The most visited objects of Šilalė district: the surroundings of Bijotai and Upyna
This route includes the most visited objects of Šilalė district: Poškos Baubliai, Girdiškė Church of the St. Virgin Mary of the Snows, the birthplace of Stasys Girėnas, and other lesser-known places of interest in the area. The route includes three museums, three sacred sites, two natural sites and a memorial site. This route is unique, it can be started while traveling in the direction of Klaipėda or Kaunas, as it starts and ends on A1 highway.
Driving on Highway A1 Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda, turn right and get off over a bridge after passing Kryžkalnis at the Circle K gas station. After driving 2 kilometers, you will reach Bijotai. On the way, there will be Poškakaimis: a village of the municipality of Šilalė district, between Bardžiai and Bijotai. In Poškakaimis village there is a green Paškevičius park; it was planted in 1825 by Norbertas Paškevičius, a foster-brother of D. Poška. The park covers an area of 4 hectares. There are quite a few surviving trees of impressive size and trunk thickness. There is a recreation area in the park; eight oak sculptures representing the characters of the D. Poška poem, and an Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel.
After a walk in the beautifully landscaped park, drive 0.7 km along Road 4109 to Dionysas Poška Baubliai Museum. This is the first museum of antiquities in Lithuania, which was founded in 1812 in a carved oak trunk by Dionizas Poška (1764 – 1830), a Samogitian nobleman, a writer, a historian, and an enlightened person. The oak tree, which was then about a thousand years old, was called Baublys. You will also visit the old water mill.
After driving 5 km from Bijotai on Road 4109, you will arrive at Girdiškė. In Girdiškė there is a Church of the St. Virgin Mary of the Snows. This is the only church in Lithuania dedicated to St. Virgin Mary of the Snows, where original altars made of oak branches are installed.
Continue driving for 5 km towards Upyna. The shape of Upyna Church of the St. Virgin Mary resembles a traditional dwelling-house with a gazebo. Inside there are three altars. In the yard there is a small bell tower. A museum of folk crafts has been founded next to the church. Its initiator and founder is a local historian Klemensas Lovčikas. Currently, the museum has about 3,500 exhibits from the Upyna area.
6 km away from Upyna, on Road 4504, you will reach Vytogala, the birthplace of a pilot Stasys Girėnas. In the barn and the rebuilt dwelling-house the pilot’s memorial museum has been founded.
From Vytogala, driving along Road 4504 for 4 km towards Obelynas, turn to the right leg of Road 4108. After driving another 4 km you will arrive at Varsėdžiai St. Roch Church. Varsėdžiai is famous for St. Rock and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Zolinė) Feast days.
After driving 4 km on Road 4108, you will reach the intersection: Upyna – Kaltinėnai. Turn to the left leg of Road 4107 and after driving another 3 km you will approach the Kalvaliai Mound; climb the hill and admire the view.
After driving 2 km, on the right side of the road you will see a monument to Vytautas Vaitkus, a defender of Lithuanian freedom and the hero of January 13.
Here the 37 km long travel route is over. The highway is just 2 km ahead.