TOP 12 Places Your Family Should Visit in Šilalė

We travel with our children around the Šilalė region and tell them where the birthplace of Lithuania’s greatest daredevils can be found, we try to find out if it is possible to live and work in an oak tree, and we test the wooden bridges hanging over the rushing river. Join us!

Learn about all of this and more in our TOP12 places in Šilalė when traveling with family.

Rest Area by Lake Paršežeris

We start our hot summer day excursion with water entertainment and visit the largest water body of natural origin in Tauragė County – Paršežeris. According to one account, this hole was dug by a large black boar into which a large cloud of water with fish descended one night. Paršežeris campsite is a great place for a walk, relaxation and entertainment. At the campsite, you can find a banquet hall, an outdoor pavilion, summer cabins, places for tents and campers, basketball and volleyball courts, a children’s play and swing area, equipment for water activities, and an on-site store. The area of ​​the campsite is as much as 5 hectares, so there will definitely be enough space and water for everyone.

The Pedestrian Educational Trail of Paršežeris

If you are not happy with the hot weather during your trip to Šilalė, we recommend that you try a real mythological and mysterious odyssey with the whole family. This educational trail in the Sietuva landscape reserve is not short, its length is even 13.8 km, but with slightly older children it is a great idea for a real family challenge.

The park has paths, stands, benches, even 3 wooden bridges and other infrastructure suitable for pedestrians. The trail starts and runs along the southern coast of Paršežeris — the lake marsh, in this section you can get to know the valuable lowland biocenoses. From the lowland, the path leads to the village of Rešketis, where in 1863 people have buried the rebels.

Further, the trail turns towards Šilinkalnis. From there – to the Paršpilis mound, next to it is Parškalnis – it’s an ancient settlement, past the ancient graves of Burbiškiai to Sietuva, and returning to the mythological source, called “Giants’ Bath.” There is a bridge next to the spring that leads to the right bank of Sietuva. Here the path leads to the Pjaunis forest and the high marsh, which is crossed by a wooden path. Returning to the same campsite. It is suitable for traveling with older children, as the track has various obstacles.

The Bauble Museum of Dioniz Poška

Another interesting and even fairy-tale-like object is the first antiquities museum in Lithuania – Baubliai. Are you saying museums are boring? We guarantee this one is worth your attention. This museum is located in a carved oak trunk, and it was founded in 1812. It was installed by Dionizas Poška, ​​a nobleman from Žemaitija, writer and historian, cultural luminary. The oak tree, which was then about a thousand years old, was called Bauble. D. Poška worked and rested in Baubliai. Here he collected archaeological finds, historical and ethnographic material, images of ancient gods, portraits of famous people and a library of more than 200 books. In 1824 a second oak trunk (Baublys’s brother) was built next to Baublys. Baubliai is a monument of ancient Lithuanian culture that has no analogue in all of Lithuania.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

The Birthplace-museum of Pilot Stasys Girėnas in Vytogala

Have your children already heard the story about the real Lithuanian pilots Darius and Girėnas? If not the time! Vytogala is the home of one of the pilot Stasys Girėnas in 1933. It’s the birthplace of the one who crossed the Atlantic with Steponas Darius and died at Soldinus. S. Girėnas served in the American military aviation, later he attended a flying school and became an experienced pilot.

A memorial museum has been established in a restored shed of Žemaitija where you can feel the environment in which the most headstrong ideas are born. There is an exposition dedicated to S. Girėnas, his flight across the Atlantic Ocean and the history of the Vytogala village.

Or maybe you will even get to the annual celebration commemorating the flight of S. Girėnas and S. Darius across the Atlantic, in which aviators, athletes, andn musicians participate, as well as cycling and running competitions and other celebrations.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

The Medvėgalis Mound

For true lovers of history and battles, we recommend that you don’t miss out and visit the magnificent Medvėgalis mound. The legend says that the castle of Žemaitija that stood on it was once besieged by crusaders. The defenders have seen that the forces are unequal, the food is running out and it is necessary to turn to the neighbors for help.

However, there were no brave men who dared to leave the fortress. Only two girl puppets said in Sami: “Medvi galem”. In the early morning, when the enemies were still asleep, they fled to Shatriya, taking advantage of a secret bunker. When help arrived, the people of Žemaitija defeated the Crusaders with their combined efforts, saving the castle, which since then, remembering the saying of the girls, has been called Medvēgali.

Historians say that the Medvėgalis castle, which stood on the mound, was one of the most important fortresses of the Medininkai region and the whole of Žemaitija. It was first mentioned in 1316.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

The Mound of Billions

If Medvėgalis was not enough, and the little ones ask for more stories and impressive mounds, we recommend the next one, Billions mound. The mound, called Šventkalnis or Švedkalnis, is located on a separate large hill. The mound was fortified with as many as 5 lines of fortifications, of which insignificant remains remain. However, it is extremely interesting that in historiography, attempts are made to link the Billion mound with the castle of Pilėnai destroyed by the Crusaders, the tragedy of which is so well known to every Lithuanian who admires history. The mound can be reached from the Kaltinėnai – Laukuvos road in Bilioniai by turning right (north), after 650 m on the field road to the right (east) after driving 700 m (it is on the left). There are 39 known innings on the mound.

