Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

282  LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION

t Žemaitija National Park Key
Minor road
Shrouded in folklore and legend, the Žemaitija region was the Hiking trail
last stretch of Europe to accept Christianity. Pagan gods were Park boundary
worshipped here till the 19th century, and carvings and
crosses in the villages still blend Catholic and pagan ima gery.
Established in 1991, the Žemaitija National Park spreads 0 km 2
across 220 sq km (85 sq miles), with its headquarters and
information centre in the town of Plateliai. There are several 0 miles 2
hiking trails that meander around Lake Plateliai through Barstyčiai
isolated stretches of forest. Campsites and rural farmsteads
cater to tourists.

Mikytai

Pūčkoriai

Visvainiai

Virkšai
. Mikytai Hill and Devil’s Footprint Stone
The forest-covered “sacred hill” of Mikytai is believed by
local people to be haunted. On the hill’s northern
slope, the Devil’s Footprint Stone was once used for
pagan sacrifices.
Lake
Plateliai Plateliai

Beržoras
Lake
Beržoras
Church of St
Stanislav in Lake Ilgis
Beržoras
This church (1746) Grigaičiai
is made of spruce
logs. Its Chapels of Godeliai
the Cross were Salantai
destroyed by the Babrungènai
Soviets but restored
in 2001.

KEY
Mill-Gallery
1 Godeliai has a rare collection A stone watermill,
of obscure paintings and converted into a Plunge
crucifixes in its Museum of folk art gallery,
Folk Art. stands in the
2 Plateliai serves as the riverside village of
park’s main service and infor- Babrungėnai, once
mation centre. famed for its
beaver hunters.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp306–307 and pp330–31

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