Telšiai District

• The nature trail in Jomantų Forest is 4 kilometres long. Allow about 3 hours for the whole visit, including the information along the trail and the crossword puzzle at the end.
• The trail has 23 information boards and seven rest areas.
• The Germantas Landscape Reserve covers 924 hectares and protects lakes, forests, streams and bogs.
• There are walking and cycling trails along the shore of Lake Mastis.

The trail in Jomantų Forest combines nature education with a specific activity: along the 4-kilometre route, 23 information boards cover nature-related topics; a crossword puzzle is also part of the described visit. Allow about 3 hours for the whole experience, including the information and puzzle. The seven rest areas are also part of the trail’s facilities. The time estimate refers to the entire experience, not just walking the route.

The 924-hectare Germantas Landscape Reserve offers a different landscape. Lakes, forests, streams and bogs are among the protected features of this landscape, which is typical of the Central Samogitian Upland. If you are more interested in trails by the water, there are walking and cycling trails along the shore of Lake Mastis. Ponds, islands and old trees shape the landscape of Rietavas Manor Park, which dates back to the 19th century. The park is suitable for walks, relaxation and exploring the history of the manor. These nature and park destinations therefore offer different options for planning your trip.

The region’s museums cover a wide range of subjects. The Bear Museum in Telšiai houses more than 5,837 bears and teddy bears made of different materials and in various sizes and shapes. At Mažeikiai Museum, the permanent exhibition “Naftos kelias” covers the extraction and processing of petroleum products, the products made from them and their uses, as well as the history of the Mažeikiai Oil Refinery. The museum also preserves and presents the history, archaeology and ethnography of the Žemaitija region, along with folk art.

The Žemaitija Art Museum is located in the manor palace in Plungė. The cultural heritage on display there reflects the history of Plungė Manor and the Oginski family. An exhibition at Žemaitija National Park in Plateliai focuses on the history of Plateliai Manor and the ethnography and nature of the Samogitian region. The exhibition “Keliaukime aplink Platelių ežerą” at the national park’s visitor centre also explores the formation of Lake Plateliai, its underwater relief and its underwater world. Water activities, places to visit in the park and educational trails are among its other topics.

The museums in Viekšniai and Varniai offer further historical perspectives. Viekšniai Pharmacy Museum is Lithuania’s only museum of a rural pharmacy from the 19th to the 20th century. The pharmacist’s living quarters and the pharmacy’s history, written entirely by hand, have been preserved. The Žemaitija Diocese Museum, a department of Alka Museum, is located in the historic buildings of the Žemaitija Seminary in Varniai, Telšiai District. The Cold War Exhibition is housed in a former underground Soviet ballistic missile launch complex. An exhibition at the restored Renavas Manor estate, which dates back to the 19th century, offers insights into Lithuanian manor culture.

For more detailed information, you can visit the pages for individual destinations in the district: Rietavas Municipality, Plungė District Municipality, Telšiai District Municipality, Mažeikiai District Municipality, Luokė Eldership, Rapaliai, Ubiškė, Plateliai, Varniai, Gečaičiai, Telšiai, Mažeikiai and Plungė.

How long is the nature trail in Jomantų Forest?

The trail is 4 kilometres long. Allow about 3 hours for the whole visit, including the information along the trail and the crossword puzzle at the end.

What does the “Naftos kelias” exhibition cover?

It covers the extraction and processing of petroleum products, the products made from them and their uses, as well as the history of the Mažeikiai Oil Refinery.

What topics does the exhibition about Lake Plateliai cover?

It covers the formation of the lake, its underwater relief and underwater world, as well as water activities, places to visit in Žemaitija National Park and educational trails.

For the broader travel overview: Lithuania.