About Zarasai

Zarasai is a city in North-East Lithuania, perched on a hill above seven lakes. Arriving in Zarasai region, visitors enter a paradise surrounded by hills, lakes and forests, which has long been compared in various ways: because of its hilliness - like the Swiss of Lithuania or because of its abundance of lakes - like the Finnish of Lithuania. In the city, visitors have the opportunity to admire Lake Zarasai and its islands from the observation wheel, which has already become the city's calling card. At a height of seventeen meters, one of the most complex architectural structures in Lithuania opens a picturesque panorama of the lake with the Big Island - one of the largest islands in Lithuania, the largest summer event venue, and the heart of the city with many stories.

Lovers of more active recreation will be full of impressions after visiting the beach of Lake Zarasaitis, surrounded by a pine forest. There is an outdoor swimming pool with a ten-meter high springboard for diving into the water, or try your hand at one of the largest waterboard parks in Lithuania. These objects are a real challenge for thrill seekers and an exceptional entertainment for observers.

Among more than three hundred lakes, Zarasai district is one of the most lake-rich in Lithuania and boasts some of the largest lakes in the country - Drūkšiai, Avilės, Luožis and Sartai, which has the longest coastline in the country, as well as the picturesque Antalieptė lagoon. And other lakes and rivers, although not so famous, are no less attractive for recreation, fishing or water entertainment. Rural tourism is one of the most popular alternative activities in the rural Zarasai district. About 50 providers of this service offer recreation by the most beautiful water bodies, in protected areas, often in the impressive landscape of Aukštaitija.

The region fascinates visitors not only with its waters, but also with its picturesque and unique terrestrial nature. For many years, visitors from various places have been coming to see the old Stelmužė oak and make sure that such natural wonders really exist. Who knows what secrets one of the oldest European oaks, about two thousand years old, keeps. Fascinated by the power of the oak, you can admire the nature that has been little touched by man while traveling along the educational routes scattered throughout the region by water and land.

See the unique natural expositions operating in the visitor centers of the Gražutė and Sartai regional parks, and especially the Vida Žilinskienė “Marine Museum” in the town of Salakas – the farthest marine museum in Lithuania from the sea. The region is rich not only in its natural, but also in its cultural heritage.

You can get to know the rich history of the Zarasai region not only by visiting the Zarasai region, Antalieptė and Antazavė museums with their expositions. Zarasai has a World War I exposition in Turmante. Educational and historical treasures lie in the Stelmužė Manor, which is classified as a cultural heritage site in Zarasai district, with its surviving farm buildings and the oldest wooden architecture branch church of the Cross of the Lord Jesus in Lithuania with its unique wooden carvings. There are also more highly visited places of sacred architecture in the district: the Salakas Church of the Holy Virgin Mary of the Assumption – believed to be one of the tallest stone buildings in Eastern Europe, the Antazavė Church of Divine Providence – a work of talented craftsmen, captivating with its grandeur and details, and other houses of prayer in the region. Visitors also visit the pilgrimage site – the place of the apparition of the Holy Virgin Mary at Lake Ilgis. Those who admire the impressive and unique architecture and draw inspiration from the works of prominent personalities will not be disappointed with a visit to this region of Eastern Aukštaitija. Many famous personalities were born, lived or worked in the Zarasai region at some point: public figure Dr. Domininkas Bukontas, linguist Kazimieras Būga, one of the most prominent Lithuanian politicians of the interwar period Augustinas Voldemaras, animator Abrahamas Jaffee, who later became famous in the United States, composer Juozas Gruodis, the commander of the Lithuanian army during the interwar period General Stasys Raštikis, poets Paulius Širvys and Antanas Vienažindys, heroine of the 1831 uprising Emilija Pliaterytė, and famous artist of Jewish origin Jehuda Penas. Visitors can get acquainted with the lives or works of some of the aforementioned significant personalities for the Zarasai region by visiting their birthplaces - some of them have museums, and some are simply marked with a sign commemorating the great personality. Tourists in the Zarasai region are welcome at the linguist Kazimieras Būga Memorial Museum, which operates in his native village of Pažiegė. Poetry lovers are invited to visit the public memorial museum in the village of Gipėnai, located in the homestead of the grandfather of the poet Antanas Vienažindis. Exhibits related to the brave warrior Emilia Pliaterytė and the history of the Counts Pliatery family can be seen in the Antazavė Regional Public History Museum. It is also interesting to visit the birthplace of one of the most famous Lithuanian poets of the 20th century, Paulius Širvys, in the village of Padustėlis, or the homestead of the archbishop, politician and public figure of the first half of the 20th century, Mečislovas Reinys, in the village of Madagaskaros.

A visitor to the Lake District can visit