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THE LOWER REACHES OF THE NEMAN (Kaunas - Jurbarkas - Vente)

230 km
14.5 h.
10 obj.
Asphalt: 1%
Gravel road: 1%
Forest Road: 1%
Singletrack: 1%

The Panemunė route is 300 km long and is often called the most beautiful route in Lithuania. If you travel by car, you hardly need to get off to witness the history, culture and nature of the Neman, the father of all Lithuanian rivers. The route is perfect for those interested in the history of wars as you will pass many castles and hillforts reminiscing the times of battles against the Teutonic Order. The route also passes by the settlements of the Neman which are rich in cultural objects, such as manors, churches and other cultural places speaking of the history of the region. The route ends at Ventė Cape with its bird migration routes and stunning vistas of the lagoon.

Course of route
1. Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum
Museums
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

The Ninth Fort of Kaunas. In 1890, the City of Kaunas was surrounded by eight forts and nine artillery batteries. Since 1924, the fort had been used as a hard labor prison in Kaunas. It was also a place of mass murder during the time of occupation by the Nazi Germany.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
2. Kaunas Castle
Architecture
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Kaunas Castle is the first masonry castle of Kaunas and the oldest masonry castle in Lithuania built in the 14th century. Legends say that the castle lady Bona Sforza kept a large army which was buried underground. To this day, the army is waiting for misfortune to befall Kaunas so that it can rise up to defend its city.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
3. Raudondvaris Manor
Manors
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Legends have it that Barbora Radvilaitė herself ordered to lay the foundation for Raudondvaris Manor. In 1819, Counts Tyszkiewicz purchased and renovated the manor and constructed additional buildings, such as the orangery, barns and stables, and established a park.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
4. Seredžius Hillfort
Mounds
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Seredžius Hill Fort is situated in the cape of the upper terrace of the Neman, formed by Pieštvė Rivulet. The Castle of Pieštvė stood here from 1293 to 1363.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
5. Veliuona Church and Hillfort
Church
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Veliuona Church and Hillfort. Veliuona hillforts comprise a complex of hillforts and defensive reinforcements on the bank of the Neman River valley. The hillfort is often called the Grave of Gediminas, Gediminas Hillfort or the Treaty Hillfort. Here, the Treaty of Melno was signed in the local castle built in 1411.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
6. Raudone Castle
Architecture
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Raudonė Castle. The first castles were built by the Neman River sometime around the year 1300 as a defensive outposts against the attacks of the Teutonic Order. Though their importance diminished after the Battle of Grunwald, the castles regained their popularity in the 16th–17th centuries, when the Neman became a trade route. Raudonė Castle is categorized as a second-generation representative castle of Panemunė.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
7. Panemune Castle
Architecture
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Panemunė Castle was at first called thus after the manor on the land of which it stood. Later, the castle was taken over by the Gelgaudai Family and renamed to Gelgaudai Castle. Following the change of owners after the Uprising of 1831, the castle gained the name of Zamkus Castle. When the Vytėnai Village was established nearby in the beginning of the 20th century, the castle received the name of Vytėnai. Presently, it carries its original name.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
8. Bitėnai
History
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Duration of visit: 1 h.
to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
9. Mount Rambyn
Mounds
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Duration of visit: 1 h.
to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
10. Ventė Cape
Nature
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Duration of visit: 1 h.

Ventė Cape is a peninsula near Kuršiai Reservoir, not too far away from the mouth of the Neman River, to the south of Ventė Settlement. The place is best known for its bird banding station. One can observe bird migration from up close here.

to the next object:
1.5 h.
3 m
Congratulations, you saw all the route objects