THE BALTS’ ROAD. FROM SEMIGALLIANS TO YOTVINGIANS

Balts' Culture Education Centre "Balts' Road"– Sundial Square – Šiauliai History Museum – Bubiai Castle Mound – The Museum of Sticks – Kelmė Regional Museum – Kubiliai Mound – Pagryžuvys Mound – Visitor Centre of Tytuvėnai Regional Park – Raseiniai Regional History Museum – Veliuona Mound Complex – Visitor Centre of Panemuniai Regional Park – Sudargas Mound Complex – Ethnographic Suvalkietis Homestead – Suvalkija (Sūduva) Cultural Centre–Museum (Paežeriai Manor) – Old Crafts Centre “Virbalis Gates” – Kunigiškiai (Pajevonys) Mound – Pajevonys – Jonas Basanavičius Birthplace and the Oak Grove of Lithuanian National Revival – Piliakalniai Mound

Crossing the Lithuania-Poland Border at Kalvarija – Budzisko

Jegliniec hillfort – District Museum in Suwałki – Castle Hill in Szurpiły – Bridges in Stańczyki and Path “To the Emperor’s Stone” – Masurian graduation towers in Gołdap – Hillfort in Konikowo (Piekna Gora near Gołdap) – Ściborki Republic – Mill in Budry – Borecka Forest – The hill fort in Szwałk – The Yotvingian sacrificial altar in Stare Juchy – Observation tower in Stare Juchy – Hillfort in Rogala – Hillfort in Bajtkowo – Ełk History Museum – Ełk Narrow-Gauge Railway

Distance travelled – approximately 670 kilometres.

Duration – 3-4 days optionally.

The first possible overnight stay is between Veliuona and Jurbarkas (https://jurbarkas.info/lt/turizmas/apgyvendinimas/ ), the second possible overnight stay is at the “Dobilynė” homestead (or another place of your interest in Vilkaviškis district (https://www.vilkaviskisinfo.lt/apgyvendinimas/). Accommodation must be arranged in advance. If you wish to stay elsewhere, search for information at tourism information centres, they will offer the best options. We suggest spending other nights in Poland, in Suwałki or Ełk (Lukas) or other towns.

The ancient Baltic world is a history shrouded in mystery that cannot be accurately reconstructed today. We know about beliefs and customs from the chronicles of neighbouring countries, stories, and folk works: songs, legends, and traditions. With the establishment of Christianity, the old worldview was mixed with folk customs, and only quiet echoes remain in our traditions.

Embark on an impressive journey leading from Semigallian to Yotvingian lands. Feel the centuries-old spirit of the land, listen to the rustle of winds in the forests and mound-filled legends, touch the customs that are still alive in our regions. This route will take you through places where myths, history, and living Baltic traditions merge into one impressive experience.

We invite you to start your journey in the city of Šiauliai, located at the intersection of three Baltic tribes – Semigallians, Samogitians, and Upper Lithuanians. Visit Balts' Culture Education Centre "Balts' Road", where modern technologies open the door to the ancient Baltic world. Go to Sundial Square to count time, where the date of the Battle of Saule that took place in Šiauliai land, the origin of the city’s name, and the first mention of the name are commemorated. This place reminds us that for the Balts, the Sun was the bearer of life, so stop, breathe in and feel the flow of the day as our ancestors saw it. In Šiauliai History Museum, ancient shadows come alive in archaeological exhibitions. Here, great attention is paid to Šiauliai land until the 15^th century, namely, to the Semigallians and Samogitians, to the similarities and differences in the tangible culture of these two Baltic tribes. In the museum, you can not only watch but also twist ropes with your own hands, mould pots, or learn about archaeologists’ work.

The Samogitian tribe was forming on the fertile highlands between the Dubysa, the Jūra, and the Venta rivers, while one of the strongest castles standing on Bubiai Mound in the 13^th century was extremely important in fighting enemies. Archaeological findings tell about warriors who were defending this land and about fire that destroyed what the locals had built more than once.

