Mindunai Observation Tower
Go on Moletai-Ignalina road to Mindunai. In Mindunai village there is a turn to the right towards Labanoras regional park. After several rows of birch trees are passed, the road continues thru pine trees. Roads in the park are narrow and winding. You reach the second tallest observation tower in Lithuania, 36 meters high. Architectural form of the tower reminds of a young tree trunk aiming for the sky. Only birds and clouds are further above.
Try out your endurance by climbing 214 steps to reach the top of the tower. The height is of a nine story building. You overcome the fear of ascending spiral stairs and rise above the top of trees. Then you can take in breathtaking bird’s eye view of the landscape around.
Refreshingly green pine trees spread across Labanoras regional park to the northeast. To the west lies Baltieji Lakajai lake, one of the biggest lakes of glacier origin in eastern Lithuania. Lakajai landscape is the most picturesque reserve in the Highlands. It spreads across Baltieji and Juodieji Lakajai lakes. They are characterized by unique peninsulas, islands, rare plants and animals.
Labanoras regional park covers the divide of Sventoji and Zeimena rivers. Forests take up four fifths of the park’s territory. All together they form continuous forest massif, which is called Labanoras forest. It is one of the biggest forests in Lithuania and the most valuable treasure of the Regional Park.
Mindūnų k., Mindūnų sen., Molėtų r. (55.219241, 25.560908)
Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology
Old Vilnius observatory was beset by city lights, dust and smoke during the seventh decade in 20th century. Searches began for a new place for observatory in Lithuania. It was decided that the most suitable area was a hill in Kulioniai village encircled by Zelva lake. Ethnic culture enthusiasts doctor Gunaras Kakaras, head of personnel at Astronomy observatory, and doctor Libertas Klimka, senior scientist at Institute of Semiconductor Physics, found common ground in areas of lithuanian culture ties with the sky, Sun, Moon, stars. An idea was born to connect ethno cosmology in Lithuania.
In spring of 1990 presidium of Science Academy signed a resolution to establish the Museum of Ethnocosmology. It became the first and only museum of its kind in the world. The essence of the museum is the relationship of a man and mankind with the cosmic world. Reflection of this connection manifests in traditions of life of the nation, heritage, science, technology, philosophy and elsewhere.
Telescope at the museum started working in spring of 1997. Ten years later museum was reconstructed. Buildings were built in the form of space ships that have landed in the area of forests and lakes. Kristapavicius and Gudaitis were the authors of this project. In 2010 there were already two telescopes designated for watching the stars at night. Scientists and students from all Lithuanian science and education institutions can perform observations at renewed Moletai observatory.
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.
Žvaigždžių g. 10, Kulionių k., Čiulėnų sen., Molėtų r. (55.315355, 25.555043)
Hiking recreational trail around the lakes of Molėtai town
There are two lakes in the town of Molėtai – Pastovis and Pastovėlis. Along them is a cognitive recreational trail. This is a great opportunity to see Molėtai differently. Walking or cycling along the trail you will find: Fisherman’s Shoe and Rod Sculpture, Fish with Saddle, Sculpture Park, Walking Bridges over Lakes, Stone to Sisif, Spring Hill, Outdoor Skating rink, Trampoline, Children’s Playground, Multiple Bathing Areas, benches for rest, lots of waterfowl.
Jaunimo g., Molėtai (55.230919, 25.421470)
Dubingiai castle site, called Castle Hill
After visiting the Asveja regional park, make sure to get to Dubingiai Castle Hill. Walking through the cognitive trail from the former island, now a peninsula, you will be able to admire the panorama of the longest, and one of the deepest and largest lakes in Lithuania.
Dubingiai castle – is an important 14th – 18th century Lithuanian culture, industry and defense center, it commemorates war with the Order of the Teutonic Knights, reformation – significant eras in our history. The castle is associated with the life and activities of prominent individuals of that age (Vytautas The Great, Mikalojus Radvila Rudas, Barbora Radvilaitė and others). Dubingiai are inseparable from the history of the rise and prosperity of the Radvilos family.
