Sights along the route:
1. Kalniškės Hillfort. Pilalė, situated across from the town of Gargždai on the other side of the Minija Valley, marks the beginning of the town's history. Small-scale archaeological excavations conducted in 1998 confirmed that the hillfort is indeed the site of the Curonian castle of Gargždai mentioned in 1253. The castle's strength is evident in its impressive fortifications – a cascade of ramparts, deep ditches, and steep slopes that once provided formidable defence. The restored Kalniškė Hillfort is one of the most captivating tourist attractions in the Klaipėda district.
2. Gerduvėnai Hillfort. One of the most mysterious and lesser-known hillforts in the Klaipėda District. It is situated on the edge of the upland, on the left bank of the Gerdaujė River. The slopes are quite steep, making the hike to the hillfort a challenging journey for those determined to visit. Unlike most hillforts in the district, this one lacks clear defensive fortifications. However, you can still see the remnants of two ditches and a rampart between them, as well as a forework on the higher ground, which is also fortified with a small rampart and ditch.
3. Žvaginiai Hillfort. The Žvaginiai Hillfort is situated on the eastern edge of the district. It is easy to reach and locate, as it sits atop the highest, most prominent hill in the area. The hillfort is home to the Ablinga Memorial, standing as a testament to the tragic events of the final days of the war. It's a collection of 30 oak sculptures dedicated to the residents of Ablinga and Žvangiai who were executed by the Nazis on 23 June 1941. The only pieces of evidence that the hill is a hillfort are the remnants of the rampart on its eastern edge and the cultural layer containing rusted pottery and incense burners, discovered in 1972 by Mykolas Černiauskas (1912–2002).
4. Norgėliai Hillfort. The hillfort can be reached from the Stančaičiai-Mataičiai gravel road by following the directional arrows. The hillfort, situated on a highland promontory at the confluence of the Šalpalė and Vytautas rivers, can be accessed via dirt paths or on foot, depending on the season. It's hard to say which Baltic tribe owned the hillfort as it is located in a sparsely populated area between the Samogitian and Curonian territories. The outer slope of the hillfort leads down into a ditch, beyond which a second, smaller rampart is constructed. All of this suggests that a wooden castle once stood atop the hillfort and that the ancient settlement was likely located nearby.
5. Veiviržėnai Hillfort. The hillfort on the left bank of the Veiviržas River, directly opposite Veiviržėnai, is often regarded as the origin of the town of Veiviržėnai. It is the only hillfort in the district that features a fortified forework to the east of the hillfort. Its site is surrounded by a ditch on the upland side, with the remains of ramparts on the southern side. The Veiviržėnai Hillfort was explored in 1905 by Liudvikas Kšivickis, who recorded a 45-centimetre-thick cultural layer on the site, providing evidence of its historical significance. It should date from the 1st millennium, the 13th century at the latest.
6. Vyskūpiškiai Hillfort. The Vyskūpiškiai Hillfort, located on the right bank of the Veiviržas River, is accessible via the Veiviržėnai-Pėžaičiai highway. It's situated on a promontory at the confluence of the Veiviržas and Juodupis rivers. The main site of the hillfort remains today on the left bank of the Juodupis River. On a separate hill on the right bank of the Juodupis River, the western edge of the hillfort site has been preserved, with the upper part of the 3-metre-high slopes built upon. According to the research, the site contains a cultural layer up to half a metre thick, with rough pottery, iron slags, and a posthole. The size of the hillfort, the small man-made fortifications, and the archaeological findings indicate a fortified settlement at the end of the 1st millennium or the beginning of the second millennium.
7. Mockaičiai Hillfort. On the left bank of the Veiviržas River, at its confluence with the Kuisis River, is the Mockaičiai Hillfort. The hillfort can be reached from the Aisėnai-Švėkšna gravel road in Mikužiai by turning left and following the arrows. The hillfort has not been explored and dates back to the 1st millennium to the 13th century. This period of its existence is confirmed by an ancient burial mound located 300 metres northeast of the hillfort, which, according to random finds, dates back to the 2nd to 12th centuries. The best view of the hillfort is from the northern side, where its distinct outline emerges beautifully through the tree trunks.
8. Skomantai Hillfort. Just west of Skomantai village, along the right bank of the Veiviržas River and on the road to Švėkšna, you'll find one of the most stunning hillforts along the coast. This archaeological monument, also known as Raguva, is one of the most impressive and well-fortified hillforts in Lithuania. The hillfort located on the right bank of the Veiviržas promontory is vast in size. On the upland side, the hillfort is encircled by a rampart, with an extra layer of defence provided by two ditches and a rampart between them on the outer side. The eastern edge of the site used to be reinforced with a rampart, along with smaller fortifications along the slope. In the upper part of the hillfort, an obelisk stands as a tribute to the unification of Lithuania Major and Lithuania Minor.
9. Dovilai Hillfort. Tucked away in the Hillfort Forest on the right bank of the Minija River, the Dovilai Hillfort can only be discovered by carefully following the road signs starting from the Dovilai settlement. The hillfort site stretches across high ground, long and narrow, with ramparts marking its ends. The slopes are gently slanted, rising about 9 metres in height. At the end of 1944, the hillfort became part of the Klaipėda defence system. A trench was dug along the eastern edge, concrete bullet-trapping structures – known as Koch's bunkers – were added to the ramparts, and an anti-tank ditch, accompanied by a rampart, was placed along the slopes.
10. Laistai Hillfort. The circular site is encircled by a rampart on nearly every side. The rampart is absent only on the western edge of the site, where the steep slope drops down into the ravine. On the outer side of the large rampart, smaller rampart dykes with ditches in between were also present, along with a significant foothill settlement located farther away. The hillfort remains largely unexplored by archaeologists, with at least five distinct layers identified in 1998 alone within the large rampart. These layers offer a glimpse into the hillfort's history, stretching back to 1253 when the Laistai castle once stood on this site.
11. Eketė Hillfort. The Eketė Hillfort, the largest in Klaipėda District, is most easily accessed from the Klaipėda-Palanga highway. Simply drive or walk along the dirt roads on the left bank of the Danė River for 3.5 kilometres to reach it. The hillfort features an irregular square shape, with a semicircular rampart surrounding it on the northern side. At the outer base of the rampart, remnants of a second smaller rampart can be seen. According to 1972 research, three additional small ramparts were constructed behind it, with ditches dug between them. The site was safeguarded from the Eketė Stream by steep slopes and a small rampart along its edge.
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