Ignalina District Municipality: Lakes, Forests and Culture

Ignalina District has up to 200 lakes, as well as several dozen rivers and ponds. Forests cover one third of the area, and a quarter consists of protected areas. A large part of Aukštaitija National Park lies within the district; many of the fourteen regional parks and various nature reserves are also located there.

Bodies of water, forests and protected areas are among the region’s notable features. For your planning, it is worth distinguishing between the specific attractions: the “Pearl Necklace of Ignalina Region’s Attractions” route runs through Aukštaitija National Park. The educational hiking trail at Paliesius Manor is suitable for walking, jogging and cycling and leads through a quiet, damp forest. This gives you a named route in the national park alongside a trail with activities explicitly listed.

The Ignalina Region Museum presents the history of the region and its residents, as well as crafts, customs and traditions. In the ethnographic exhibition, you can see household items, tools and equipment from the 19th and 20th centuries. The museum also regularly organizes events, exhibitions and educational activities. Its cultural offerings therefore range from insights into everyday objects of the past to recurring programs.

The Ignalina Sports and Entertainment Centre has a swimming pool and a bathhouse complex with a salt steam room, aroma and sauna rooms, Lithuanian and Turkish saunas, and mineral- and freshwater whirlpools. Alpine skiing is available at the Lithuanian Winter Sports Centre. These attractions have different focuses: one centre brings together water and sauna facilities, while the other focuses on winter sports.

The Beekeeping Museum in Stripeikiai offers interactive exhibitions and honey tastings. It is located on the edge of Minčia Forest, in the northwestern part of Aukštaitija National Park. Stripeikiai is considered the park’s oldest village and is first mentioned in Livonian chronicles in 1357. The museum is part of the administration of Aukštaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park.

In Ginučiai, the water mill is protected by the state and belongs to the Directorate of Aukštaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park. Concerts and educational programs are held at Paliesius Manor. Bread and sweet pastries are also baked there in a traditional oven heated with birchwood, using authentic culinary heritage recipes.

The district overview helps you compare landscapes, cultural attractions and leisure activities as a starting point for your trip. To choose a specific place, you can then consult the pages for Mielagėnai, Švedriškė, Kazitiškis, Palūšė and Nastazavas. If you would like to compare other destinations, you can also find pages for Molėtų rajono savivaldybė and Anykščiai District Municipality.

What does the flax-processing exhibition show?

The Ignalina Region Museum explains the historical journey of flax, from sowing the seeds to making a bedspread or tablecloth.

What can you learn about fishing at the museum?

An exhibition shows old fishing methods and explains how the fish caught helped the people of the region survive.

Which educational activities are available at locations around the district?

The district’s cultural centre offers candle-making in Ceikiniai, macramé weaving in Naujasis Daugėliškis, paper cutting in Tverečius, and making forest figures from pine cones in Didžiasalis.

How can groups visit the Ginučiai water mill?

Groups of visitors are welcomed for guided tours of the water mill exhibition by prior reservation.

To return to the main travel overview: Utena District.