Anykščiai: Views, Narrow-Gauge Railway and Museums

Key facts

• At Kalitos kalnas is a 500-metre-long, two-lane toboggan run, the first of its kind in Lithuania; it can be used in summer and winter.
• A viewing platform is located 33 metres high in the right-hand tower of Šv. Mato bažnyčia; 186 steps lead up to it.
• The Siauruko Museum displays the “Škoda” “Kukuška” steam locomotive and other narrow-gauge railway vehicles; visitors can try out a handcar and a rail tricycle.
• Antano Baranausko klėtelė preserves and displays authentic furniture, household items and books belonging to Antanas Baranauskas and his family.
• The Antano Žukausko-Vienuolio Memorial House Museum preserves the writer’s authentic domestic and creative world.
• The Angelų muziejus collection includes more than a hundred angels, including painted, wooden, ceramic and glass figures.
• In the nearby village of Dvaronių, the 300-metre-long Medžių lajų takas rises steadily to 21 metres; at the end is an observation tower with a platform 34 metres high.
• The Lynų Bridge over the Šventoji is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge in the vicinity of Anykščiai.

Views with different ascents

The viewing platform in the right-hand tower of Šv. Mato bažnyčia is 33 metres above the ground. 186 steps lead up to it. From there, visitors can take in the surroundings of Anykščiai while also learning more about the church’s history and origins. The viewpoint therefore combines the view with a specific insight into the building and its history.

The Medžių lajų takas in the nearby village of Dvaronių offers a different kind of ascent. The walkway is 300 metres long and rises steadily to 21 metres above the ground. The observation tower stands at its end, with a platform 34 metres high. The two height figures refer to different points: 21 metres describes the walkway, while 34 metres is the height of the tower platform.

The routes to the views differ too: at the church tower, the climb up 186 steps and the church’s history are part of the visit; on the treetop walkway, the rising path leads to the observation tower at the end.

Narrow-gauge railway and museum collections

At the Siauruko Museum, historic vehicles are displayed alongside exhibits that visitors can try out themselves. On display are the “Škoda” “Kukuška” steam locomotive and other narrow-gauge railway vehicles. There is also a working handcar and a rail tricycle for visitors to try. A museum visit therefore includes both viewing the vehicles and trying two interactive exhibits.

Personal belongings take centre stage at Antano Baranausko klėtelė: furniture, everyday items and books attributed to Antanas Baranauskas and his family are preserved and displayed there. The Antano Žukausko-Vienuolio Memorial House Museum has a different focus. It preserves the writer’s domestic and creative world. The two sites therefore differ in emphasis: one presents a collection of specific objects, while the other preserves the setting in which the writer lived.

The Angelų muziejus offers a distinctly different collection theme. It includes more than a hundred angels in various forms: painted images as well as figures made of wood, ceramic and glass. The different materials make the collection accessible as a body of art and objects without limiting it to a single form of representation.

Toboggan run and nearby routes

A 500-metre-long toboggan run with two lanes is located at Kalitos kalnas. It is considered Lithuania’s first two-lane toboggan run and can be used in both summer and winter. This movement-focused activity adds another distinct option for travel planning alongside the viewpoints and museums.

Nearby, the Lynų Bridge crosses the Šventoji. It is for pedestrians and cyclists. Alongside the elevated viewpoints, crossing the river is another distinct feature of the surrounding area.

Discover more destinations: Giedraičiai, Sudeikiai, Salakas, Visaginas, Alanta, Leliūnai, Balninkai, Serapiniškė.

For the broader travel overview: Utena County.