The best walks and hikes in Panemunių Regioninis Parkas

The Nemunas is the longest river in Lithuania . Its total length is 937 km, 359 km of which flows within Lithuania. The remaining part flows through Belarus (462 km) and borders Lithuania's border with Belarus (17.3 km) and the Russian Kaliningrad Oblast (98.7 km). The Nemunas basin area is 98,200 km², of which 46,600 km² are in Lithuania covering 72% of Lithuania's territory.

In the second half of the 19th century, Vilkija was home to the Litvak Karnowskis family – the future adoptive parents of jazz legend Louis Armstrong. At the end of the century, the Karnovskis left for the United States and settled in New York. When the family moved to New Orleans in the early 20th century, a fateful meeting with little Louis took place. An event square was opened in Vilkija in 2021 to commemorate jazz legend Louis Armstrong and his adoptive parents, the Karnowskis. The square is equipped with music players playing 13 of his most popular songs.

Florian (Latin: Florianus; AD 250 – c. 304) was a Christian holy man and the patron saint of chimney sweeps, soapmakers, and firefighters. His feast day is 4 May. Florian is also the patron saint of Poland; the city of Linz, Austria; and Upper Austria, jointly with Leopold III, Margrave of Austria. Florian was adopted as patron saint of Poland in 1184, when Pope Lucius III consented to the request of Prince Casimir II to send relics of Florian to that country. Kraków thus claims some of his relics. Thus Florian also became important to Lithuania, ever since the Krewo Agreement of 1385 (Polish–Lithuanian union) and the subsequent marriage of Queen Jadwiga of Poland to Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania. Jogaila was a lifelong pagan and vowed to adopt Catholicism upon marriage by signing the Union of Krewo on 14 August 1385. The Act imposed Christianity in Lithuania and transformed Poland into a diarchy, a kingdom ruled over by two sovereigns; their descendants and successive monarchs held the titles of king and grand duke respectively.

It seems that the ferry crosses as soon as people/cars arrive, from May to October.

TURN LEFT AFTER CHURCH AND HAVE GREAT VIEWS AND CALM ROADS BY THE RIVER :)

The wooden church was built in 1923. In 2012 May 9 the church was destroyed by fire In 2015 September the newly built church was consecrated. A heart-shaped stone found under the foundations of the burned-out old church was transformed into a stylized stone bowl, which was placed in the revived sanctuary (right side) and used for baptism.

A poplar tree growing in the village of Paštuva reminds of the difficult times of serfdom. Ignas Karpis, the owner of the Paštuva manor who lived in 18th-19th centuries, fell in love with his serf Marta. After he went abroad, on the eve of his return, the landlord's sister Jadvyga ordered several serfs to be whipped, including her brother's lover, "to save the family's honor". When Karpis returned, he did not find his beloved alive and ordered to plant the whips used to beat the serfs - one took root and a poplar tree grew. Landlord Karpis was the first to abolish serfdom in his estates in Lithuania and freed 700 serfs. in 2011 the poplar was damaged by lightning.