Visit the 10 most popular attractions in Krekenava Regional Park

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Way of traveling: Route distance: 73 km Duration of the route: 8.5 d..
asphalt: 55% dirt road: 45%

Those who arrived by a car are welcome to go on single-day adventure and visit the TOP 10 tourist attractions in Krekenava Regional Park. At the beginning of the route you will have a look at town of Krekenava, Krekenava Regional Park Visitors Center Exposition and the scenery of Central Lithuania from the Observation tower. During the trip you will visit Books smugglers museum in Ustrone, Upytė mound, Upytė traditional craft centre. You will be able to observe largest European mammals – European bisons, to visit stone named Rapolas, to go for a walk around Nevėžis River Valley cognitive trail. The end of the route – majestic Bakainiai mound.

Route start. Krekenava Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Krekenava Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

When arriving to Krekenava from any direction, you will first be welcomed by the sharp peaks of Krekenava small basilica towers reaching the sky. The construction of the first wooden church of Krekenava started in 1409. The masonry Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built in 1901 in the historic neo-gothic style. Entering the church, at the altar you will see proudly standing the painting of St. Mary with the baby in her hands. It is rumoured that this painting does miracles. It is believed that this picture has been kept in Krekenava since the 15th century and was saved from more than one church fire. Inside the church,...

Duration: 20 min.

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Duration: < 1 min. Distance: 680 m

Krekenava Regional Park Visitors Centre Exposition

The visitors centre is the best place to start your trip around Krekenava Regional Park. Here you can get acquainted with the values of nature and culture protected in Krekenava Regional Park. In this unique and interactive exposition you will discover the peculiarities of the Nevežis River and its valley, you will be able to stroke a real bison’s tail, to see the treasures of nature hidden in the natural meadows, to hear the sounds of birds and bats, to smell the forest floor, and to see how people used to live by the Nevėžis River. The employees of Krekenava Regional Park Visitors Centre will not only be always pleased to...

Duration: 30 min.

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Krekenava Regional Park Observation Tower

Wouldn’t it be fun to take a look at the plains of Central Lithuania from a bird’s eye view? Climb 125 steps to the observation deck of Krekenava Regional Park Observation Tower, which is 25 metres high. You will see the nicely curving dark waters of the Nevėžis River, the mazes created by the old riverbeds, the ways of living of the people of Krekenava and its surroundings. You will see the wide plains of Central Lithuania and the landscape enlivened by the Nevėžis valley engraved on them. The Observation Tower is installed next to Krekenava Regional Park Visitors Centre where you can receive thorough help when planning...

Duration: 15 min.

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Duration: < 10 min. Distance: 7 km

J. Tumas-Vaižgantas and Lithuanian Book Smugglers Museum

The museum, located in the Ustronė estate, reminds us of the year of the press ban (1864-1904) and the unstoppable battle of Lithuanians for the word of the mother tongue. This is the only museum in Lithuania and around the world about the book smuggling. In 2004 UNESCO evaluated book smuggling as a unique activity without equal in the world. The word "knygnešys" (book smuggler) does not exist in any other language except Lithuanian! In the 19th century, this barn was the meeting place of the Garšviai book smugglers community. During the years of press ban, in this barn the forbidden Lithuanian press and books...

Duration: 30 min.

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Duration: 20 min. Distance: 18 km

Upytė mound (Čičinskas Hill)

Surrounded by legends and fairy tales, Upytė mound is near the village of Upytė. In ancient times, this mound was an island, surrounded by swamps, and access to this place was possible only by boat or by a hidden underwater stony road called “kūlgrinda”. It is believed that in the 13th -14th centuries there was a castle here that was of great importance in the battle against the Livonian Order. Upytė mound is also called Čičinskas hill. In the 16th century there lived a nobleman Vladislav Sicinsky, who was the first nobleman in the Seimas (the Parliament) of the Republic of the Two Nations, to take the advantage of the liberum...

Duration: 15 min.

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Duration: < 1 min. Distance: 950 m

Upytė Traditional Craft Center

Have you ever tried to mould a pot or to weave a traditional sash? Why not get acquainted with the traditional Aukštaitija crafts in practice? Upytė Traditional Craft Centre, is located in the territory of the former Upytė manor, in the newly installed unique eco-house built from straw and clay, reminding of a traditional Aukštaitija farmhouse. Markets held at the Traditional Crafts Centre are not only meant for selling the works of artisans and products of culinary heritage, but they are also cultural events for craft demonstration, training, and playing traditional music. Nearby the market place ceramic kilns provide an...

Duration: 30 min.

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Duration: 20 min. Distance: 19 km

Pašiliai bison paddock

Krekenava Regional Park is the only protected area in Lithuania where you can see freely pasturing the largest European beast – the European bison ( Bison bonasus L. ). The revival of the bison in Lithuania in the year 1969 started precisely here, in Pašiliai bison paddock. In ancient times, there were many bison in Lithuanian forests. Unfortunately, because of the expanding cultivated fields and forest areas and increased hunting, in the middle of the 19th century bison no longer lived in Lithuania. By the efforts of scientists, the current population of wild bison has been restored from the bison kept in zoos and...

Duration: 30 min.

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Duration: < 10 min. Distance: 10 km

Stone Rapolas

On the bank of the river Linkava, there peacefully lies a huge boulder with a spectacular name Rapolas. Although according to the Lithuanian fairy tales, such stones were dropped at one or another place by the Devil, they were brought to Lithuania by a much more powerful force – the glacier. For this reason, such stones are called boulders. Due to its spectacular size: 14.54 m in length, 2.55 in height, 5.14 m in length and 4.18 m in width, in 1964 it has been announced as a natural monument. It is believed that the unusual name was given to the stone according to the name of the local farmer who lived nearby. Drop by to say...

Duration: 20 min.

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Duration: < 10 min. Distance: 3.6 km

Nevėžis River Valley Cognitive Trail

Would you like to see what the natural wet meadows of the Nevėžis River valley with the labyrinths of old waterbeds look like? Take a stroll on the 1.6 km cognitive trail. During each season the trail looks differently: in winter it is covered with snow and ice, in spring and summer it is full of blossoming plants and life. In early spring, the trail can be flooded and occupied by migrating birds. After ascending the 6 m high tower at the beginning of the trail, you will be able to inspect the area from the above, and get acquainted with the plant and animal species found of the trail which are described on the information boards. Take a...

Duration: 30 min.

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Duration: 15 min. Distance: 14 km

Bakainiai mound

Bakainiai mound is one of the pearls of Krekenava Regional Park pearl. The mound, encircled by Liaudė River on three sides, remembers the times of battles with crusaders. The mound complex consists of the castle hill, where once upon a time a wooden castle stood, the fore-work and the lower ward with defensive ramparts. In the land of plains you will be surprised to see the steep slopes, the height of which reaches 19 meters and the view of the surroundings, opening before your eyes from the rampart of the fore-work. It is believed that the castle was burnt down in 1372 by the crusaders, but the forms of the ramparts built in the...

Duration: 20 min.

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