Teutonic Order together with Livonian Order organised campaigns of war into the lands of
Lithuania. Defensive castle systems were built in Highlands in order to protect roads to Vilnius from
Livonian Order. Recent archeological excavations unearthed cultural layers at the mounds and
nearby settlements. Defensive fortifications of the castle and relics of daily life from the times of
Teutonic Order have been uncovered at Narkunai mound.
How to find a Tauragnai mound? The deepest lake in Tauragno in Lithuania is reached while driving road through the town of Tauragnai in the south direction. The lake of the lake remains on the right side of the road. We turn to left towards Kirdeik, from the intersection to Lameztas, we drive about 800 meters, on the left side we will see a link to the hill. 200 meters from it. The mound is located in the middle of a separate hill on the left bank of the River Stream. From the adjacent meadows mound is protected by a swampy hollow, steep Slopes, low ranges and ditches are poured on the north and south sides. North of the castle mound is a foot village with a very depleted cultural layer. The mound is not investigated, it dates back to I the millennium - the beginning of the second millennium. In 1998, the Tauragnai Mound was published by the Government cultural monument.Information is being prepared
At Narkūnai Mound, travels from Utena's center to Molėtai Street. After crossing the northern part of the settlement of Narkūnai, turn left. The newly built stairs will meet you on the shore of the Utenėlė river. They will go to the top of the mound. Stacks, even fourteenth-meter high slopes overgrown with trees. The square of the Narkūnai mound is triangular, with its ditch on the northern side. To the north of the hill is an area of the semi-circular feather, and to the west, in the area of one hectare, is the foot of the settlement. Two cultural strata are distinguished in the Narkūnai mound, the anvil and the settlement. Early, dating from the 1st millennium BC Kr.-II century, and late - XIV-XV century. the beginning The best surviving early finds. From them one can guess about the former two-row wooden poles with branches weaving fortifications. They burned up and restored again. XIV century the fortifications were already built from clay, using stones and stacks and sloping logs. It is believed that in the XIII century The palace of Nalzes Duke Daumant stood here. XIV century At the end of the neighborhood, the Livonian Order was destroyed, and in 1433, during the struggle of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania during the throne, the castle was burned down. It is believed that after that, people moved from a former settlement to the hill-mound and settled for several kilometers, where the city of Utena is now. XIX century Franciscan Vilčinskis was the founder of the castle. He discovered a thick cultural layer, which burnt pieces of clay, pots and other findings. More than a hundred years later in 1959 Utena Museum of Regional Studies (headed by B. Valuckytė) has investigated the settlement of the foot of the mound. Here you can find a layer of culture up to 25 cm in thickness with flaccid damask and pottery. These findings are protected by the Utena Lithography Museum. 1975-1978 The Narkūnai mound was explored by the Lithuanian Institute of History and the Archaeological Commission of Vilnius University, led by R. and P. Kulikauskas. Many ceramics, bone, stone, bronze products, molten molds, bronze melting furnace, reinstate of buildings and fireplaces, etc. were found. Utena and city guests gather on the hill of Narkūnai during various celebrations. During the celebration of the Jonas on the mound, huge scalds are lit. The wreaths of flowers are flown in the river Utenėlės.
The mound and an ancient village is about 2 km southeast from Videniškiai. Its steep slopes, high altitude make it look impressive. Remains of the ancient settlement are on the western and northern slopes of the hill. Fragments of hand moulded, brushed, smooth and rusticated pottery were found.
After visiting the Asveja regional park, make sure to get to Dubingiai Castle Hill. Walking through the cognitive trail from the former island, now a peninsula, you will be able to admire the panorama of the longest, and one of the deepest and largest lakes in Lithuania.
Dubingiai castle – is an important 14th - 18th century Lithuanian culture, industry and defense center, it commemorates war with the Order of the Teutonic Knights, reformation - significant eras in our history. The castle is associated with the life and activities of prominent individuals of that age (Vytautas The Great, Mikalojus Radvila Rudas, Barbora Radvilaitė and others). Dubingiai are inseparable from the history of the rise and prosperity of the Radvilos family.
From 2012 Visitors of the castle hill are awaited by the ready for exposition fragments of the Radvila Palace, covered with a hood, along with the place of the former Evangelical Reformed Church with the Radvilos funeral pantheon. The castle hill has a cognitive trail with 6 observation stops near archaeological and natural sites. The length of the natural tract is about 1.5 km. It has wooden stairs, information stands, benches.
