Stars and Spas in Lithuania
Highlights
During this trip, you will visit ...
Day 1
Arrival to Vilnius. Transfer to the hotel. The afternoon city tour. Welcome dinner at national Lithuanian cuisine restaurant. Spend night in Vilnius.
Vilnius
Is capital of Lithuania and the largest city in the country. The founder of Vilnius is considered to be the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas who first mentioned name of Vilnius in the written chronicles in his letter to the towns of Western Europe in 1323. Vilnius was centre of the largest country in Europe in 14th – 15th centuries but today it has about 580 thousand inhabitants and one of the largest old towns in Eastern Europe that covers 360 hectares. Green parks and urban heritage are combined into unforgettable mix that so many visitors enjoy. Because of this unique mix of architecture and landscape it was included into UNESCO World Heritage List. One of the largest medieval old towns in Northern Europe, and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vilnius Old Town is full of beautiful buildings, eclectic shops, picturesque churches and elegant palaces.
Day 2
Transfer to Kaunas (100 km). Lunch. Kaunas sightseeing tour. Spend night in Kaunas.
Kaunas
Is the second largest city in Lithuania, first mentioned in an old manuscript of 1361. It is situated in the valley of two longest rivers of Lithuania: Nemunas and Neris. The town itself became an example of a confluence of people and cultures, an attractive blend of architecture and nature. The town has seen many ups and downs, but has stayed the source of forces for resistance, the guard of national identity, and has once actually been the temporary capital of Lithuania.
The tour includes: the Old Town of Kaunas with St. George’s Church, Kaunas Castle built at the confluence of Nemunas and Neris rivers, the courtyard of the Theological seminary, the Town Hall Square surrounded by former 16th – 18th century merchants’ dwelling houses and baroque churches – the Jesuit Church and the Cathedral, the Church of Vytautas dating back to the 14th century and the Perkunas (Thunder) House (no visits inside); a walk on the central street – Liberty avenue – bustling with street vendors, musicians, full of cafes and souvenir shops; afternoon visits include Ciurlionis Picture Gallery and Devils’ Museum.
M.K. Ciurlionis Picture Gallery preserves and exhibits the works of the famous Lithuanian artist, Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, who painted and composed music at the turn of 20th century.
Devils’ Museum contains a collection of sculptures and carvings of devils collected by Lithuanian painter Antanas Zmuidzinavicius. His private collection gave start to the museum which now houses several thousand devil figurines both local and from all over the world.
Pazaislis Monastery and Church
Located in splendid isolation among the fields and woodlands of the right bank of Nemunas river is a striking Baroque ensemble in Northern Europe founded in 1662 by the Great Chancellor Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac ordered by the Camaldolese Hermits. The main construction has been built in 1674 when the entire ensemble was finished in 1712. The building and the dome was founded after 1755 by king’s chamberlain Michal Jan Pac.
Day 3
Transfer to Kėdainiai (50 km), Kėdainiai sightseeing tour, lunch, visit mead production company, mead cellar, mead tasting, transfer to Taujėnai manor and Anykščiai (150 km). Anykščiai tour. Spend night in Spa Vilnius, modern wellness and SPA treatment centre in Anykščiai.
Kėdainiai
Kėdainiai (population 32 000) is a town near the center of Lithuania well known for its brick old town. With most Lithuanian old towns being wooden and therefore less intact, the lovely small medieval district of Kėdainiai is unusual. The well-cared clean streets run towards numerous squares where markets used to take place. Kėdainiai was especially important for medieval trade.
The main square is “Great Market” (Didžioji Rinka) opens to Nevėžis river at one side. On the opposite side there stands a former city hall with a tall roof.
Taujėnai Manor. Taujėnai mentioned in the second half of the sixteenth century. Classical-style palace, built in 1802, survived to this day. Manor until the mid of twentieth century was Radvilians residence.
Anykščiai
Anykščiai (population 12 000) lies on the Šventoji river, the longest river to both start and end in Lithuania. Despite not having magnificent buildings (other than the imposing gothic revival Saint Matthew church of 1909 with its tallest-in-Lithuania 79 m twin towers) the town has quite many interesting places.
