[2] It is situated along the Nemunas River near the Rambynas hill and is known as the location of the Martynas Jankus printing press.

In 1454, King Casimir IV Jagiellon incorporated the region to the Kingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-Teutonic Prussian Confederation.

[3] After the subsequent Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466) the village was a part of Poland as a fief held by the Teutonic Knights,[4] and thus was located within the Polish–Lithuanian union, later elevated to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

[5] Due to its proximity to the Rambynas hill, Bitėnai developed as a kind of resort and boasted three restaurants.

It was housed at the primary school until the printing press was rebuilt in 1998 and the Martynas Jankus Museum officially opened in July 1999.

[9] The village cemetery located between Bitėnai and the Rambynas hill date as far back as the early 18th century.

[11] The cemetery was neglected and vandalized during the Soviet era – extensive damage was done during searches for the legendary treasure of Napoleon Bonaparte that was allegedly buried during the French invasion of Russia somewhere near the Rambynas hill.

[10][12] After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the cemetery was reconstructed and chosen as the re-interment place for the remains of philosopher Vydūnas.

[14] Memorial monuments commemorate other personalities of Lithuania Minor – Kristijonas Donelaitis Martynas Mažvydas, Ludwig Rhesa.