From 2012 Visitors of the castle hill are awaited by the ready for exposition fragments of the Radvila Palace, covered with a hood, along with the place of the former Evangelical Reformed Church with the Radvilos funeral pantheon. The castle hill has a cognitive trail with 6 observation stops near archaeological and natural sites. The length of the natural tract is about 1.5 km. It has wooden stairs, information stands, benches.
Dubingiai, Molėtų r. (55.059580, 25.444044)
An educational trail along Jurkiškis River
This river is also known as Melnyčėlė – it’s one of the most interesting and spectacular natural objects of Asveja regional park. The river is only 1.2 km long; however, it “falls down” approximately 12 metres within this short distance. It also reminds a mountain stream by its turbulent flow, as well as twists and turns; meanwhile, the height of its slopes is 18 metres. Its bottom is full of boulders. In the middle of the watercourse, there is a natural heritage object – Jurkiškis Boulder, which circumference reaches 5 metres, due to which it was recognised as “A Child of Puntukas Boulder” and therefore it is protected by the state. To reveal the entire beauty of the canyon valley to its visitors, the 1.5 km long educational trail was created along with the Jurkiškis River, including the information tables and arrows.
Verbyliškių km., Dubingių sen., Molėtų r. (55.071358, 25.413282)
Lake Fishery Museum and Antanas Truskauskas Hunting and Nature Exposition
Fishing museum is located in Mindunai, part of Moletai district most abundant in lakes. The museum is to the east of Moletai, 10th kilometer of Moletai-Ignalina road.
In late autumn of 1988 school fishing museum was opened in a farm building in Mindunai school yard. Historian Virginija Mackoniene set up the museum. Later Fishing museum bace Museum of Moletai Region subdivision. At the exposition in the museum various fishing equipment can be seen. People from the eastern part of Lithuania used them at the end of 19th century. One can also get acquainted with archaic fishing and how this trade changed over time.
Exposition is placed in restored 19th century fisherman’s cottage and barn. Oldest exhibit is impressive XVth century skiff 4 meters long. Museum holds eel catching devices, ancient nets, automatic fishing rods and other. Linen and hemp, the main material for weaving nets, are present at the exhibit as well.
Museum consists of several more farm buildings: fisherman’s room, storeroom, smokehouse for fish. Yard is surrounded by interwoven fence, flower garden, old boats. Folk sculptor Stasys Karanauskas erected three roofed pillars at the end of 20th century. They are dedicated to crayfishing, fishing and nature of Moletai region. A pond is close by and it is full of fish. Baltieji Lakajai lake is a walking distance from the museum. Siesartis is close by as well as Juodieji Lakajai. Ice fishing festivities are being organized every year at the end of February.
An exhibition of various stuffed animals and furs has been set in fishing museum. Antanas Truskauskas collection of animals is from five continents. 120 different stuffed beasts and birds. It’s only a third of what he has donated to the museum. All of these animals were captured by Truskauskas himself. His collection of hunted down animals and birds is the biggest in Lithuania.
Muziejaus g. 7, Mindūnai, Molėtų r. (55.231880, 25.562756)
Moletai Technical Museum
The newly established private museum exhibits about 140 cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, trailers and other vehicles, as well as ancient radio, audio and TV equipment. Visitors are given the opportunity not only to view some of the exhibits, but also to try them out. The museum’s exhibits are often used in motion picture films, one of which is “Chernobyl”.
