Žemaitijos nacionalinis parkas

Plateliai is one of the most beautiful and historically rich borough of Žemaitija. It is situated on the western coast of the Plateliai lake.

The name of Plateliai was first mentioned in the 15th century. Then the borough was situated on the Šventrokalnis peninsula, connected to the castles standing on the Pilies island by wooden bridge. Since the 17th century the borough has been developing in the current place. Planned structure of Plateliai with the central square is typical for the Žemaitija region.

There are a lot of places of interests in Plateliai. The former Granary and Stable now compose a museum complex. The granary presents expositions of nature, history, ethnography and archeological findings from Šventrokalnis and Pilies Island; while the exhibition in the stable is dedicated to the local Shrovetide customs.

The church made of squared timber built in the 1744 is one of the oldest wooden churches in Lithuania. To the south of the church there is a park of the Plateliai manor with the original homestead buildings dating to the 19th century.

The local trees prevail in the Park of the Manor: ashes, limes, maples and decorative bushes. There is the thickest ash-tree in Lithuania in this park (the volume of its trunk is 7,2 m and the height is 32 m). It is a natural monument.

Cognitive Path “Travel of Acorn and Chestnut in the park of the Plateliai manor” was created for the younger tourists. You will be accompanied by a naughty Chestnut, who wants to break a twig, to pick the flower or even to kick an ant-hill! Luckily, a good Acorn stops him on time and teaches him how to behave with the nature.

View Point is located right on the eastern edge of the borough. Being there you can admire the view of the lake with its islands, peninsulas and dark woods of Plokštinė. Plateliai lake is the deepest and the largest lake in Žemaitija: its area is 1200 ha, the deepest place is 47 m.

Šeirė Nature Path runs across the Šeire landscape reserve, which is next to the borough of Plateliai. Walking along 4,1 km. path you will see plants, mushrooms and animals peculiar to this land. This path will lead you to Gaudupis marsh. On your way there you will pass dark furgroves, groves of the decidous, nesting places of birds, nesting-boxes of bats, ant-hills. Not far from here there is the Piktežeris guarded by a wooden devil. On your way back you will walk along the coast of the lake.

Also you can visit Exposition of Nature, which is located in the Visitor's Center.

Žemaičių Kalvarija (former Gardai) was first mentioned in 1253 as a settlement of the Kurshes; it  was a with a castte, an ancient sacred place with the castle and a grave-yard.

The borough has preserved its fascinating structure, the network of streets and roads typical for the 9-13th centuries, unique architecture, culture and nature. Since 1642, when the chapels of Christ‘s Crucifixion were built,  the church festivals of the Great Calvary have been attracting thousands of pilgrims annually. The precious icon, the magic picture of the God's Mother brought here from Rome in 1640, is placed  in the main altar of the basilica.

There is a museum of a poet Vytauto Mačernis, a municipality building, bus station, a library, few shops and a cafe in Žemaičių Kalvarija. The population of the borough is 800 people.

Beržoras is an old street-type village first mentioned in the 15th century. It is situated on the northern coast of the Beržoras lake not far from the borough of Plateliai. The village of Beržoras has preserved the traditional landscape, it is interesting for its architecture, churches in particular. The church of Beržoras and the belfry were built in 1746 and considered to be among the oldest wooden church buildings in Lithuania. In the churchyard there is an old grave-yard of Plateliai, where a lot of famous people were buried: folk artist S.Riauba, historian museum worker J.Mickevičius and others. It is one of the oldest grave-yards of Lithuania. 14 wooden chapels of Christ’s Crucifixion were built in Beržoras in 1759; they used to be a part of the Calvary path. During the 70's of the 20th century they were ruined and then rebuilt during the period of  independence.

The Beržoras lake, which is located next to the village, has the area of 50 ha and average depth of 5 m.

The Šarnelė place was first mentioned in the 16^th century. There is the Mound of Šarnelė also called Švedkalnis in the middle of the village. At the foot of it there was a settlement and an ancient sacred place; the archeological findings are dating to the first millennium. On the top of the mound there is an image of the Lithuanian poet Vytautas Mačernis carved in stone. Native Šarnelė was the most beloved place of V.Mačernis. The Grave of V.Mačernis is often visited by tourists and admirers of Mačernis’ poetry.