Švenčionys District Municipality
Aukštaitija
lake-rich regional park with observation towers and a mythology trail
Visitor Centre: Šventa village, Švenčionys District
55.19360, 26.20350
half a day to a full day
late spring to autumn
Sirvėta RP
A land of lakes and hills
Sirvėta Regional Park lies in Švenčionys District, in the far north-eastern corner of Aukštaitija. It was established in 1992, and VLE gives its area as about 8,755 ha. The park protects a dissected moraine watershed landscape between the Daugava and Žeimena river basins, with lakes, hills, and forests.
The relief is among the most striking in the region: Nevaišiai Hill, the summit of the Švenčionys Highlands, reaches 289.69 m above sea level. A chain of lakes lies among the hills, making the park rewarding for both nature and landscape visitors.
Observation towers and panoramas
Visitors who want to see the park from above have two observation towers: the taller Senadvaris tower is 26 m high, while the Didžiasalis tower is 12 m. They open panoramas of lakes, forests, and hills and help visitors understand the scale of the landscape.
The park has nature, educational, and cycling trails, and the nature school offers educational programmes. Sirvėta can therefore be experienced in several ways, from a short walk to a full-day route.
Mythology trail and Didžiasalis
One of the park's most distinctive features is the mythology trail near Šventa, where seventeen stone sculptures of old Baltic deities stand. Walking the trail introduces visitors to Žemyna, Gabija, Medeina, and other Lithuanian mythological beings, so nature and older worldview meet here.
The park also contains abundant cultural heritage: hillforts, sacred places, burial mounds, and former manor sites. The ethnocultural village of Didžiasalis is especially distinctive: a street village with numerous monumental buildings that help visitors sense older local life.
How to visit
The visitor centre operates in Šventa village, in a former manor building, and provides information on trails and towers. The park territory is freely accessible, with late spring to autumn the easiest season for walking trails and climbing towers.
Allow half a day to a full day, depending on how many trails and towers you want to see. Combine the visit with the mythology trail, Didžiasalis village, and nearby protected areas of Aukštaitija.
