Kupiškis District Municipality: Water, Nature and Culture
Accommodation in Kupiškis District Municipality
The Kupiškis Lagoons shape the character of Kupiškis District Municipality: the artificial reservoir was created in 1984 by damming the Lėvuo River. It covers 828 hectares and is about 25 kilometres long. Those looking to make water, activity and nature the focus of their trip will find a distinctive starting point here when choosing a holiday theme—alongside museums, historic buildings and regional cuisine.
Water sports and recreation at the Kupiškis Lagoons
The shores have a beach, 19 recreation areas, sports grounds and car parks. Various sporting events take place at the Kupiškis Lagoons every year, including the Kupiškis Lagoons Regatta, international Formula water races, Lithuanian and international triathlon competitions, and the Lithuanian Beach Soccer Championship. Ice-fishing competitions and summer festivals are also held there. The choice therefore ranges from activities on the water to competitions on the shore; when planning a trip, it is worth considering the pace of holiday you want and the interests of your fellow travellers.
Uošvės Liežuvis Island is home to a dendrological park covering 8.97 hectares and containing more than 50 tree species. The island can be reached by a bridge from the village of Pajuodupė or by a pontoon bridge from the Aukštupėnai recreation area. A 225-metre wakeboarding course with ramps runs between the recreation area and the island. The park has nature trails, rest areas with shelters, toilets and an event space. Those wishing to combine a stay centred on water and activity with a more peaceful nature experience can consider both themes when choosing their destination.
Forest, culture and special discoveries
The approximately 1.4-kilometre-long “Į girią” nature trail runs through Šimonys Forest and borders the Iženas telmological reserve. Along the trail there are shelters, a fire pit, benches, information boards and educational games for children. The forest is home to moose, roe deer, wild boar, foxes, hares and wolves, among other animals; protected species include the black stork and lesser spotted eagle. This makes it possible to combine a forest outing with nature watching and the information provided along the way.
The cultural sites also offer a wide variety of insights. Adomynė Manor is a rare monument of Romantic Classicist wooden architecture and is listed in Lithuania’s Register of Cultural Property. Features preserved there include tiled stoves, a bread oven, frescoes, decorated doors with metal fittings and patterned parquet floors. The manor is also known for Adomynė “Pagrabinės”, certified Lithuanian cultural heritage pastries baked exclusively there.
The church in Palėvenė has eight altars and is considered one of the most original examples of so-called folk Baroque in Lithuania. The history of the Dominican monastery there began in 1676, when the first Dominican friars settled there. At the restored monastery granary, visitors can try monks’ dishes and homemade beer from the Kupiškis region. Palėvenė therefore offers a distinct cultural focus for travellers interested in both architecture and regional cuisine.
Museums and stories from Kupiškis
The Kupiškis Museum is housed in a former parish school building dating from 1823. Its collections include traditional Lithuanian clothing and accessories from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, assembled by Stefanija, Mikalina and Elvyra Glemžaitė. Also kept there are aurochs horns almost 4,000 years old, considered the largest found in Lithuania.
At Kupiškis Hillfort, also known as Aukštupėnai Hillfort, near the left bank of the Lėvuo, historians believe there may once have been a wooden community castle or refuge; the earliest beginnings of the later town may also have been located there. In Kupiškis, an open-air museum trail displays more than two dozen sculptures by Henrikas Orakauskas. At the most visited sculptures, information boards with QR codes provide access to short introductions to the works in the artist’s own voice. Other attractions include the “Židinys” folk art studio, with exhibitions and works in painting, metalwork, wickerwork, weaving, paper cutting and wood carving, as well as a permanent exhibition on the history of Lithuanian ringo. Those who like to explore different subjects between outings will find nature, architecture, art and history as distinct themes for their stay.
For more local destination pages, also explore Subačius Eldership and Juodpėnai.
For the wider travel overview: Panevėžys County.
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