Discover Ilgininkai: Culture and History

• The Navasodų manor site, also known as Cegelnios kalnas, is located in the village of Navasodai and is under state protection.
• The Merkinės krašto muziejus and a visitor center operated by the Directorate of Dzūkija National Park and the Čepkeliai State Nature Reserve are located in the Merkinės eldership.
• Named attractions include historical, religious, and commemorative sites, as well as an observation tower and visitor center in Merkinė.
• A craft center and creative workshops run by masters of black pottery are operating in the Merkinės eldership.

The Navasodų manor site is a protected site in the village of Navasodai; Cegelnios kalnas is another name for this site. This specific location is important when choosing where to stay: it distinguishes this historical point of interest from the attractions named in the Merkinės eldership.

In Merkinė, the 16th-century town pillars are among the named attractions. Also mentioned are the Merkinės Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčia and the site of the Merkinė Jesuit church and monastery, dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The two time periods refer to different sites: the 16th century applies to the town pillars, while the 17th-to-19th-century span applies to the site of the church and monastery.

Liškiava is also represented by several named sites, including the ensemble of the Church of the Holy Trinity and the monastery, as well as the castle hill and the sacrificial hill. These place names give culture enthusiasts different themes to consider when planning a trip, without requiring all the sites to be grouped under a single location.

The attractions of the Merkinės eldership include different forms of commemoration. In Merkinė, the site of the Jewish synagogues and the old Jewish cemetery are named. The house where V. Vaza died is also included. The monument to the partisans of the Dainava District is also listed as an attraction; another memorial site is the Dainava District partisan base in the village of Kasčiūnai.

To find your way around the museums, it helps to distinguish between the main museum and its branch: the Merkinės krašto muziejus is located in the Merkinės eldership. The Vinco Krėvės-Mickevičiaus memorialinis muziejus is in Subartoniai and is a branch of the Merkinės krašto muziejus. This makes both the museums’ relationship and their respective locations clear.

The Merkinė observation tower and the Merkinė visitor center of Dzūkija National Park are named as attractions in the Merkinės eldership. A visitor center in the eldership is operated by the Directorate of Dzūkija National Park and the Čepkeliai State Nature Reserve. If you are planning a specific visit, check current visitor information in advance.

Crafts are another named theme. A craft center and creative workshops run by masters of black pottery are operating in the Merkinės eldership. The “Vienaragių šilas” ceramics center and leather workshops in the village of Zakavoliai are also listed as attractions.

Some of the named cultural sites are located in specific places, such as Navasodai, Merkinė, Subartoniai, Liškiava, Kasčiūnai, and Zakavoliai. Other descriptions refer to the Merkinės eldership. So, if you are planning your trip around a particular historical or craft theme, pay attention to the location given for each site. This helps you keep the different cultural points of interest in mind without assuming distances or a specific route.

Discover more destinations: Stračiūnai, Varėna, Alytus, Vytautai, Latežeris, Gailiūnai, Ricieliai, Daugų Seniūnija.

Where is the Navasodų manor site?

It is located in the village of Navasodai and is also known as Cegelnios kalnas. The site is under state protection.

Which historical periods are represented by the attractions?

The town pillars of Merkinė date from the 16th century. The site of the Merkinė Jesuit church and monastery is associated with the period from the 17th to the 19th century.

How are the two named museums connected?

The Merkinės krašto muziejus is located in the Merkinės eldership. The Vinco Krėvės-Mickevičiaus memorialinis muziejus in Subartoniai is a branch of this museum.

Which craft themes are represented?

A craft center and creative workshops run by masters of black pottery are operating in the Merkinės eldership. The “Vienaragių šilas” ceramics center and leather workshops in Zakavoliai are also listed as attractions.

Go to the regional travel overview: Alytus County.