Aukštaitija National Park is one of the richest protected areas in Lithuania from the floristic point of view. Everyone who is interested in all kinds of plants is welcome to the Botanical trail.
It circles near Lake Lūšiai between Palūšė and Meironys village. The trail is about 3,5-km long and is marked with a special sign – white square with
green diagonal. More than 150 plant species are presented on this trail, 11 of which are included on the Lithuanian Red List.
Click here to download the booklet.
Wooden Carvings
Sixteen wooden sculptures stand on the Lake Lūšiai shore near Meironys Village. A group of folk artists carved them in 1977. Sculptures are dedicated to
the natural beauty and legends of the Ignalina region. One of them warns young men not to go swimming after the midnight, because pixies will drown them
or tickle them until death (“Laumių pasaka” by P.Petronis). Several sculptures were inspired by stories about devils. Older people say that one of them
lives nearby in Lake Tarama.
GINUČIAI AND VICINITY
Ginučiai Watermill
Tel. +370-616-29366
There are six water-mills in the park today: Minčia, Ginučiai, Pakretuonė, Pakasas, Gaveikėnai and Brukninė. Ginučiai mill is the only water-mill in the
park with preserved original equipment. The Water-mill operated until 1968, producing not just flour but also electricity for Ginučiai village. National
Park Authority restored the water-mill building in 1978. Today it is a technical monument of the 19th century. The display on the top floor tells about
the way that bread passes to our table. Former miller’s apartments were turned into accommodation for visitors who may find visits of the devil living in
the Ginučiai Water-mill.
Ginučiai Castle Mound
This archaeological monument from the 9th-12th centuries may be the site of the castle which stood there, described in
the Livonia Chronicles as the Linkmenys Castle by H.Vartberge in 1373. The stone on the top of the mound marks the visit of the president of Lithuania,
Antanas Smetona, in 1934.
Ladakalnis Hill is 176 m high. It is a part of Šiliniškės Ridge, which spreads far to both north-west and south-east like a dragon’s spine.
Long ago this hill served as the site of pagan sacrifices to the Goddess Lada – the Great Mother who gave the birth to the world. An excellent panoramic
view is opened from the top of Ladakalnis, where one can try counting 6 lakes. Ladakalnis is designated as a geomorphologic nature monument.
Traditional Apiculture Museum
Stripeikiai, Ignalina dst.
Tel. +370-686-12105
This is a favourite place in the Aukštaitija National Park. The museum was established in 1984. Its staff will tell about the beekeeping history
in Lithuania from ancient times until today. One bee family lives in the sculpture of Bee God Bubilas. You can taste the honey they have collected.
Just remember that it takes a whole day for 200 bees to gather just one spoon of honey.
Museum open from May 1st till September 30th, daily (except Monday) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Due to reconstruction the museum will be closed in 2014.
Šiliniškės View Tower
Telecommunication tower was built in 2004. Its height – 60 m. The observation platform is 30.5 m above the ground. It provides about 280°
panorama overview.
TAURAGNAI AND VICINITY
Taurapilis castle mound stands on the southern shore of Lake Tauragnas. Old Taurapilis village spreads next to it. The mound is surrounded by
water from three sides and such defence facilities as moat and rampart from the fourth. The elderly say that there was an oak on the top of this mound.
The old pagan priest lived in a hollow of it. He kept the sacred fire burning. Later Christians constructed a church there, but one day it disappeared.
One brave man heard the sound of an organ and looked into the hole on the top of the mound. He saw the vanished church and broken altars. Every midsummer
exactly on midnight the church appears on the mound, but just for one second. Those who have sharp eyes can see it.
Mokas Stone
The Stone Mokas amazes visitors by its size. The smaller stone Mokiukas lies next to it. These stones are in the vicinity of Tauragnai,
near Šeimatis village. The legend says that there was a Mokai family. After his wife drowned in a lake, Mokas and his son turned into stones.
Geologists say that it was a glacier which brought these stones from Scandinavia to Lithuania approx. 50 000 years ago.
REŠKUTĖNAI AND VICINITY
Nalšia Museum in Reškutėnai
Reškutėnai, Švenčionys dst.
Tel. +370-616-07510, +370-387-47633, +370-387-51831
The establishment of this museum was initiated by the teacher Izidorius Kazakevičius. Over twenty years he collected more than 1000 displays,
which tell visitors about the history of the region. Here you can find old Lithuanian books and prints, traditional music instruments and old
household utensils, archaeological findings, stone collection and even a meteorite.
Birdwatching tower
The Žemaitiškė flood-plain on the Eastern side of Kretuonas Lake is home to numerous bird species, which are included into the international Red List,
such as: black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis, black tern Chlidonias niger, gadwall Anas strepera, quail Coturnix coturnix, spotted
crake Porzana porzana, corncrake Crex crex, great snipe Gallinago media, black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa and others. This is a newly formed natural
area in a previously cultivated meadow drained by humans. The drainage system was blocked and a marsh developed in the area of the former Vajuonėlė
River. The best way to observe it is from the birdwatching tower near Reškutėnai.
Lygumai Hill is located in the south-eastern part of the park, on the southern shore of Lake Vajuonis.
This 180 m high plain has steep slopes and is surrounded by three lakes. Therefore it looks like a giant observation ground with Lake Vajuonis
lying in the north. A panorama of Lake Kretuonykštis opens from Akmeniškės village. An area where the road climbs the western slope long ago was used for geodesy reading.
A new view tower was built in this place.
Lake Kretuonas can be easily observed from this tower. The old tree alley at the foot of the hill indicates the site of former manor-house.
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