Discover Ukmergė: History, Culture and Riverside Routes

Ukmergė combines urban cultural heritage with routes along the river and through green spaces. When planning your trip, you can focus on different things: the history of the Old Town, the exhibitions at the local history museum, walks or cycling routes, and the annual city festival. If you are looking for a hotel in Ukmergė, this selection can help you tailor your stay to your interests.

Castle Hill, Park and Views of the City

Ukmergės piliakalnis is in the city centre, on the right bank of the Šventoji and the left bank of the Vilkmergės upelis. The medieval castle site dates from the 14th century to the middle of the 15th century. Vilkmergės pilis has been mentioned since 1333 and was an important defensive site. An illuminated serpentine path made of a metal structure runs along the castle hill; it has been adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Pilies Park is also located on the castle hill. A masonry castle fortress was built there in the 15th century. Today, the park features renovated walking paths, a landscaped playground and outdoor musical instruments. Three illuminated viewpoints offer views of Ukmergė. This spot thus brings together the history of the castle hill and a landscaped park with views.

Old Town and Architectural History

The Old Town of Ukmergė is a well-preserved urban monument dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Numerous characteristic buildings from this period shape its historic character. The city’s religious buildings include the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1868: the brick building is designed in the Neo-Byzantine style and is now used as a Catholic church. The Church of St. Peter and Paul, in turn, combines neoclassical, neoromantic and neo-baroque architectural elements.

Ukmergė’s history also includes the former Great Synagogue, which was an important spiritual, cultural and community centre. It was first mentioned in 1721; the Kahal and synagogue were presumably already in operation from the late 17th century. From 1851, the synagogue was converted into a masonry building with interconnected Baroque and Classicist design elements. The different dates illustrate the distinction between a documented mention and a historical conjecture.

Distinctive architectural and design details can also be found in the public cityscape. The hands of the town clock are illuminated, along with stainless-steel symbols of Baltic gods that represent the hours in the design. This makes the clock visible after dark as well. The old fire station tower is 18 metres high and dates from the beginning of the ninth decade of the 19th century.

Museum and Miniature Park

The Ukmergės kraštotyros muziejus local history museum presents a chronology of regional history. Its exhibits cover natural history, archaeology, history and ethnography, written culture, and art. The museum was officially opened on 6 May 1944. Its permanent exhibitions were renewed in 2021; individual exhibitions may change.

The “Mini Lietuva” miniature park offers a different perspective on culture and architecture. It features carefully reproduced miniatures of important Lithuanian architectural and cultural landmarks and invites visitors to discover all of Lithuania in a day. The 1.65-hectare site was once a military settlement. The facilities described there include paths, benches, sports facilities and children’s playgrounds.

Riverside and Forest Routes

The Podolės Kameneco takas is an 800-metre illuminated cycling and walking path along the Šventoji between Vilniaus and Jono Basanavičiaus streets. The path has a water point, benches and a children’s playground. The stated lengths offer a concrete basis for comparing the routes: Mirabelių takas is a one-kilometre walking path on the right bank of the Šventoji with access to the river. It also has a children’s playground, rest areas and picnic spots.

At Pivonijos šilo sveikatingumo takas, there are two wide circular routes with natural surfaces to choose from: one is 1.65 kilometres long, the other 1.80 kilometres. The routes are suitable for sports activities, cycling and leisurely walks; there is also a bench in the shade of the trees where you can rest. The three routes described thus differ both in length and in the activities mentioned: from an illuminated cycling and walking path to a riverside route and circular forest trails.

Annual City Festival

Ukmergė’s city festival is held annually to celebrate the city’s birthday. The festival includes costumed processions, concerts, sports competitions, other events and entertainment, as well as a craft market. The programme varies from year to year. If you would like to time your trip to coincide with the festival, check the dates for your preferred period.

Discover more destinations: Taujėnai, Lėnas.

Return to the main travel overview: Ukmergė District Municipality.