Aukštaitija National Park

Introducing Aukštaitija National Park

In beloved Aukštaitija National Park it's clear where Lithuania's love for nature arose. The natural paradise of deep, whispering forests and blue lakes bewitched this once-pagan country.

Around 70% of the park comprises pine, spruce and deciduous forests, inhabited by elk, deer and wild boar. Its highlight is a labyrinth of 126 lakes, the deepest being Lake Tauragnas (60.5m deep). A footpath leads to the top of 155m Ice Hill (Ledakalnis), from where a panorama of some seven lakes unfolds. Particularly pretty is Lake Baluošas, ensnared by woods and speckled with islands. White-tailed and golden eagles prey here and storks are rife. The Trainiškis Wildlife Sanctuary and Ažvinčiai Forest, home to 150- to 200-year-old pine trees, can only be visited with park guides.

There are a hundred settlements within the park: Šuminai, Salos ll, Vaišnoriškės, Varniškės II and Strazdai are protected ethnographic centres. Ginučiai has a 19th-century watermill (8-616 29366; adult/student 3/1Lt; 10am-6pm Tue-Sat, to 5pm Sun) with a small exhibition on its flour- and electricity-producing history. Stripeikiai's Ancient Bee-keeping Museum(Senorinės bitininkystės muziejus; adult/student 3/1Lt; 10am-7pm May-mid-Oct) spins the story of beekeeping through a merry collection of carved wooden statues and hives.

The park has several ancient piliakalnis (fortification mounds) such as the Taurapilio moundon the southern shore of Lake Tauragnas, and some quaint wooden architecture, including a fine church and bell tower at Palūsė. Around Lake Lūšiai a wooden sculpture trail depicts Lithuanian folklore.

Unaccompanied children under 16, littering, lighting fires and drunken behaviour are forbidden in the park.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009