Discover Vilnius District Municipality

Castle and technological heritage

Medininkai Castle has four towers, defensive ditches and walls that are 1.8 to 1.9 metres thick and up to 15 metres high. The main tower, the keep, is about 30 metres high. Between 2010 and 2012, the castle underwent further restoration and was adapted for museum use. Its size and varied structural elements make it a striking destination for anyone interested in military architecture.

Liubavas Manor reveals another side of cultural heritage. The estate is an outstanding example of architectural, landscape and technological heritage. Its technological equipment has been fully restored, including a working hundred-year-old water turbine. At the Liubavas Manor Mill Museum, a historic watermill and more than ten other production processes are demonstrated, including woodworking and metalworking, fulling and electricity generation. The museum also presents the history of the estate and the processes and technologies once used there. The focus is therefore not only on individual machines, but also on their former role.

Museums and regional craft traditions

The Vladislavo Sirokomlė Museum is located in the poet’s former study. Furniture, portraits, books and other personal belongings give its collection a personal touch. Those more interested in everyday culture and customs will find exhibits documenting the lives of residents of the Vilnius region at the Vilnius Region Ethnographic Museum in Nemenčinė. Ceramics and weaving workshops are also held there. Opening times and workshop dates may change; check what is currently available before your visit.

Two different institutions offer further insights into regional culture. The Čekoniškių kaimo verbų ir buities seklyčia presents the traditions, customs and culture of the Vilnius region, with a particular focus on the region’s distinctive verbos and household objects. The Centre for Traditional Crafts at Houvaltai Manor preserves the traditions, customs and old crafts of the Vilnius region and offers special lessons. While the Seklyčia highlights regional objects and customs, the centre focuses more on traditional craft techniques.

Landscape, sculptures and activity

More than 70 monumental granite sculptures are on display in the “Vilnoja” Sculpture Park. At Vilnoja Stone Sculpture Park, the works appear both in the landscape and in the lake. The interplay of granite, the surroundings and the water makes this visit different from a traditional museum tour.

The Dūkštos nature trail is one specific option for a hike: the five-kilometre route is physically challenging. Bear this in mind when choosing your activity and planning your day. The Neris Regional Park is also within Vilnius District Municipality. In addition, there are eight geomorphological, two hydrographic, two botanical, two ornithological, one ichthyological, two telmological and three landscape reserves. The range of protected areas thus covers different aspects of the landscape, water and nature.

At Aukštojas Hill, there are benches, a car park, bicycle racks, an observation tower and information boards. If a particular facility is important to your plans, check its current status before your visit. The Europos Geographical Centre is 26 kilometres north of Vilnius in the direction of Molėtai, between the villages of Purnuškės and Bernotai. Visitors can obtain a certificate of their visit at an information centre there; certificate arrangements may change.

These differences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip: castle architecture at Medininkai, technological and manor heritage at Liubavas, regional culture at the museums or outdoor activity on the challenging nature trail. If your group has a range of interests, weigh these priorities against one another when choosing your holiday rental.

Discover more places

Discover more destinations: Zujūnai, Grigaičiai, Dūkštos, Skirlėnai, Gineitiškės, Verkšionys, Paberžė, Vilnius, Sudervė, Galgiai, Buivydiškės, Vilkiškės, Bildžiai.

For the broader travel overview: Vilnius County.