Upytė: Church, Hillfort and Crafts

Upytė brings together a wooden church, an Independence monument, the hillfort next to the village, and a craft center on the grounds of the former manor. This gives you different cultural points of interest to consider when planning your trip: a church with a specific construction date, Lithuanian commemorations, the history of the hillfort, and markets and exhibitions. If you are looking for a hotel in Upytė, you can plan your stay around whether you are most interested in the historic sites or in a particular event at the craft center.

Church and Independence Monument

The wooden St. Charles Borromeo Church in Upytė was built in 1878. Its year of construction gives you a clear historical reference point; at the same time, its wooden construction is a defining feature of the church. It can be readily considered alongside the Independence monument, which recalls a different period in the history of the village and the country.

The Independence monument in Upytė commemorates Lithuanian independence from 1918 to 1928. Every year on February 16, Lithuanian independence is commemorated there. The church and the monument thus have different points of emphasis: the church is associated with its year of construction, while the monument is linked to a historical period and a recurring day of commemoration. February 16 is therefore a specific date to consider when planning your trip.

Upytė Hillfort and Its Connection to the Village

The Upytė Hillfort is located next to the village of Upytė. It is also called Čičinsko kalnas, after the nobleman Vladislovas Sicinskis who lived there. The name connects the site with a specific historical person and adds another point of reference to its location beside the village. Together with the church and monument, it gives a different picture of the village’s history than any single building or memorial site alone.

There is a large parking lot next to the hillfort. This is a useful reference point if you are traveling by car; check the current parking arrangements before setting out. This lets you take into account both the parking lot’s stated location and any changes to the infrastructure.

Crafts, Markets and Exhibitions

The Upytė Traditional Crafts Center is located on the grounds of the former Upytė manor. The present-day center and the former manor thus share the same site. The center holds markets featuring handicrafts, culinary heritage products, and cultural events. If you are interested in crafts and culinary traditions, the markets bring these themes together.

Exhibitions are also held regularly at the center. Educational programs can be arranged. The formats therefore differ in how they are planned: markets bring several cultural themes together, exhibitions have their own focus, and an educational program can be scheduled by arrangement. If a particular market, exhibition, or program is a deciding factor for your trip, check the relevant dates or make arrangements in advance.

Plan a Stay That Suits You

Upytė offers several distinct points of interest to help you choose how to plan your stay: the church built in 1878, the Independence monument with its annual commemoration on February 16, the hillfort next to the village, and the offerings of the craft center. The day of commemoration is an annual event; it is best to plan around markets, exhibitions, and educational programs arranged by agreement according to their respective dates.

Discover more destinations: Barklainiai I, Panevėžio seniūnija, Molainiai, Bernatoniai, Vynupė, Piniava, Daukniūnai, Žibartoniai

For the broader travel overview: Panevėžio rajono savivaldybė.