Molėtų r., Giedraičių sen., Tumenčiznos k. 1b (55.115289, 25.333962)
The Palace of Alanta Country Estate
The neo-classical buildings of the Mansion were built in the middle of the 19th century. The owners of the Alanta Estate were constantly changing. In 1828, Alanta was bought by a nobleman Pac-Pomarnackis. In the second half of the 19th century, his family built the Alanta Estate from brick and stone. A valuable art collection of paintings, furniture and oriental porcelain was stored here by the owners. In the 20th century, during the interwar period, the Estate was bought by Balys Sližys, the Minister of National Defence. During the Soviet era, there was a kolkhoz office, a cinema and a gym, a school and a library. The Mansion and the Park of Alanta Country Estate are protected by the state.
Currently, the established Art Gallery of V. Žukas that houses the author’s paintings, drawings, collages and ceramics is open on the ground floor of the Mansion of Alanta Country Estate. The other three halls are intended for touring exhibits and stage the exhibitions of contemporary Lithuanian artists. The facsimile drawings by Rembrandt were featured here in 2017.
The first floor of the Estate houses the Venerable T. Matulionis Museum, who was a native of the Alanta region. The exhibit includes the bishop-martyr’s letters from Soviet prisons and exiles and other documents. Some of the most valuable relics in the T. Matulionis Museum are the spectacles, a watch, a safety-razor and a rosary he brought back from the Solovkai concentration camp. There is a little altar he carved out in the Mordovian exile and some Christmas ornament cut-outs. There is also a bamboo cane upon which the bishop leaned during his Soviet-era Birštonas and Šeduva exile (1956-1962). Some of the Museum’s exhibits are gifts received from the Latvian Varaklian and Bikava parishes, where Father T. Matulionis served in the beginning of the 20th century. There are 30 enlarged photographs from the bishop’s life on the walls of the T. Matulionis Museum.
Parko g. 5, Alanta, Molėtų r., Lietuva (55.346483, 25.325125)
Augustine Monastery in Videniskiai
Videniskiai is one of the most distinctive areas of the region. St. Laurynas church and Repentance canons monastery testifies to the rich past of this village, an integral part of the Dukes Giedraičiai family…
During the tour of the Videniškiai monastery, you will be acquainted with the activities of the Giedraičiai family and their history in Videniškiai. You will learn about their influence on the development of the village. You will find out why the first White Augustinian monks arrived to Videniškiai and how the monastery looked like at the time of the thrive of the fellowship of the monks and what made the monastery special. You will have the opportunity to be acquainted with a rather rare subject in the province of Lithuania – the remains of the portrait frescoes of the senior of the monastery, their history and fate over the centuries. In a monastery you can try monks stew.
Šilelio g. 6a, Videniškių k, Videniškių sen., Molėtų r. (55.217036, 25.277779)
Virtual Educational Space “Moletai differently”
Only in Moletai Tourism and Business Information Center and nowhere else in Lithuania! A unique virtual tour through time, in particular through history of Moletai! Virtual technology helmets will take you almost 3 thousand years back and you will travel step by step in the virtual reality to the present days (An ancient pile settlement on the lake Luokesai; An attack of the Livonian Order against Liesenai castle; Jogaila and the first known record of the name of Moletai; Barbora Radvilaite’s conversation with her brother; Jewish trading house of the 20th century; Armed struggle for independence – the battle of Giedraiciai; Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum, etc.). A content of this animated historical journey was developed in accordance with the recommendations of historians and archaeologists. It restores and reminds the visitors of the forgotten past.
You will also have a chance to try interactive educational games: “Pike from paradise”, “Moletai – Yes/No”, “Bike tour around Moletai”.
Inturkės g. 4, Molėtai (55.232067, 25.420790)
Sculpture “Who released the duck??”
Adresas: S. Nėries g. ir Slėnio tak. sankirta
GPS: 55.229236, 25.418819
Sculpture “Moletai name”
Adresas: Inturkės g. 4, Molėtai
GPS: 55.231532, 25.421152
Sculpture „Letter to Lithuania“
Adresas: Vilniaus g. (šalia Molėtų pašto pastato)
GPS: 55.232170, 25.419594