Puntukas Stone. Puntukas stone, the second largest stone in Lithuania according to its size (after Barstyčiai Stone) . It is covered by indentations reminding of the flight across the Atlantic Ocean by pilots S. Darius and S. Girėnas, the first Lithuanians to complete this mission (and worldwide air mail pioneers). The bas-relief was made in secret by Bronius Pundzius in 1943 as Lithuania was occupied by the Nazi Germany at the time.
The Treetops walking path, located in the famous Anykščiai Pinewood is the only treetop path in the Eastern Europe. The path is in the level of the tree crowns and it lasts for 300 meters, evenly going up to 21 meters high. The 13 stops in the real spaces will help you to get to know and experience the variety of Lithuanian forests, to know and understand the importance of the Anykščiai Pinewood plants around the area. On the 14th stop, which is on the highest point on the tower (the height of the tower is 34 meters), the breath-taking view of the Šventoji river curves opens up, and the tower tops of the St. Matthew’s church.
Day 4
Morning departure to Rokiškis (62 km). Rokiškis sightseeing tour. Transfer to Ilzenbergas Manor (30 km). Lunch. Spend night in Spa Vilnius, modern wellness and SPA treatment centre in Anykščiai.
Rokiškis
Rokiškis (pop. 15 000) is among the most appealing towns of northeastern Lithuania (Aukštaitija). It is centered around a very large rectangular main Nepriklausomybės (Independence) square. The square connects the Saint Matthew church (a neo-gothic masterpiece) on its western side to an extensive 18th century Tyzenhauzai family manor in the east.
Manor ensemble. The Rokiskis Manor House was built in 1801 in the style of classicism under the design of an unknown architect. Since 1952 the Rokiškis Regional Museum has been located in the palace of the manor house. Rokiskis manor – a unique collection of cultural heritage of estates. Here You can find old and new folk art collections with the exceptional works of the 20th century’s most famous Lithuanian wood carver, Lionginas Šepka, and the only collection of nativity sculptures in the country.
Ilzenberg Manor. In 1515, nobleman Berndt von Kerssenbrock established Ilzenberg Manor on top of a hill in the historical Selonian lands of Rokiškis with a spectacular landscape including two lakes: Ilgis and Apvalasas. The manor on the hill was given the German name Ilsen Berg, which means Ilzė’s mountain.
Ilzenberg Manor was affected by the war between Sweden and Russia that began in 1655. This is evidenced by the fact that the manor contained three 17th century cannons, which were donated to the Kaunas Military Museum by the owner of the Ilzenberg Manor, Livija Emilija Dimšaitė in 1926. Replicas of them are located in the manor park.
Ilzenberg Manor park-museum could be called the Nordic Arcadia. This name has been used for centuries for romantic parks: a nostalgic landscape and idyllic country untouched by the faults of civilisation, where a person blends with nature. Here, 9 different emotional spaces are created using architectural and natural elements.
Day 5
Morning departure to Aukštaitija national park (totally – 170 km). Ginučiai watermill. Lunch. Palūšė. The Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology. Dinner. Spend night in Dubingiai.
Ginučiai watermill is a cultural monument that has a dam with a bridge. The ancient equipment like the water wheel, bag-lifting mechanism, millstones and device for finely grinding remained from the 19th century. Ginučiai watermill is one of the six watermills of the Aukštaitija National Park that has the authentic equipment even these days. Now mill is protected by states as the 19th-century technical monument. There is a museum where you can get to know about the production of bread or to see ancient tools and the owner apartments.
Palūšė
Palūšė – the capital of Aukštaitija national park, a resort. In the historical sources, Palūšė has been mentioned since 1651. Here the most significant events of the Aukštaitija national park take place. The pride of Lithuania – a marvellous piece of nature with one of the oldest wooden sanctuaries – the church of Palūšė(having been constructed in 1750, it is an oldest church in Lithuania. It is said that the only tools used for construction were an ax and a saw), a reconstructed boat house, the Ladakalnis hill, now better suited to tourists, the mill of Ginučiai, the Stripeikiai beekeeping museum, a viewing area on the telecommunications tower.
The Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology is a unique architectural structure located in Lithuania‘s largest regional park, Labanoras. The museum‘s observation tower gives you a panoramic view of the forests and lakes of Aukštaitija region. During the tour, you will be accompanied by a guide who will tell you about the area and its main visible objects. Visitors are first welcome to see gallery exposition installed at the slope of a hill. At the museum one can touch a meteorite, rise 30 meters off the ground into observation deck and take in the view of the Highlands around. Even at daylight one can look thru special telescope into the sun and see volcanoes – protuberances. Museum of Ethnocosmology is the first museum in Lithuania which works twenty-four hours.
Dubingiai
On the bank of Lake Asveja, which is the longest and one of the most beautiful lakes in Lithuania, there is the town of Dubingiai, where one of the palaces of the noble Radvila family, as well as an evangelical reformed church, stood on a large hill in the 16th-17th century. The ruins which remain are impressive, and tell a story of their own. The excavation site is set up to accommodate visitors – entire layers of history are opened up for them to see.
Archaeologists claim that from an archaeological point of view, this is one of the most interesting places in Lithuania. Several hundred valuable objects have been discovered here. The oldest is a coin dating back to the time of Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas (beginning of the 15th century), and the latest are fragments of the Radvila family‘s marble tombstones (around 1630). Quite a few remains have been found in the churchyard and basement of the church; they are considered to be of the Radvilas – one of the most powerful noble families in Lithuania.
The castle hill itself is beautiful and well-maintained. From the top there is a wonderful view of Lake Asveja and its picturesque surroundings.
Day 6
Morning departure to Kernavė (60 km), Trakai (35 km). Lunch. Spend night in Trakai.
Kernavė
Kernavė, a small town situated on the right bank of the Neris River at 35 km from Vilnius, was one of the first centres of the State of Lithuania in the past (13th century), is the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania mentioned in historical chronicles (the second half of the 18th century).
Pajauta Valley that is shrouded in legends and five hill forts at its edge protect the remains of the capital of the last European pagan state. The State Cultural Reserve of Kernavė was founded in 1989. The present cultural reserve, covering an area of 196.2 hectares, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, harbours complex archaeological strata from prehistoric times, and the entire area is used only for cultural tourism and scientific research. The exceptional world value of the place is continuation of its settling from the late Palaeolithic age (the 9th century BC) up to the present day.
Kernavė Archaeology and History Museum will give visitors of the Museum the opportunity to become acquainted with the pre-history and Middle Ages of Kernavė. The hill forts of Kernavė are unique in the entire Baltic Sea region, as there are five on just one location. An impressive view of the turns of the Neris River, the island of the river and its banks open from it. On the road to Kernavė, having turned left in the town of Dūkštai, a forest path will lead you to the area of burial mounds in Karmazinai. There are about 130 burial mounds in that area; three of them were reconstructed after archaeological excavations had been carried out there. Having climbed a mountain by the road beyond Dūkštai, you will find yourself in the largest oak-wood in Lithuania on the edge of which there is a rock with runes. At the confluence of the Dūkšta and Neris rivers, having turned off the road a little in the direction of Vievis, there is a hill-fort of Karmazinai with a beautiful view of the Neris valley where once there was a pagan place of worship. A cognitive part meanders among the old oak-trees next to the hill fort.
Trakai
Trakai – the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit the 15th century Insular Trakai Castle housing an exhibition on prehistoric findings and the 17-18th century applied art, the way of life of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the Karaites, brought to Lithuania from the Crimea.
Day 7
Transfer to Norviliskes castle (95 km). Old-fashioned dinner in Norviliskes castle. Transfer to Vilnius (80 km). Spend night in Vilnius.
Norviliskes castle. Unique, authentically restored Renaissance castle of Norviliskes shines like a diamond in the crown of Lithuanian castles. Once forgotten majestic building was raised to live a new life.
The castle, gate tower and defensive tower formed typical defensive system with a compact yard in the centre, once. It is a rare example of such Renaissance complex not only in Lithuania, but in the whole Europe.
Day 8
Departure.
Vilnius airport
Your hotel in Vilnius or Kaunas
Comfortable clothes and shoes.
- 7 nights at the 3* hotels with breakfast (2 of them with SPA facilities)
- 7 breakfasts
- 5 Lunches
- 3 Dinners
- 1 mead tasting
- Transportation (1st class)
- Guide (Multilingual)
- Entrances
- Voluntary ticket to the national parks
- Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Gratuities
- Departure airport transfer
- Flights