Kupiškis District Municipality: Water, Forest and Cultural Heritage

Key facts

• Kupiškis Lagoon was created in 1984 by damming the Lėvuo River; the artificial reservoir covers 828 hectares and is about 25 kilometres long.
• The shoreline has a beach, 19 recreation facilities, sports grounds, car parks, houses on the water, houses in a pine forest and a campsite.
• The island of Uošvės Liežuvis is home to an 8.97-hectare dendrological park with more than 50 tree species, as well as a 225-metre wakeboarding course with ramps.
• The approximately 1.4-kilometre-long “Į girią” educational trail passes through Šimonys Forest and borders the Iženas telmological reserve.
• Adomynė Manor is a rare monument of Romantic Classicist wooden architecture; the monastery and church in Palėvenė tell a long history.
• In Kupiškis, museums and a sculpture trail complement nature and cultural experiences.

Enjoy the water and plan around events

Kupiškis Lagoon is a prominent destination for water sports and events. Every year, it hosts the Kupiškis Lagoon Regatta, international Formula water racing, and Lithuanian and international triathlon competitions, among other events. The Lithuanian beach soccer championship, ice-fishing competitions and summer festivals are also part of the events calendar. If a particular date is the deciding factor for your trip, check event dates before planning.

The shoreline offers various ways to enjoy the area beyond the events calendar, including a beach, sports grounds, recreation facilities, houses on the water and houses in a pine forest. On Uošvės Liežuvis Island, the dendrological park combines with sporting activities. You can reach the park via a bridge from the village of Pajuodupė or a pontoon bridge from the Aukštupėnai recreation area. The wakeboarding course with ramps runs between this area and the island. Check its operating status if you specifically plan to use the course.

Forest and island nature

If you would rather focus on the forest than the water, the “Į girią” educational trail in Šimonys Forest is a good option. The approximately 1.4-kilometre route features shelters, a fire pit, benches, information boards and educational games for children. The trail borders the Iženas reserve. The forest is home to moose, roe deer, wild boar, foxes, hares and wolves, among other animals; protected species include the black stork and lesser spotted eagle. However, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Uošvės Liežuvis Island offers a different kind of nature experience: its 8.97-hectare dendrological park is home to more than 50 tree species. Educational trails, recreation areas with shelters, toilets and an event area complete the grounds. The two nature destinations have distinct characters: the forest trail passes through Šimonys Forest and borders a reserve, while the island park brings together a variety of trees and designated visitor areas.

Manor houses, churches and museums

Adomynė Manor combines architectural history with a distinctive culinary tradition. It is considered a rare monument of Romantic Classicist wooden architecture and is listed in Lithuania’s Register of Cultural Property. The interior retains, among other features, tiled stoves, a bread oven, frescoes, decorated doors with metal fittings and ornamental parquet floors. Adomynė is also known for its certified Lithuanian cultural heritage pastries, “Pagrabinės”, which are baked exclusively there.

The history of the Dominican monastery in Palėvenė began in 1676, when the first Dominican monks settled there. At the restored monastery granary, visitors can sample monks’ dishes and homemade beer from the Kupiškis region; confirm availability before you arrive. The church in Palėvenė has eight altars and is considered one of the most original examples of so-called folk Baroque in Lithuania.

The museums offer different perspectives, too. The Kupiškis Museum is housed in a former parish school building dating from 1823. Its collections include traditional Lithuanian clothing and accessories from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, collected by Stefanija, Mikalina and Elvyra Glemžaitė. It also preserves aurochs horns that are almost 4,000 years old and are considered the largest found in Lithuania. The Adomas Petrauskas Museum comprises a residential house, two granaries, a tower and a tool shed; its collection includes more than 7,000 exhibits.

Art and further discoveries

An open-air museum trail in Kupiškis leads to more than two dozen sculptures by Henrikas Orakauskas. Information boards with QR codes explain the works at the most visited sculptures; special programmes provide short introductions in the artist’s voice on a mobile device. The exhibition at the “Židinys” folk art studio offers a different focus: it regularly displays works by folk artists and other creative practitioners, including paintings, metalwork, woven pieces, woven bands, paper cuttings and wood carvings.

Kupiškis Hillfort, also known as Aukštupėnai Hillfort, lies on the left bank of the Lėvuo, near Kupiškis Lagoon and the village of Aukštupėnai. Historians believe that a wooden community castle or refuge stood there, and that the earliest beginnings of the later town were located there. A musical fountain on Laurynas Gucevičius Square combines water, light and music effects; it was built in 2019 during the square’s redevelopment, replacing the former fountain.

Tailor your stay to your interests

Water sports and events offer a different focus from the forest trail and wildlife; the manor house, monastery, church and museum, in turn, provide various ways to explore cultural history. Consider which places and themes matter most to your trip, then compare suitable options. For events with specific dates, the wakeboarding course and tastings in Palėvenė, it is advisable to check the relevant dates or availability in advance.

More places and destinations: Subačius Eldership, Juodpėnai, Panevėžys District Municipality, Rokiškis District Municipality, Biržai District Municipality, Pasvalys District Municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Panevėžys County.