Lithuania
There are spectacular views of Molėtai’s lake-studded landscape and the stars above from the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory on Kaldiniai Hill (193m). The observatory boasts northern Europe’s largest telescope; visits must be booked in advance online or by phone.
To visit the observatory, catch a bus from Molėtai to Utena, ask to be let off at the ‘etnokosmologijos muziejus’ turn-off (signposted 10km north of town) and follow the road to the right for another 4km.
Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum
0.12 MILES
This unusual museum explores the cosmos’s connection to cultural ideas of hell, heaven and earth in its bubble-shaped exhibition centre. Dwarfing it are…
23.33 MILES
Housed in Anykščiai’s old station, a couple of kilometres outside the town, this fun museum gives visitors the chance to ride on manual rail cars, a…
23.01 MILES
A pine forest 10km south of Anykščiai contains the Puntakas Stone (Puntuko akmuo), a boulder 5.7m tall, 6.7m wide and 6.9m long, which legend says was put…
25.66 MILES
Horse lovers – and kids – will want to make the journey 6km north to Lithuania’s only horse museum, in the tiny village of Niūronys. Set out as a…
16.36 MILES
Stripeikiai’s Ancient Beekeeping Museum spins the story of beekeeping through a merry collection of carved wooden statues, historic log and straw hives…
17.68 MILES
This 19th-century mill in Ginučiai retains its original mechanism, and you can poke around its interior and check out the ye olde farming equipment in the…
22.83 MILES
Accessed via the village that bears the same name, this protected wildlife refuge may only be visited with park guides from the Aukštaitija National Park…
19.78 MILES
Accessed from near its namesake village, this nature reserve is only accessible with trained guides. Organise them via the Aukštaitija National Park…
1. Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum
0.12 MILES
This unusual museum explores the cosmos’s connection to cultural ideas of hell, heaven and earth in its bubble-shaped exhibition centre. Dwarfing it are…
15.8 MILES
Popular with canoeists, this is the deepest lake in the Aukštaitija National Park (60.5m deep).
3. Museum of Ancient Beekeeping
16.36 MILES
Stripeikiai’s Ancient Beekeeping Museum spins the story of beekeeping through a merry collection of carved wooden statues, historic log and straw hives…
17.21 MILES
Take the footpath to the top of the 155m Ice Hill (Ladakalnis), to view a watery panorama of some seven lakes.
17.68 MILES
This 19th-century mill in Ginučiai retains its original mechanism, and you can poke around its interior and check out the ye olde farming equipment in the…
19.18 MILES
This is one of the most impressive lakes in Aukštaitija National Park, fringed by pine forest and speckled with islands. White-tailed and golden eagles…
7. Trainiškis Wildlife Sanctuary
19.78 MILES
Accessed from near its namesake village, this nature reserve is only accessible with trained guides. Organise them via the Aukštaitija National Park…
22.83 MILES
Accessed via the village that bears the same name, this protected wildlife refuge may only be visited with park guides from the Aukštaitija National Park…