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First and foremost, the Neris Regional Park is the Neris River itself with all of its scenic surroundings, small villages and layers of history of old Lithuania. The Park has been founded in the most beautiful section of the Neris River in order to preserve the distinctive landscape of the river valley, the original fauna and flora, the unique system of loops of the middle reaches of the Neris River and natural tributaries, as well as the cultural heritage. The Park is established across three municipalities: Vilnius district, Elektrėnai municipality and Trakai district. The Park was founded in order to preserve the particularly valuable system of loops of the middle reaches of the Neris River, as well as the valuable biocenoses of the forested Neris valley and the rich cultural values. This place offers sightseeing tours and various tourists routes, including the cognitive path of Dūkštai oak-wood – the longest cognitive path in Lithuania which is also adapted for the disabled (2.3 km long).

 

Neris valley with its rich terraces, pockets, loops and confluences of springs and streams is the centre line of the park. From both sides, the riverbed is surrounded by Dūkštai–Šilėnai and Paneriai forests which have over a century old pines and old oak trees. The area of the park also has rapid, springy, rocky streams flowing toward the Neris River. In the park area, they cross the Baltic Uplands and carve deep through the hilly landscapes. In such areas, both scenic slopes, loops and exposures, as well as rocky shallows are formed.

 

The section between Vilnius and Kernavė is one of the oldest populated places in Lithuania characterized by its mitogeographic significance. Neris River banks have various mounds, as well as a number of ancient settlements and burial complexes – barrows.

 

Up until 1957, the Neris River was used for the regular transportation of rafts and inland navigation, therefore stones and river rapids posed a serious threat. Many stones were gradually removed from the riverbed of Neris by exploding or dragging them to the shore, however some of the stones remained and became part of the raftsmen mythology. A lot of the larger stones that are now visible on the riverbed have both names and legends associated with them – about cursed wedding-goers, brothers, animals, etc. who were crossing the river.

 

The park has cognitive paths, campsites, observation decks and viewpoint towers. Neris Regional Park has 6 cognitive paths and routes with particularly interesting natural and heritage objects. On the cognitive path of Dūkštai oak-wood, visitors are able to admire oaks who are over 200 years old, as well as rare and endangered species of plants, animals, lichens and fungi. The cognitive path of Dūkštai reveals the beautiful exposures of Dūkštai and Karmazinai, and provides visitors with the opportunity to climb the Karmazinai, Buivydai and Bradeliškiai mounds. A viewpoint tower can be found here, on the bank of Neris River. When choosing the longest 23 km route adapted for traveling by foot, bicycle and car, visitors will be able to see over 130 year old pines, as well as rich fir and lime tree groves. The road passes the Paneriai Manor, Padūkštai and Kragžliai barrows, and Pinykla and Pušynas springs. This route can also be taken to reach the Bražuolė stone and exposure, as well as the Peklynė hill. Mythological stones laying on the riverbed are visible from the river shore. There are 6 resting areas, as well as Apskrita and Paneriai viewpoint towers available along the way.

Sources:

  1. https://neriesparkas.lt

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