The Way of Saint James pilgrimage route across Alytus
The Way of Saint James is a 500-kilometre modern pilgrimage route running across Lithuania and joining the European international network of Saint James pilgrim trails. The starting point is near Latvia-Lithuania border, from where the route extends across the counties of Šiauliai, Kaunas and Alytus and reaches Poland, where it merges into the Way of Saint James in Poland.
Punia–Alytus (29.6 km)
Walking trip length ~7.5 hrs
Route: Punia–Paliepiai–Raižiai–Tabalenka–Radvilonys–Bazorai–Karkliniškės–Takniškiai–Alytus
On the right bank of the river Nemunas, in Nemunas Loops Regional Park, a beautiful Punia town is situated. Punia in the written sources was mentioned for the first time in 1382. The Saint James the Apostle Church built in 1863 adorns the streets of this town. If you go on a trip from Punia to Alytus, in Punia, you may want to visit Punia Hill-fort, St George’s Chapel. Upon departure fromunia, you must provide yourselves with the water and snacks supplies to consume before you reach Alytus. In Raižiai, your attention will be attracted by a wooden mosque, a monument to Vytautas the Great, sundials (showing the local time and time on the fields of Grunwald). In Alytus, you will have an opportunity to visit St Louis’s Church, archaeological exposition of Alytus Regional Museum, the historical square of Alytus I, Alytus Hill-fort, the highest in Lithuania bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. At Alytus Tourism Information Centre, you will be able to obtain a Pilgrim’s Passport to travel on the Way of Saint James, will learn about this land, sightseeing places, places to sleep, catering facilities and buy lots of souvenirs.
Alytus – Miroslavas (23.4 km)
Walking trip length ~6 hrs
Route: Alytus–“Tarzanija”–Radžiūnai–Norūnai–Volungė–Bendrės–Miroslavas
Alytus is the largest city in South Lithuania. It is a location well-known for its sport tourism attractions. In the written sources for the first time it was mentioned in 1377. On June 15th 1581, Magdeburg rights were granted to the city. If you take a trip from Alytus to Miroslavas, you may want to see the Angel of Freedom Monument in Alytus, as well as the memorial “Relented Bell”, City Garden, where 55 types of different trees grow, enjoy the cognitive trail of Vidzgiris botanical reserve, visit the Holocaust Memorial, climb Radžiūnai mound, participate in entertainment programme in “Tarzanija” adventure park, relax tasting Dzūkian dishes at “Dzūkijos dvaras” (Dzūkija Mansion) in the village of Radžiūnai, admire Olakalnis with the Chapel in Bendrės village and The Church of the Holy Trinity in Miroslavas.
Miroslavas–Meteliai (22.3 km)
Walking trip length ~6 hrs
Route: Miroslavas–Arciškonys–Mociškėnai–Obelninkai–Papėčiai–Meteliai
Miroslavas used to be mentioned from the end of the 17th century, it belonged to Bendrės Mansion of king’s table economy of Alytus. The town has a triangle-shaped square survived in the centre of the town, where markets and trading sessions used to take place. The Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1929 as the previous one was blown up in World War I, adorns the streets of the town. Miroslavas today – the centre for eldership and neighbourhood. If you go sightseeing from Miroslavas to Meteliai, you may want to visit the Church of the Holy Trinity in Miroslavas, go and see Papėčiai mound and visit another church – Meteliai Church of Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, a church with classical appearance with some Neo-Baroque features, as well as archaeological monuments of local value in Meteliai Regional Park, to climb the Meteliai Observation Tower and enjoy the view of Dusia and Meteliai lakes.
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