Lithuania is not a very popular country so majority of people having vacation in Lithuania choose the most popular sites, such as Vilnius, seacoast or Druskininkai and Birstonas resorts. Nevertheless, Lithuania has much more to offer and there are attractive places that even not many Lithuanians can boast to have seen them. There are 30 regional parks in Lithuania established in picturesque landscape areas, protecting flora and fauna and open for tourists to visit. Seeking to know better our area we visited 3 regional parks – Dubysa Regional Park in Central Lithuania, Pagramantis Regional Park situated nearby and Nemunas Delta Regional Park in West Lithuania on the shore of Curonian Lagoon.
Dubysa Regional Park
The park is situated in Northern part of Raseiniai region and we visited Jukainiai forest geomorphologic preserve and Molavenai hill fort complex managed by the regional park administration. Traveling on Vilnius- Klaipeda highway, about 190 kilometers from Vilnius one can take a right exit to Vidukle Railroad Station and following the road signs reach the Jukainiai Forest.The main attraction is the Jukainiai Forest – the remaining part of sacred Lithuanian pagan oak forest where a pleasant walkway is installed with wooden sculptures, comfortable arbors and benches for tired people to rest. Part of the track runs across a small swamp with very picturesque forest surrounding it.
A lot of tourists visit the Hill of Witches near Juodkrante famous for a nice walkway decorated with local craftsmen’s sculptures. Compared to it, the Jukainiai Forest we found even more attractive.Molavenai Hill Forts is yet another chapter of Lithuania’s history – once wooden castles protecting local farmers from Teutonic knights stood here. When visiting such sites one tries to imagine how one could survive and fight back enemies heavily armed on that small piece of land.
Last but not least, highlighting this area is the famous Vidukle dumplings (kind of ravioli) that you can order at local restaurants near the preserve. One centimeter diameter balls covered with fried bacon are just incredible.
Pagramantis Regional Park
Taking from Vilnius Klaipeda highway to Taurage (34 kilometers) and then on to Silale road after 15 kilometers one reaches Pagramantis village. Situated on the confluence of rivers Jura and Akmena the hamlet is surrounded by hill forts and forests.The main attraction of Pagramantis Regional Park is a swamp walkway nearby the Jura river. Walking among small pines you can feel like you are far North with no civilization around. There are cranberry-fields and sundews occasionally hunting for flies. And the sky is so high… Another nice place worth seeing is Nightingale Valley, ideal place for picnics on The Akmena river bank.
Nemunas Delta Regional Park
A novel can be written on what one can do in the delta of the Nemunas River. Located some 40 kilometers South from Klaipeda, this is the largest regional park in Lithuania. The park borders with Russia and about 1/3 of the Nemunas Delta belongs to Kaliningrad Region of Russian Federation.This is a kingdom of birds and water. The most famous is Ornithological Station at Vente Cape – the place where birds rest during their spring and autumn migration. But birds nest here during other seasons as well.
Silute, the centre of the region, boasts a new harbor opened last year to make boat trips along delta routes and channels more comfortable.
Rusne Island-town is an old fishermen center where the best smoked fish in Lithuania can be purchased. Thousands of Lithuanians come to Rusne in early spring to fish cucumber smelling smelt. Polder museum at Uostadvaris exhibits historical machines used to regulate water level during floods.
Unique village on the Minija River became the largest yacht harbour in the area, and many boat trips start or end here. Do not get confused by the restaurant name Minges Egzotika. The food is much better than the name – local fish and especially fish soup served here are outstanding. And, of course, you are likely to find another swamp walkway here.As local Woodward says, there is no point in going on an hour trip to the swamp – you need a full day to explore local animals, settlements, rare plants and small lakes. You just need to have very high fisherman boots and a good local guide. Incredible experience and maybe some wet dress are guaranteed.
Not to miss small hotels in this area – they all are related to water – be it Curonian lagoon or Minija River or any branch of the Nemunas delta. And it is a feast for fish dishes lovers. I
f you are seeking for records – second largest thuja in Europe grows at Kintai – locals say that it is just a few hundred years old and it will stand for another thousand years!
Please find more information about the park on Nemunas Delta Regional Park Website and Silute Tourist Information Centre.
Call us to make your trip arrangements!