The older the period of the findings being investigated is, the more questions, discussions, and interpretations arise. This is also the case with sticks– they are believed to have been used as a means of fighting or one of the variants of the crooked stick. Although times have changed, the magic of stick carving is still alive in Mečislovas Ežerskis’ Sticks Museum. An exhibition presenting folk art is also available in Kelmė Regional Museum, which is located in manor buildings.

Having familiarised with the manor’s secrets, go to defensive bastions – Kubiliai Mound, known as Birutė’s Hill, and the nearby Pagryžuvis Mound. These hills are like frozen giants, witnessing the Baltic times when castles were built on natural heights surrounded by river valleys.

The journey then leads to the Visitor Centre of Tytuvėnai Regional Park, where nature sounds and bird voices merge with a knowledge-filled exhibition. Here you can look at the landscape “from a crane’s flight,” see what the depths of lakes hide, or learn about the Baltic signs and symbols.

There are more than 20 mounds in Raseiniai district, on which castles had stood and battles had taken place, so when you arrive at the Raseiniai Regional History Museum, you will be introduced to dukes’ weapons, archaeological findings, and stories about legendary leaders.

The Upper Lithuanians were founding their place on the plains by the Nemunas, the Nevėžis, and the Neris rivers. Their land had long been famous for trade and crafts, and mounds were built on high riverbanks. Veliuona Mound Complex stands on the Nemunas bank like a giant guardian of time. The first Veliuona mound is also called Gediminas’ Grave. It is believed that in these places, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gediminas, died. The second mound is called Pilaitės, and a bit further north is Antkalnė mound. If you climb the mounds and close your eyes, you will hear legends carried by the wind about the wooden castles that had stood here.

When traveling along the Nemunas bank, stop by the Visitor Centre of Panemuniai Regional Park, which features an exhibition “The Nemunas and Life by It” presenting the nature, culture, and traditional occupations of the residents on the banks of the father of the rivers.

In Jurbarkas, cross the country’s largest river and set off to explore the ancient spirit of the Baltic fortresses surrounded by five majestic signs of time – Sudargas Mound Complex.

Mounds are silent witnesses of our history that come alive only in stories and travellers’ imagination, so we suggest resting your thoughts and visiting the Ethnographic Suvalkietis (Suvalkija resident) Homestead. This is a private homestead of the Rutkai family, where a prosperous house of Suvalkija resident without any eclecticism is still cherished, so if you book a tour or a meal in advance, don’t be surprised to find yourself in a real Lithuanian well-maintained village.

We suggest continuing getting acquainted with the history of Užnemunė (Trans-Nemunas region) and to discover the Yotvingian world in the Suvalkija (Sūduva) Cultural Centre – Museum. This institution, also called Paežeriai Manor, is famous for its abundance of cultural events and variety of educational programs, among which are those related to culinary heritage, making it an excellent place to combine knowledge and lunch. For those wanting an alternative, we suggest visiting the Old Crafts Centre “Virbalis Gates” by making a prior arrangement. In this centre, you can bake a loaf of bread, taste traditional Suvalkija treats, try weaving and candle making.

Kunigiškiai (Pajevonys) Mound is one of the largest Baltic mounds. The Roman coins, ceramics, and other artifact remains discovered during archaeological research indicate that people lived here as early as the first years of our era. Legends say that in the ancient times, Kunigiškiai mound had underground communication with Žinyčia Hill in Pajevonys town, where a church now stands. Of course, we won’t offer you to travel through a tunnel now, but we recommend visiting Pajevonys town because locals call it a centre of the earth.

Mounds were cultivating the national consciousness of Jonas Basanavičius, so visit the patriarch’s birthplace and the nearby rustling Oak Grove of Lithuanian National Revival covering 40 hectares. By prior arrangement, you can book an educational programme related to culinary heritage and thus not only gain knowledge but also eat heartily.

