Radviliškis District Municipality: Hillforts, Museums and Cultural Heritage

Archaeological sites, historic buildings and museums give Radviliškis District Municipality a diverse cultural character. The hillforts span widely separated periods: Kudinų Hillfort, also known as Šiaulės Hill, is located in the village of Kudinų and dates to the 2nd to 1st millennium BC. Diauderių Hillfort is also known as Baisogala Hillfort and Šatrija; it likewise dates from the 2nd to the 1st millennium BC. Raginėnų Hillfort, also known as Witches’ Hill, is located in the Daugyvenė Culture-History Museum-Reserve near Raginėnų and dates from the 1st millennium to the beginning of the 2nd millennium.

Hillforts and getting around

The described route to Kudinų Hillfort follows the Šiaulėnai–Lenartuva road. At Viliošiai, turn off 100 metres past the forest entrance. First, cross the pond embankment, then continue for another 1.3 kilometres along a forest track. Diauderių Hillfort is near Diauderių, on the left bank of the Serbentynė (Kiršinas) stream, or the present-day pond. From the Baisogala–Grinkiškis road, turn off at Biliūnai towards Augmėnai and continue for 750 metres. After the Serbentynė stream, take another turn; the track crosses fields for a further 450 metres to the slope. Check current local conditions for the described routes before setting out.

Museums and historic ensembles

The Kleboniškiai Village Household Museum covers 18 hectares in the Daugyvenė Valley near Kleboniškių. Its grounds include relocated village buildings typical of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The programme includes exhibitions and educational activities, as well as evening events, barn theatre, folk music, crafts and Užgavėnės celebrations. Check the specific event dates before your visit.

The Šeduva Jewish History Museum “Lost Shtetl” is dedicated to the Jewish community of Šeduva in interwar Lithuania, as well as its culture, traditions and history. Finnish architect Rainer Mahlamäki designed the museum complex. The Šiaulėnai Regional Museum offers a different glimpse into everyday life: an authentic kitchen with a bread oven has been preserved there; meat used to be smoked in its chimney.

At Baisogala Manor, the central manor house, stables, coach house, kitchen, storehouse and mill have been preserved. The estate also includes a park with numerous exotic tree species. Baisogala is also home to a windmill whose design adds a distinctive architectural touch: it is three storeys high and octagonal, built of masonry, and has a conical, pyramid-shaped form with wraparound galleries.

Contemporary cultural venues are also part of the area’s character. Radviliškis City Culture and Recreation Park features sculptures from woodcarving symposia held in 2002, 2010 and 2011; it is also home to “Heroes’ Alley”. The V. Karmono Space Modelling Museum at Vaižganto Progymnasium displays rocket models by students of the Radviliškis Space Modelling Club and by Victor Karmonas.

Landscape, crafts and seasonal experiences

The Šiaulės observation tower is 21 metres high. Arimaičiai Lake has been an ornithological reserve since 1967. Valatkonių Stone, also known as Devil’s Stone, is located in Valatkonių Forest; it was added to the Lithuanian Cultural Heritage Register on 14 July 1998. These three places offer contrasting highlights: a structure, a protected area and registered cultural heritage.

Šeduva Stud in Raudondvaris welcomes experienced riders as well as people who are getting in the saddle for the first time. Horse lovers and visitors who simply want to see the horses are welcome too. In Valdeikiai, Sodyba “Molinė saulėgrąža” invites visitors to take photos in the sunflower field and visit the Museum of Ceramic Jugs. The two places offer quite different attractions: horses at one, sunflowers and ceramics at the other.

The “Tulip Bloom Festival” takes place every spring at Burbiškio Manor. Check the latest event dates when planning your trip. Those interested in hands-on culture can find educational activities at the Pakiršinis Crafts Centre in Pakiršinis Manor, including marbling, baking, folk music, linen carving, wooden tulips, pottery and candle-making. Check the current dates for these activities in advance.

Discover more destinations: Pociūnai, Pakruojis District Municipality, Šiauliai District Municipality, Kelmė District Municipality, Akmenė District Municipality, Joniškis District Municipality.

For the broader travel overview: Šiauliai County.