Discover the city and district with our list of the best things to do and see in Plungė, for visitors and locals alike.
1. Duke M. Oginski manor / Samogitian art museum
Contemporary looking manor ensemble consists of ten 19th century buildings and one of the largest (over 58 hectares) and beautiful Lithuanian mixed-style parks, which construction started in 18th century. The architectural ensemble of the manor includes: a palace in the Neo-Renaissance style and two buildings for workers of the manor (so-called oficina), a Neo-Gothic style horse stable, summer orchard-house called “watch building” (“laikrodinė”), laundress and a lawyer houses, the house of the caretaker of the manor, the gate and the guardhouse. Samogitian Art Museum has been working in the manor since 1994. One of the oldest and largest oak trees in Lithuania, named after the pagan god Perkūnas (Perun) and the legendary weeping linden tree grow in the park.
2. Cold War Exposition
This exposition is located in the former Soviet Union`s complex of ballistic missile silo launch. From 1963 to 1978, four medium-range SS-4 ballistic missiles were deployed here, they were equipped with 2 megatons of thermonuclear warheads.
The warheads of all missiles were aimed at the cities of Western Europe.
Today, this former secret facility is open to visitors. Modern historical exposition in the former facilities for controlling missiles and equipment demonstrates materials related to five decades of the Cold War.
3. Memorial Museum of the writer Žemaitė, Bukantė Manor
The native house of the writer invites everyone to see the exposition, which reveals her personal life and creations. The barn of the manor features the memorial exposition of Stanislovas Riauba: you will be able to learn about one of the most prominent folk artists of Samogitia and will see his unique creations here.
You can see traditional Samogitian sun-crosses, sculptures of saints in the restored barn.
The museum also holds educational classes: “Samogitian Culinary Heritage”, “Goose Feather Writing” and others.
4. The park of energetic labyrinths and geometric shapes
Here you will find five energetic labyrinths of various lengths (from 54 m to 1800 m) and other geometric shapes: domes, mandalas and merkabas.
5. Expositions of Samogitian National Park and Shrove Tuesday
Expositions in Samogitian National Park includes updated expositions devoted to the history of the Plateliai manor, past events in Plateliai and ethnography of this Samogitian region. There is also an exhibition dedicated to nature, and the exhibitions in the exhibition hall are constantly changed.
First in Lithuania exhibition of masks for Shrove Tuesday festival is located in the neighboring stable that is built in the second half of the 19th century in the historicist style. This exhibition represents famous and traditional Shrove Tuesday festival with more than 250 different masks.
6. Leonardas Černiauskas art gallery — creative workshops
Leonardas Černiauskas has bought the Water Mill that was built in 1816 and belonged to Count Choiselle. He restored it and founded his own art gallery and workshops in 1989. Now there is a permanent exhibition of his paintings by the artist, wood carvings and antiques.
7. Siberija viewing tower
From 15-meter-high tower you can see Lakes Plateliai and Beržoras, the Siberian Wetland — one of the most valuable wetlands in Samogitian National Park, the village of Beržoras, the southern part of the town of Plateliai, Liepiju forest.
8. Žemaičių Kalvarija (Samogitian Calvary)
According to written sources, the city was first mentioned in 1253 and called Garde (Gardaí). First Road to Calvary (Way of the Cross, Golgotha) with 19 chapels was created by bishop Jurgis Tiškevičius in the thirties of the 17th century in Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He also built a church dedicated to St. Mary.
Žemaičių Kalvarija is one of the most visited sacred places in Lithuania. It is included in the pilgrimage route of Pope John Paul II.
9. Šeirė walking trail
The walking trail, 4.1 km long, with a segment of 1.4 km adapted to meet needs of mobility-impaired persons is located in the Žemaitija National Park, near the town of Plateliai. Exclusiveness of Trail Experience: active way to acquaint with nature, Gaudupis bog, lake Piktežeris, shore of lake Plateliai, adapting to different needs of visitors.
10. Plateliai scenic viewpoint
The scenic viewpoint offers a beautiful view of the lakes (Pilies island, Veršių island), the peninsula (Šventorkalnis), the famous Lake Plateliai and the dark forests of Plokštinė. The scenic viewpoint is adapted for people with mobility and vision disabilities.
