Zarasai and Ignalina district municipalities
Zarasai District
regional park
55.58000, 26.13400
half a day to a full day
summer for lakes and cycling
Gražutė Regional Park
A large territory of lakes and forests
Gražutė Regional Park is not one lake or one viewpoint. It is a protected area of 31,932 ha in north-eastern Lithuania, across the Zarasai and Ignalina area, where it makes sense to begin at the visitor centre in Salakas.
The park was established in 1992. VLE mentions more than 70 water bodies, so you need to choose a route: lake shores, a water trip, a cycling route, the Salakas area, or the landscape of the Antalieptė Reservoir.
The upper Šventoji landscape
The official aims of establishment emphasize the upper Šventoji lake district, including Lakes Dūkštas, Luodis, and Šventas, the Antalieptė Reservoir, and the biocenoses of Gražutė Forest. This is one of those parks where water and forest are not a backdrop but the main value.
VLE states that forests cover about 55 percent of the park, and that 858 plant species have been recorded. That makes Gražutė valuable not only for swimming or panoramas but also for habitats, birds, wetlands, and forest ecosystems.
Antalieptė Reservoir and Lake Šventas
Saugoma.lt highlights the Antalieptė Reservoir for its winding shores, bays, peninsulas, narrows, and islands. It is one of the park's most beautiful water landscapes, but also a place where access points and stops should be planned in advance.
Official sources distinguish Lake Šventas as a clear, outflowless lake. Such places are sensitive to pollution and trampling of shores, so visiting should stay within marked rest areas or trail locations.
Salakas and cultural heritage
Salakas is a convenient starting point for understanding the park. Saugoma.lt mentions the 72 m Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, built of dressed fieldstones, as well as an ethnographic exhibition and the visitor-centre context.
Gražutė Regional Park protects more than nature. Its establishment aims mention manor estates, a monastery, a post station, hillforts, burial mounds, and stones with markings. A good route here therefore joins lakes with small towns.
Routes and practical tips
In the park you can choose educational trails, water routes, and more than 100 km of cycling routes. Because the territory is large, it is better to plan one clear day scenario than to try to drive around all the lakes.
Summer is best for water and cycling trips, while autumn suits shorter lake viewpoints and the Salakas area. Before leaving, check current information on campsites, visitor tickets, and seasonal restrictions.
