Šilalė District Municipality
Varniai Regional Park
observation tower on a hill in a protected area
Aukštagirė, Bilioniai Eldership, Šilalė District
55.61250, 22.32780
30-60 minutes
clear days; spring and autumn often give better visibility
Aukštagirė Tower
Aukštagirė Observation Tower: a Samogitian panorama
Aukštagirė Observation Tower stands on wooded Aukštagirė Hill, one of the higher points of the Samogitian Uplands in Varniai Regional Park. It is a 15 m metal tower opening a broad, typical Samogitian view.
It is the first and, so far, only observation tower of this kind in Šilalė District. It works well with other park stops, because the surrounding landscape is hilly, lake-filled, and easy to read from above.
The tower and the Aukštagirė ridge
The tower was built in 2005 on Aukštagirė Hill, whose height is about 215 m. The hill is part of a long ridge, about 750 m in length, surrounded by Aukštagirė Geomorphological Reserve, established in 1996 to protect the relief of individual hills and swampy depressions.
Over the years, nearby trees have grown higher than the tower and partly obscure the view, so landscape-management felling was planned to open panorama windows. Depending on season and vegetation, parts of the view may still be covered.
What you can see from the tower
From the tower, the Aukštagirė ridge can be seen fading into the distance, along with the famous Medvėgalis hill, Bilioniai village, and the ponds beyond it. This is a classic Samogitian landscape: hills, forests, wetlands, and church towers.
The tower stands in Varniai Regional Park, which protects the landscape of the Samogitian lake uplands and well-known places such as Medvėgalis and Šatrija. Aukštagirė is one of the higher park sites, although Medvėgalis is regarded as the highest.
How to visit
The tower is open, free, and accessible year-round. There is a parking area at the foot of the hill, and a rather steep path leads upward. A clear day is best for the panorama, while spring and autumn, with less foliage, often give better visibility.
The same hill also has the Aukštagirė ski slope and a nature trail, so the stop can become a half-day outing. Nearby are Medvėgalis, Bilioniai Hillfort, and the Varniai Regional Park visitor centre.
