Anykščiai District Municipality
Anykščiai District
observation tower near Lake Rubikiai
Bijeikiai village, Anykščiai District Municipality
55.48400, 25.26800
30-60 minutes
May-October for the Lake Rubikiai islands and lake panorama; clear weather for distant landmarks
Bijeikiai Tower and the islands of Lake Rubikiai
Bijeikiai Observation Tower stands in Bijeikiai village, in Anykščiai Regional Park. Saugoma.lt states that the tower is built on a hill rising 163 m above sea level.
The main value of this place is the view of Lakes Rubikiai and Dusynas. From above, it becomes clear why Rubikiai is considered one of the most scenic lakes in the Anykščiai area: islands, bays, peninsulas, and wooded shores create a highly expressive panorama.
A 15 m viewing platform
Saugoma.lt states that the viewing platform is 15 m high. Because the tower stands on a high hill, the real sense of landscape height is much greater than the tower height alone.
It is a good example of how an observation tower's value depends on more than metres. The tower itself is not the tallest, but its position above lakes and reserve landscape gives a very broad field of view.
What you can see
Saugoma.lt writes that from the tower you can see Lakes Rubikiai and Dusynas, the Storiai Hills, Bijeikiai Hillfort, and on a clear day the church towers of Anykščiai and even Debeikiai.
Lake Rubikiai is also special because of its islands. The official source gives 16 islands in Lake Rubikiai, and from above they help explain the lake's shape and the value of the hydrographic reserve.
Rubikiai Hydrographic Reserve
The tower lets visitors overlook the landscape of Rubikiai Hydrographic Reserve. This is not only a beautiful recreational lake, but a protected system of water, islands, shorelines, and surrounding relief. VLE lists Rubikiai Hydrographic Reserve among the 16 natural reserves in Anykščiai Regional Park, gives the park area as 15,486 ha, notes the 16 islands of Lake Rubikiai, and includes Bijeikiai Hillfort among the park's five hillforts.
For that reason it is worth not stopping only at the tower. If you have time, walk or drive along the Rubikiai shores and compare how the same lake looks from below and from above.
How to visit
Bijeikiai Tower usually needs 30-60 minutes. If you want to photograph the islands and distant landmarks, choose a clear day, because haze or rain quickly reduces visibility over the lakes.
Climb carefully, especially if the steps are wet. At the top, do not climb over railings and do not overload the platform if there are many visitors. The view is best when you can stop calmly and look in different directions.
