Panevėžys District: Aircraft Replicas, Nature and Crafts

The Įstros Aircraft Museum gives Panevėžys District an unusual cultural highlight: it is dedicated to aircraft replicas displayed outdoors. The area also offers views and trails in Krekenava Regional Park, traditional crafts in Upytė, and art and collections at various locations. You can plan your trip around the themes that interest you most.

Aircraft replicas in every season

The Įstros Aircraft Museum is Lithuania’s only open-air museum of aircraft replicas. It is open in all weather and throughout the year. Its open-air setting and year-round operation make it a clearly defined cultural destination in the district. For planning your trip, this means the museum visit is explicitly not limited to a particular season.

Views and a nature trail in Krekenava Regional Park

The 30-metre-high observation tower in Krekenava Regional Park stands next to the visitor centre. It was built in 2014; steel, its asymmetrical shape and guy wires define its construction. The tower can therefore be understood not only by its height, but also by its design. A different scale is offered by the 1.6-kilometre nature trail in the Nevėžis Valley in the same regional park. It runs alongside a horseshoe-shaped oxbow lake, with an observation platform nearby. The tower and trail offer different highlights: here, the structure defines the viewpoint; there, the route runs alongside the oxbow lake.

Crafts and place names in Upytė

The Centre for Traditional Crafts in Upytė was established on the grounds of Upytė Manor; the manor’s granary stands right next to it. The crafts and manor buildings thus provide two specific ways to explore the place. Upytė is also home to a hillfort, also known as Tarnagalos and Čičinsko kalnas. These alternative names refer to the same hillfort and help connect different names with one place.

Trails, art and collections

Senvagė is located in Panevėžys. It has cycling and walking paths, as well as facilities for sports, play, relaxation and enjoying the views. Sculptures created by artists and events add to what it offers; Senvagė also provides opportunities for leisurely walks with views of the natural landscape. Exercise, time outdoors and art come together here in different ways.

The “Mėnulio akmens” Sculpture Park is an open-air exhibition of contemporary art and also an open-air museum. The Museum of Old Christmas Ornaments in Miežiškiai has a very different collection focus. The Panevėžys Puppet Theatre claims to be the only theatre of its kind in Europe. The three cultural destinations represent different themes: contemporary art, historic Christmas decorations and puppet theatre.

Train rides and regional brewing traditions

Festive or educational rides on the Aukštaitija narrow-gauge railway are available from Panevėžys; they depart from Panevėžys city railway station. Check the current departure dates in advance when planning your trip. Brewing traditions are also part of the region’s character: old brewing traditions have been preserved in Aukštaitija, particularly in Panevėžys, Biržai and Pasvalys districts. This connection broadens the focus from individual sights to a regional tradition.

Lithuania in a wider context

The wider destination of Lithuania has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include the Vilnius Historic Centre, added to the World Heritage List in 1994, and “Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919–1939,” added in 2023. The Baltic Song and Dance Celebration also takes place in Lithuania every four years, bringing thousands of participants together for song and dance. Check the dates for each edition separately.

For culinary inspiration, the “The Tastiest Cities of Lithuania” map connects regions with characteristic dishes served in cafés, restaurants and farmsteads, as well as gastronomic experiences. It offers creative suggestions for food lovers; participating places and offerings may change.

Discover more destinations: Šilagalys, Panevėžys, Kazliškio Seniūnija, Krekenavos Seniūnija, Panevėžio rajono savivaldybė, Rokiškio rajono savivaldybė, Kupiškio rajono savivaldybė, Biržų rajono savivaldybė, Kupiškis, Biržai, Naciūnai, Kučiai, Puožas, Pasvalys District Municipality, Rokiškis, Naujamiestis.

See the wider travel overview: Lithuania.