Page 270 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

268  LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION

y Rokiškis
Road Map D4. * 35,000. £ from
Panevėžys. @ from Panevėžys, Vilnius.
n Nepriklausomybès 8, (458) 52 261
or (458) 51 044. _ Lake Sartai Horse
Race (first Sat in Feb). ∑ rokiskiotic.lt
Set amid glorious countryside,
Rokiškis is blessed with fort-hills,
forests and picnic sites. However,
it is best known for its cheese
company, Rokiškio Sūris.
Having started as a small local
dairy, it now sells cheeses all
Interior of the Neo-Baroque Cathedral of Christ the King, Panevėžys over the Baltic region.
Rokiškis Manor House, the
r Panevėžys Sėla Museum, housed in the town’s main sight, was built in
17th-century Biržai Castle. 1801 by the Tyzenhaus family.
Road Map D5. * 105,000.
£ from Klaipėda. @ from Vilnius. Visitors can enjoy the live folk The Polish architects who
n Laisvės aikšte 11, (45) 508 081. music per formed here, but redesigned it in 1905 created
∑ panevezysinfo.lt should book ahead. an English-style interior, but its
In 1701, Peter the Great of exterior has Baroque ele ments.
One of Lithuania’s largest cities, Russia and King Augustus II of It houses the Rokiškis Museum,
with a modern commercial Poland signed the pact against which offers tours of the lavish
centre, Panevėžys is a crucial Sweden in this castle on the Great Hall and a separate
transport hub in the region. eve of the Great Northern War building that exhibits fine
South of its centre lies the (see p37). wooden folk sculptures by
Cathedral of Christ the King, a In the grounds are the ruins of Lionginas Šepka (1907–85).
Neo-Baroque structure built in an older castle, whose defences
1904. A sweeping painting in the mid-1500s involved Environs
above the altar depicts a victo- damming two rivers to create Kriaunos, 15 km (9 miles)
rious medieval Lithuanian army. Lithuania’s oldest man-made southeast of Rokiškis, has a local
A few streets north, the Civic lake, Širvėna. A 525-m (572-yard) Historical Museum filled with an
Art Gallery often holds wooden bridge leads across the eclectic collection of flax tools,
eccentric exhibitions of local lake to Astravas Manor Park, with linen fabrics, tubs and troughs.
modern art. East of the centre its sprawling 19th-century manor Hidden upstairs, the “loft of
is Glasremis, a working gallery house, watermill and old dam. witches” is a coven of 400 witches,
creating glass items. mer maids, fairies and goblins.
E Sėla Museum The island in Lake Dviragis
Environs J Radvilos 3. Tel (450) 31 883. in the village of Salos, 20 km
In Pakruojis, 50 km (31 miles) Open May–Sep: 10am–5:30pm (12 miles) southwest of Rokiškis,
northwest of Panevėžys, the Tue–Sun; Oct–Apr: 10am–5:30pm was a sanctuary for its inhabi tants
country’s largest 18th-century Wed–Sat. & 8 in the early 15th century.
manor lies in a 6-ha (15-acre)
park, with a five-arch stone
bridge and 40 other structures.
E Civic Art Gallery
Respublikos 3. Tel (45) 584 802.
Open 11am–6pm Wed–Sun. &
E Glasremis
J Biliūno 12. Tel (45) 430 403.
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri. =

t Biržai
Road Map D4. * 28,000.
@ from Panevėžys. n J Janonio 2,
(450) 33 496. ∑ birzai.lt
The small town of Biržai is
best known for its traditional
breweries. The local brew can
be sampled in the cellar of the Wooden bridge across the castle moat into the older castle, Biržai
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp305–306 and pp328–30

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