In Viliūšiai, the Gervių giesmė accommodation combines overnight stays with a range of activities for guests. The accommodation comprises the houses “Klėtis po ąžuolu” and “Stuba”. Activities range from lessons in gathering herbs and preparing “witches’ tea” in a cauldron to lessons in smoking homemade curd cheese, a tasting and educational activities such as weaving. The activities have different thematic focuses. When travelling to Viliūšiai, you can consider not only where to stay but also which of these activities best matches your interests.

Herbs, Cheese and Weaving

The herb offering combines a learning activity with preparation: Gervių giesmė offers lessons in gathering herbs and preparing “witches’ tea” in a cauldron. The two parts make the focus clear: gathering herbs and preparing a drink. This makes the offering more than just a mention of herbs; both the activity and the preparation are included. If you are interested in herbs, you can consider this combination a reason to choose the offering as part of your stay. Unlike the cheese offering, which includes lessons in smoking and a tasting, the focus here is on herbs and tea.

The cheese offering has a different focus. Gervių giesmė offers lessons in smoking homemade curd cheese and a tasting. The offering therefore includes both a learning activity and a tasting, while weaving adds a textile element as an educational activity. The activities also differ in form: gathering herbs and preparing tea, lessons in smoking homemade curd cheese, a tasting, or weaving. If you choose accommodation based partly on its activities for guests, you can weigh the options according to your interest in herbs, cheese or textile crafts. This makes the content of a stay more concrete without treating the different activities as equivalent.

What the participation requirement means for planning

For your travel planning, it is important to note that participation in the activities mentioned is conditional on staying at the accommodation. Plan them as part of a stay at Gervių giesmė, rather than as an independent day visit. If a particular activity is the main reason for your trip, factor this connection between the activities for guests and the accommodation into your plans early. This lets you link your search for an overnight stay with the activity that interests you most.

A biographical connection to Viliūšiai

Viliūšiai is also the birthplace of aviator Viktoras Ašmenskas. He was born in 1912 in the village of Viliūšiai, in Jankų eldership, and was chairman of the aerobatics and parachuting associations. His profession and the two association fields give this biographical connection specific context. If you would like to learn more about Viliūšiai beyond the accommodation and activities for guests, Ašmenskas’s biography provides a specific historical connection.

For the broader travel overview: Kazlų Rūdos Municipality.