Teutonic Order together with Livonian Order organised campaigns of war into the lands of
Lithuania. Defensive castle systems were built in Highlands in order to protect roads to Vilnius from
Livonian Order. Recent archeological excavations unearthed cultural layers at the mounds and
nearby settlements. Defensive fortifications of the castle and relics of daily life from the times of
Teutonic Order have been uncovered at Narkunai mound.
How to find Tauragnai Mound? Tauragnas Lake, the deepest in Lithuania, can be reached by driving south through the town of Tauragnai. Labė Lake remains on the right side of the road. Turning left towards Kirdeikiai from the intersection and driving to Lamėstas for approximately 800 meters, on the left side you will see a sign pointing to the mound. It is 200 meters away.
The mound is located in the middle part of a separate hill, on the left bank of Šventė stream. The mound is protected from the adjacent meadows by a swampy ravine, steep slopes, short ramparts and dug ditches on the northern and southern sides. To the north of the mound is a foothill settlement with a highly degraded cultural layer. The mound is unexplored, dating from the 1st millennium - the beginning of the 2nd millennium. In 1998, the Tauragnai mound was declared a cultural monument by the Government.
Information is being prepared.
Narkūnai mound can be reached from the center of Utena along Molėtai Street. After passing the northern part of the Narkūnai settlement, turn left. You will be greeted by a newly installed staircase at the height of the Utenėlė riverbank. It will lead all the way to the top of the mound. The steep fourteen meters high slopes are covered in trees. The site of the Narkūnai mound is triangular, on its northern side there is a rampart with a ditch. To the north of the mound is the semi-circular site of the outwork, and to the west, on an area of one hectare, there is a foothill settlement. Two cultural layers are distinguished in the Narkūnai mound, the outwork and the settlement. The early one, dating from the 1st millennium BC to the 2nd century, and the late one - the beginning of the 14th-15th centuries. The best preserved finds are from the earlier period. From them, one can guess about the former fortifications of two rows of wooden posts with branch weaving. They burned and were rebuilt again and again. The fortifications of the 14th century were built from clay, using stones and both vertical and horizontal logs. It is assumed that in the 13th century, the castle of Duke Daumantas of Nalšia stood here. At the end of the 14th century, the surroundings were ravaged by the Livonian Order, and in 1433, during the Lithuanian grand dukes' struggle for the throne, the castle was burned down. It is believed that after that, people moved from the settlement near the mound and settled a few kilometers away, where the city of Utena is now. Pranciškus Vilčinskis excavated the mound in the 19th century. He discovered a thick cultural layer containing pieces of burnt clay, shards of pots and other finds. More than a hundred years later, in 1959, the settlement at the foot of the mound was investigated by the Utena Museum of Local History (led by B. Valuckytė). A cultural layer up to 25 cm thick was found here with molded striped and fired ceramics. These finds are kept by the Utena Museum of Local History. In 1975-1978, the Narkūnai mound was explored by the archaeological commission of the Institute of History of Lithuania and Vilnius University, led by R. and P. Kulikauskai. Then many ceramics, bone, stone, bronze items, clay molds, a bronze melting furnace, unearthed remains of structures and hearths, etc. were found. Residents of Utena and guests of the city gather on the Narkūnai mound during various holidays. In celebration of St. John's Day, huge bonfires are lit on the mound, flower wreaths are floated down the Utenėlė River.
The mound and the ancient settlement are about 2 km southeast from Videniškiai. Its steep slopes and high altitude make it look impressive. Remains of the ancient settlement are on the western and northern slopes of the hill. Fragments of molded, striped, smooth, rough ceramics were found. The history of the mound is surrounded by various legends.
After visiting the Asveja regional park, make sure to get to Dubingiai Castle Hill. Walking through the educational trail from the former island, now a peninsula, you will be able to admire the panorama of the longest, and one of the deepest and largest lakes in Lithuania.
Dubingiai castle – is an important 14th - 18th century Lithuanian culture, industry and defense center, it commemorates war with the Order of the Teutonic Knights, reformation - significant eras in our history. The castle is associated with the life and activities of prominent individuals of that age (Vytautas The Great, Mikalojus Radvila Rudas, Barbora Radvilaitė and others). Dubingiai are inseparable from the history of the rise and prosperity of the Radvilos family.
From 2012 Visitors of the castle hill are awaited by the ready for exposition fragments of the Radvila Palace, covered with a hood, along with the place of the former Evangelical Reformed Church with the Radvilos funeral pantheon. The castle hill has an educational trail with 6 observation stops near archaeological and natural sites. The length of the natural tract is about 1.5 km. It has wooden stairs, information stands, benches.
