Zemaitijos National Park / About park

About park

The borough of Plateliai, first mentioned in the 15th century, is  located in the Žemaitijos National Park. It is brimming with all aspects of Lithuania’s heritage – traditions, old architecture, local cuisine, handicrafts, and the customs of the region. The Žemaitijos National Park is the land of the Samogitian ethnic group. There is also the deepest and largest lake in Žemaitija - Platelių ežero that gave the name to this area.

Natural heritage

The travel around the Plateliai lake gives the visitor a chance to admire the hilly landscape.

Taking a small walk you will reach the view point that opens the view of a lake with its islands, peninsulas and dark woods of Plokštinė. The employees of the Žemaitijos National Park take care of the area conserving its ancient woodlands, farmsteads and lake systems. They also encourage traditional farming methods and environmentally friendly tourism.

There is a park of the manor right on the southern edge of the borough. There you can find the ash tree with the thickest trunk in Lithuania, called the witch’s ash. But it is not the only natural monument in the park there are also elms and lime trees of age over 180 years.

Those, who are interested in archeology, will enjoy the visit to Sarnele village and the mound of Sarnele also called Svedkalnis dating to the 1st millennium. The famous Lithuanian poet Vytautas Macernis was buried in that sacred ancient place.

 

Cultural highlights

 

The borough of Plateliai is valued for its ancient farmsteads, traditional Samogitian architecture that was discovered in the villages, churches and old fashioned homesteads scattered throughout the National Park.

Both churches of the Plataliai borough and Berzoras village are among the oldest wooden churches in Lithuania. The little basilica of Žemaiciu Kalvarija is one of the more famous in this region.

The Plateliai visitor centre organizes excursions to the natural and cultural heritage sites on foot, by bike, boat, car and bus. All the excursions should be booked in advance. The borough has the medieval spirit because of its byways network of the 9th-13th century.

The museum dedicated to the poet Vytautas Macernis is worth paying a visit, together with the well preserved village of Berzoras, which is situated on the northern side of the Berzoras lake.  The village is famous for its old fashioned streets, traditional landscape, wooden churches and one of the oldest graveyards in Lithuania.

Zemaitijos National Park has many other interesting cultural attractions including a museum dedicated to the writer Žemaite, Regina and Justinas Jonušai museum of folk art and ethnography, Leonardas Cerniauskas art gallery – creative workshop, granary and stand museum complex that presents expositions of nature, history, ethnography, archeological findings from Šventorkalnis and Pilies island and local Shrovetide customs.

Festivals

v  Shrovetide – February, March
v   Day of European Parks – the end of May  
v   St.John‘s feast – June 23-24
v   Great church festival in Žemaičių Kalvarija – the 1st decade of July
v   Swimming marathon in the lake of Plateliai – the last Sunday of July
v   Plateliai regatta – the end of August
v   Tourism day – the end of September
 

Shrovetide

Shrovetide is an old tradition in Žemaitija.
Shrovetide is a time of performances. In ancient times during the Shrovetide the villages were turned into the stages for the theater of disguised. People were inviting Spring to come earlier, asking for the fertilized soil, favorable weather for farming, good crops, increase in the livestock population, health and success for the whole family. The Shrovetide is celebrated on Tuesday, 7 weeks before the Easter, usually in February or March.

Feast of St. John

This festival is celebrated at the end of June when the sun reaches its peak and there is the shortest night. Since the ancient times all people of the village used to gather in the most picturesque places - on the hills, by the rivers, lakes, and forests to celebrate this night together. They used to make a big bonfire. The girls made the wreaths of the most beautiful flowers, youth danced, sang, jumped over the fire. At midnight the youngsters used to look for the flower of the fern. The celebration usually continues till the sunrise. Feast of St. John is celebrated in Plateliai on the 23-24 June.

Great Church Festival of Žemaičių Kalvarija

The church festival starts at the beginning of July. During these days the pilgrims walk along the road of Christ’s Crucefixions. Crowds of people come to Žemaičių Kalvarija for the festival. Celebratory processions visit chapels along the road of Christ’s Crusefixions, sing psalms.

Swimming Marathon

Marathon, which is traditionally held in the lake of Plateliai on the last Saturday of July, is a real festival of swimming and water as it is. The grand marathon (3,5 km) and the little marathon (1,8 km) are waiting for the enthusiasts of swimming. There is much entertainment joined both by the participants of the marathons and spectators. The most entertaining contests are: a duel in the water on a log, the „most original“ jump and swimming using untraditional means...
 

Regatta of Plateliai

The regatta takes place at the end of August.

Traditional festival of yachtsmen attracts lots of sportsmen, who spend their leisure time yachting.

The view of yacht spearing the waves of the lake is a real delight for the romantic, a good shot for a photographer and positive emotions for fans.
Many other events are organized in Žemaitija National Park : Day of European Parks, Tourism Day, Seeing off Birds in Autumn, exhibitions, creation camps for artists, etc.