is a memorial stone, and the city has a hotel under the name "Center of Europe".

In May 2004 it opened the geographical center of Europe. This event contributed to Lithuania's accession to the European Union. Sculpture was created by the author Gediminas Jokubonis. It was made of white granite column, on top of which there is a star crown.

At the end of May 2008 in the city of Polotsk was erected another monument - a memorial sign. This information on the geographical center of Europe was found by Belarusian scientists, confirmed that Russian scientists. But despite this, in the sign indicated very different position, which suggests that the geographical center is located in Polotsk.