Description of the attraction
Samogitian National Park was founded in 1991 with the aim of preserving, using and managing the most valuable in relation to culture and nature of Samogitian territories. The park is a protected area of European importance, which is dedicated to the protection of natural habitats and birds.
The National Park will be a real discovery for people who want to get to know more about the wild nature, as well as the unusual traditions of the Samogitian region. The place will be interesting for cyclists, naturalists, sailing enthusiasts and all outdoor enthusiasts. The famous Plateliai lakes, traditional and architectural temple buildings, extensive forests - all this will help to learn more about the nature of the Zematii Park.
The largest and cleanest lake in Samogitia is Plateliai; 25 more lakes located nearby open up considerable opportunities for lovers of water tourism and sports, scuba divers and fishermen. The network of roads is very developed here, so you can get around by car, on foot or by bike. The park has a visitor center, 12 natural monuments, 10 museum exhibitions. For vacationers for a long period, the presence of farmsteads of the rural tourism network is provided; there is an opportunity and set up a camp. You can taste quite specific, but very tasty dishes from this region: onion soup, kastinis, roast and lake fish.
The Samogitian National Park will become a paradise for naturalists and ecotourists of all kinds. Here you can get acquainted with the Plateliai lake depression, which was formed with the help of a glacier, as well as small lakes of thermokarst origin, surrounded by the landscape complex Mikitai, Gardou Ozo, Sharnele. In the park, you can watch a wide variety of wading birds and enjoy the view of springs gushing in deep gullies. It is worth knowing that 10% of the territory of the national park is closed to the public. These include: Rukunzhsky and Plokshtinsky nature reserves, and in summer and spring it is forbidden to visit bog reserves.
The national park is rich in twelve natural monuments, including trees, islands and peninsulas, springs. But not all of them can be approached. An interesting ash tree sprouting on the land of the Plateiai Manor, called the Ash of the Witches. It is the thickest in Lithuania, because the volume of the trunk reaches 7.2 meters, and the height of this giant is 32 meters. There are other natural monuments, including linden and elm, located in the same park estate.
The park has more than two hundred cultural values, including 30 archaeological sites: burial mounds, burial grounds, sacrificial mountains and much more. The ring of sacrificial mountains and mounds connects with the most impressive mounds of the Skuodas region - Kretinga. Remains of the old bridge have been preserved on the Plateliai lake, which connected a small town with island castles.
As for the architectural monuments, we can distinguish: Plateliai and Biarzhora churches, as well as a church located in emaicho Kalvaria, Bubrungen mill and various old estates. There are many artistic, architectural, historical and archaeological monuments in emaiciu Kalvarija. The most important is the path of Christ's suffering, which has 19 chapels that were built in the 17th century.
Samogitian National Park has Samogitian crosses, small chapels, beautiful carved roadside pillars, the creation of which can be traced in the Museum of Justinas and Regina Jonušas, the private gallery of Leonardas Čarniauskas. In the Plateliai estate, you can see an exhibition of masks that are tried on when the Conjuration is celebrated. Archaeological finds found on the island of Pilies, as well as household items are also available for review. The emaite Museum has a permanent exhibition with the personal belongings of the famous writer Julia emaite.
A beautiful view opens from the observation deck located at the Plateliai lake. Here you can see wide horizons from the Mikitskaya sacred mountain, the Shamyal kurgan and points in Paplatel and Yogaudai.