Ethnographic Homestead of Billions “Gīvenėms”

With your family, you will be helped to move to ancient Lithuania, at the very foot of the Bilioniai mound, miraculously preserved in the 19th century, the ethnographic homestead of the Bilioniai “Gīvenėms”. This homestead and place is of magical beauty – there is a small lake with islands on the hillside, the terraces of the castle rise behind the fence, and in the yard, under the windows, there are three oak trees. The whole homestead is on a high ground, the edge is abundantly planted with birches, oaks and willows. The gabled farmhouse, the oak-walled barn, the gable roofed log cabin is the most sacred gathering place for the people of rural culture. Through the windows of the homestead, you can see the Bilioniai hill towering nearby.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

The Upyna Folk Craft Museum

If you and your family are inspired by history and want to get to know the ancient Lithuanian life even more, we recommend visiting the Upyna Folk Crafts Museum. The main exposition is located in the former rectory barn.

The first floor of the museum exhibits various archaeological finds (stone and iron axes, brass ornaments, etc.), numerous folk art works, and exhibits reflecting the history of the church and school. Exhibitions are held here, local historical works are preserved too.

On the second floor of the museum there are workplaces of various craftsmen: carpenters, wheelwrights, blacksmiths, furriers, tailors, weavers, their tools and products. The exposition continues outside. Many ancient forged crosses are attached to the walls of the museum.

Chapel pillars and roof pillars are lined up along the southern wall. In another building of the museum, a former warehouse, various larger implements and mechanisms used on the farm are found – these are the plows, harrows, diesel engines. These exhibits reflect agriculture in the 19th and 20th centuries. development.

The museum is currently closed for repairs.

Šilalė Vladas Statkevičius Museum/Tourist Information Center

If you are also fascinated by educational activities and a deeper knowledge of the region, we recommend visiting the V. Statkevičius Museum, where you will also find a tourist information center. In the museum, you will get to know the history of Šilalė region, the museum’s funds contain more than 23,000 exhibits of archaeology, history, numismatics and ethnography. Exhibitions of folk artists, professional artists, amateurs and students are held in the exhibition halls. You can find even more information about various activities, guided tours, and attractions at the tourist information center, where they will gladly listen to your wishes and questions and advise and suggest what would be the most interesting places to visit.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

Valley of the Nightingales

One of the most beautiful names and places that must be visited with children in this area. Although you will probably not see the nightingales promised in the name so easily, we guarantee that the valley will not leave you indifferent. Halfway between Šilalė and Tauragė is the village of Alijošiškės, through which a narrow asphalted road descends to the beautiful Akmena valley. In which the whole environment is very nicely arranged. There is a meandering river, ponds and comfortable walking paths, decorated with flower beds, gazebos, wooden bridges and even one suspension bridge. And also, you can climb the steps, admire the river cliffs and the entire valley from above. This place does not leave anyone indifferent, neither locals nor first-time visitors.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Travelling with Children ®” attractions map.

Kelpšaičiai Park

If you live in the city and dream of just spending time in nature, you can visit the park of Kelpšaičiai, which was established in 1990 on the initiative of Jonas Šedbar, a forester from Labardia Forestry of the Rietava Forest Office. The park is decorated with ponds, gazebos, wooden sculptures, equipped playgrounds and performance areas. There is a parking lot next to the park, and an outdoor fireplace in one of the gazebos in the park. There are more than 24 hectares of forest here. And plant lovers will be able to see more than 80 introduced and 15 local tree species from different countries in the park.

Pedestrian – Cyclist Path Around the Šilalė City Pond

On your way to get to know Šilalė, you can also take your own two-wheeled vehicles and try the 2 km long trail around Šilalė’s city pond. The dam is located in the very center of the city. City events take place near it, and in 2012 installed fountain, became the highlight of the city. Around the pond, wooden gazebos have been built in various places. From the pond, we can reach the children’s playground and beach volleyball courts via a footpath. A community park with benches and outdoor exercise equipment is located next to the pond. It is one of the favorite recreation places of Śilalis, where active leisure time, surrounded by nature, is combined with having fun in the city.

Information and photos are derived from the Vladas Statkevičius Museum in Šilalė.

Read more about education for children in Šilalė in our other blog titled Children will learn to iron laundry in Šilalė.

This article is author’s work and was prepared by “Travelling with Children ®”. Copying and using without the permission of the author or “Travelling with Children ®” is strictly prohibited.

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