Giedraičiai lies on the western shore of Lake Kiementas. On the eastern shore, the Piliakiemiai hill fort stands on the highest isolated hill in a ridge. The town is home to a Neoclassical church and a monument commemorating the history of 1920; a walking route also offers views of the lake. The landscape, architecture and culture of remembrance provide different starting points for planning your trip.
Lakeshore and walking trails
The Giedraičiai walking route is intended for pedestrians, not cyclists. It offers views of Lake Kiementas and passes along the Šarkiškė Stream, with its steep banks. This brings together two distinct landscape impressions: lake views and the stream banks. The grounds of the Giedraičiai A. Jaroševičius Gymnasium serve as a starting point for walking trails.
The Piliakiemiai hill fort
The hill fort’s location combines clear topographic bearings with an archaeological site: it stands on the highest isolated hill in the ridge on the eastern shore of Lake Kiementas. Finds of smooth and coarse pottery were uncovered at the foot of the hill, in a 0.2-hectare settlement. Both the elevated position and the settlement at the foot of the hill are part of this historic site.
The hill fort can be reached via the Giedraičiai–Piliakiemiai road. After 1.7 km, take a turnoff; the site is a further 350 m along the way. This sequence of road, turnoff and additional stretch provides clear directions for reaching the site.
Church and bell tower
The Church of St. Bartholomew in Giedraičiai is Neoclassical, dates from 1809 and has no tower. In the churchyard stands a square, two-storey bell tower: the lower storey is built of stone, while the upper one is made of wood. The church and bell tower thus offer distinct architectural features, from the towerless church building to the clearly divided stone-and-wood structure.
The church’s furnishings include nine easel paintings and valuable organs, installed in the early 19th century. Alongside the exterior architecture, the paintings and organs are also part of the church’s cultural character.
Commemorating the events of 1920
The Battle of Giedraičiai was fought near Giedraičiai from 17 to 21 November 1920. In the town centre, a monument commemorates those who fell for Lithuania’s freedom in 1920. It stands in a square beside Vilniaus Street, was unveiled in 1932 and was created by local artist Antanas Jaroševičius. A symbolic cannon marks the battlefield.
Two details are important for understanding the locations: the battle took place near Giedraičiai, while the monument is in the town centre. The Giedraičiai Regional Museum opened in 2014 at the A. Jaroševičius Gymnasium. The gymnasium grounds are also a starting point for walking trails, so a cultural point of interest and a starting point for walking routes are located at the same named place.
Discover more destinations: Dubingių Seniūnija, Sudeikiai, Leliūnai, Bičionys, Utena, Rimšė, Serapiniškė, Girsteitiškis
For the broader travel overview: Utena County.
