Mažeikiai: Sculptures, Churches and a Park

• “Paukštė,” made of polished gray granite, was installed in the Old Town in autumn 1983 and is almost one meter tall.
• “Žymeklis” was added to the Old Town in spring 2014; “Į žinių pasaulį” was installed beside the Merkelio-Račkausko Gymnasium in late October 1983.
• The Mažeikių Švč. Jėzaus širdies bažnyčia was built between 1930 and 1936. The Mažeikių Šv. Pranciškaus Asyžiečio bažnyčia is a place of prayer and an architectural adornment to the city.
• Juodpelkio Park has a seasonal cable water-ski park, the “Wake park Mažeikiai” bistro beside it, and paths for walking.

The installation dates offer a simple comparison: two of the works date from autumn 1983. “Paukštė” was installed in the Old Town, while “Į žinių pasaulį” was installed beside the Merkelio-Račkausko Gymnasium; the latter was added in late October. “Žymeklis” followed in spring 2014. This means the sculptures mentioned here span the period from 1983 to 2014.

“Paukštė” also offers a specific impression of material and size: the decorative sculpture is made of polished gray granite and is almost one meter tall. The works can be distinguished by their installation dates and the locations mentioned; for “Paukštė,” the material and scale offer further points of reference. If you are interested in public art, you can consider these different aspects rather than reducing all three works to a single shared feature.

The two churches offer different starting points for a cultural and historical perspective. The Mažeikių Švč. Jėzaus širdies bažnyčia was built between 1930 and 1936. This period provides a specific context for the construction history of the church building. The Mažeikių Šv. Pranciškaus Asyžiečio bažnyčia is both a place of prayer and an architectural adornment to the city. The two churches therefore foreground different aspects: the construction period of one, and the religious function and architectural significance of the other.

The religious history of the city also includes a decision made in 1992: a group of concerned residents decided that Mažeikiai needed a second Catholic church. This date is a distinct historical reference point alongside the construction dates of the Jėzaus širdies bažnyčia.

You can walk along the park paths at Juodpelkio Park. During the season, a cable water-ski park is also in operation. The “Wake park Mažeikiai” bistro is located right next to it. These offer different options: walks along the park paths and a seasonal water-ski activity, complemented by the nearby bistro.

If the water-ski facility’s operating schedule is important to your plans, check its current seasonal availability in advance. To decide whether Mažeikiai suits your stay, consider what interests you most: are you mainly looking for art and church architecture, or would you also like to include the seasonal park activities?

Discover more destinations: Gečaičiai, Varniai, Telšiai, Plateliai, Plungė, Rapaliai, Luokės Seniūnija, Ubiškė.

When were the sculptures installed?

“Paukštė” was installed in the Old Town in autumn 1983, and “Į žinių pasaulį” beside the Merkelio-Račkausko Gymnasium in late October 1983. “Žymeklis” was installed in the Old Town in spring 2014.

What construction period is given for a church?

The Mažeikių Švč. Jėzaus širdies bažnyčia was built between 1930 and 1936. The Mažeikių Šv. Pranciškaus Asyžiečio bažnyčia is a place of prayer and an architectural adornment to the city.

What can you do at Juodpelkio Park?

You can walk along the park paths. The cable water-ski park operates during the season; the “Wake park Mažeikiai” bistro is right next to it.

For the broader travel overview: Telšiai County.