The surroundings of Dzūkija

According to legend, the devil was carrying a large stone in order to block the flow of the Nemunas River, but the dawn started to break and a rooster sang unexpectedly early. The devil took fright, lost the stone and disappeared, while the stone rolled toward Švendubrė and continues to lie there to this day. Nowadays, there are wooden sculptures of the Bell Ringer, the Legend of Raigardas and the Shepherd Girl based on various legends that have been erected near the stone.

Švendubrė is an old ethnographic village located near the Raigardas Valley. The old Dzūkija homesteads with enclosed courtyards are particularly interesting, and the famous Devil’s Stone can also be found in this village. Švendubrė was first mentioned in historical documents from 1620.

Karolis Dineika Wellness Park is a relaxing oasis, located in a beautiful pine forest on the coast of the Ratnyčia River. The park continues the old traditions of treatment focused on the air, water and sun, and offers visitors unique procedures to try: walking on special treatment pathways, ionotherapy, sun and tranquillity on the terraces, or a foot massage in an acupressure pool.

This church was built in 1935 in the inter-war period, and it has a unique architectural style. It was designed and built by the priest Jonas Reitelaitis, and the unique features of the building were created by combining folk architecture with professional architecture. The author originally included some Neo-Gothic shapes, but he also used some folk elements that were popular at that time.

This interactive exhibition of glass walls in a building on the shores of Dusia Lake will surprise most visitors. There is plenty for both adults and children to do here, but to discover what is rare and valuable, you will have to open the drawers and doors, or look into the tree hollows. You can also plan a trip, learn about the life of pond turtles, book a tour or rent a bicycle, canoe or paddle board here. Powerful optical equipment allows you to observe the landscape around Dusia Lake and the birds floating on the lake’s surface.

The ethnographic homestead of Pranas Dzūkas may remind you of your grandparents’ home. It’s a place where the younger generation can learn about the past, the generation that’s a bit older can remember their childhood, and the most senior generation will be reminded of times from their youth. The spacious buildings store large exhibits that include an oil press, wood chipping tool, threshing machine, etc. The homestead reflects the daily life of a Dzūkija villager in the beginning of the 20th century.