Narrative culture has ancient traditions. Some call it legends, others untrue stories, but often stories about mounds mention ancient battles. One of the most beautiful legends about the battles that took place at Piliakalniai Mound is the one telling about Margiris’ death. Whether to believe it or not is up to you, but we recommend climbing and imagining a desperate battle.

Before crossing the Lithuania-Poland border, we suggest stopping at “Dobilynė” homestead and resting from the day’s impressions.

Lithuania-Poland Border Crossing Kalvarija – Budzisko.

There is Jegliniec hillfort rising on a moraine hill in Poland, next to the Lithuanian border, where powerful ramparts and possible gates still remind of warring tribes’ vigilance. You can learn more about the people who lived here by visiting the Suwałki Regional Museum. The museum organizes numerous cultural events, including an Archaeological Festival at the Yotvingian cemetery in Switzerland.

Castle Hill in Szurpiły, surrounded by the silence of four lakes, still guards the legend of Yotvingian nobleman Šiurpa and the 13^th-century might when a castle fortified with double ramparts stood here.

We then invite you to go to the place where nature’s grandeur and human creation unite – to the Bridges at Stańczyki and the Path “To the Emperor’s Stone”. The railway bridges built in the first half of the 20^th century above the Błędzianka River look like giant Roman aqueducts.

In Gołdap, the only resort in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, you will find one more impressive human creation that gives meaning to the dialogue between nature and architecture – Masurian graduation towers in Gołdap. Salt is extracted from a depth of 646 meters and flows over rowan branches, so inhaling this mineral-saturated air is like opening your body and soul to nature’s care.

The Beautiful Mountain (Piękna Góra) stands out with a stunning panorama of Gołdap, Mazury Garbate, surrounding lakes, and Romincka Forest Landscape Park, where Yotvingian mounds had stood for centuries. Today, ancient sacred heights and modern entertainment are combined on the mountain – you can encounter both, ceremonial tranquillity and bustle of winter fun. Nearby is the Castle Hill, on which the Konikowo hillfort still maintains the silence of its defensive ramparts, as if guarding ancestors’ secrets from outside eyes.

Ščiborki Republic is like a living story about the ancient Balts’ connection with nature, where, by abandoning civilization’s noise, one can touch primordial harmony.

Mill in Budry that is hiding ancient echoes of millstones invites you to feel the spirit of the Baltic worldview – here grain becomes not only bread but also a reviving tradition.

The route then turns south and southeast, where the quite hilly terrain was not favourable for agriculture. However, this allowed to preserve natural deciduous forests, and Borecko Forest is the largest forest complex in Ełk Lake District. It is like a mysterious image of the Baltic forest kingdom, where hilly landscapes, lakes, and sacred groves guard ancient secrets.

Water and hills create a natural fortress by the mysterious Ciche Lake, so the old Mound in Szwałki is found here – a symbol of defence and sanctity of the Baltic ancestors.

There is a mysterious Sacrificial Stone – a giant boulder reminiscent of the Yotvingian rituals and worship of ancient gods – in the village of Stare Juchy. Its powerful form and legend-entwined aura still radiates sacral power, inviting one to touch the roots of the Baltic worldview. The village panorama can be admired by climbing the 20-meter-high observation tower.

When traveling, note that many mounds are simply called Castle Hills, as is the case with the Mound in Rogale, also called Zamczysko.

The mound by Bajtkow Lake with two terraced platforms reminds of the dual perception of the world – earthly and sacred.

We invite you to end your journey at Ełk History Museum, located in the old building of a narrow-gauge railway station, inviting you on a journey through Masuria’s past – from primordial Baltic communities to the present day. The locomotives standing in the museum’s courtyard and the narrow-gauge railway that is being revived allow you to experience those times when iron and fire connected people and spirits.

This route is a journey not only through geographical places but also through time, myths, and ancestral memory.