Discover Grinaičiai

• Balnakalnis: a hillfort in Grinaičiai, dating to the first half of the 1st millennium AD.
• Žydkapiai: Grinaičiai’s second hillfort, dating from the beginning of the 1st to the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD.
• Sudargas complex: five hillforts are spread across Grinaičiai and Burgaičiai.

The dates emphasize different periods. Balnakalnis is dated to the first half of the 1st millennium AD. For Žydkapiai, the dating spans from the beginning of the same millennium to the beginning of the second. This means that one hillfort is associated with a more limited period, while the date range for the other covers a longer span.

For travellers interested in archaeology, this comparison illustrates how the two sites fit into their historical context. The dates are not presented in the same way: Balnakalnis is assigned to half a millennium, whereas Žydkapiai is dated across a period of time. Both names are part of the picture of Grinaičiai’s hillforts, while the wider Sudargas complex also includes the neighbouring village of Burgaičiai.

The complex comprises Balnakalnis, Žydkapiai, Bevardis, Pilaitė and Vorpilis. Two of the five hillforts are in Grinaičiai and three in Burgaičiai. The name Sudargas complex therefore refers to a group of sites whose historical context extends beyond a single location.

In historical, archaeological and cultural terms, the complex is considered the most significant after the hillforts of Kernavė. In the Middle Ages, one of the most important defensive castles in the battles against the Crusaders stood here. Those interested in the region’s history can therefore explore Grinaičiai through both its two associated hillforts and its connection to the wider complex.

Discover more destinations: Kiduliai, Pervazninkai, Girėnai.

The five hillforts extend for approximately one kilometre from east to west along the river. From the five hilltops, you can see the Nemunas, forests and fields. On the Nemunas riverbanks near the Sudargas hillforts, the elevation difference down to the riverbed is up to 40 metres.

The distance for walking exclusively between the hillforts is given as 2.5 kilometres. This describes something different from the complex’s approximately one-kilometre east-to-west extent: one figure refers to walking between the hillforts, while the other describes the group’s spread along the river. This helps put the area’s size into perspective without treating the two as the same measurement.

Guided tours are offered at the Sudargas hillfort complex; a guide service can be booked by prior arrangement. Confirm the specific arrangements with the tourism provider before your visit. Sudargas Hillfort Day takes place every year at the hillforts during the Rasos midsummer festivities. If you want to plan your trip around the event in a particular year, check the latest local information on dates in advance.

This lets you consider the site in its appropriate regional context without conflating the two perspectives.

When is Sudargas Hillfort Day held?

It is held every year at the hillforts during the Rasos midsummer festivities. For a specific travel year, check the latest local date information.

How far does the Sudargas complex extend?

The five hillforts extend for approximately one kilometre from east to west along the river. Two are in Grinaičiai and three in Burgaičiai.

How can you arrange a guided tour?

Guided tours are offered at the Sudargas hillfort complex; the guide service can be booked by prior arrangement. Confirm the arrangements with the tourism provider before your visit.

For the broader travel overview: Šakių rajono savivaldybė.