The Way of St. James, section Jurbarkas-Raudonė

SECTION DESCRIPTION:

From Jurbarkas, follow the Paradise Road, and you will arrive in Skirsnemunė. At first glance, Skirsnemunė appears to be a quiet settlement. You'll find the brick St. George's Church, a chapel, a wooden Evangelical Lutheran Church, a museum, Jurgis Baltrušaitis Primary School (which also houses a local history museum), a library, and a branch of the Jurbarkas Cultural Centre. As you pass by, you can wave hello to the friendly Nemunas alpacas. You will then pass through the Šilinė Botanical Reserve. This extraordinary corner of nature can be found in the Ąžuolynė Forest, near the Panemuniai Regional Park Visitor Centre. There's a nature trail designed to introduce visitors to the treasures of the botanical reserve in their natural habitat. The Šilinė Botanical Reserve is made up of several distinct complexes of natural vegetation, shaped by varying soil, irrigation, and topographical conditions. The botanical reserve is home to a multitude of rare plants, including owl-head clover, stagger weed, and crow garlic. It's also home to Red Book birds such as the common merganser and Eurasian hoopoe, as well as mammals like the stoat and rare species of bats. The Šilinė Nature Trail offers visitors the chance to explore rare plants and animals, as well as medicinal and edible plants found within the botanical reserve. The trail has nine information boards, each offering a wealth of fascinating details. After passing the Šilinė Botanical Reserve, you will arrive at the Panemuniai Regional Park Visitor Centre. The Centre is not only interesting for its unique location in the former Šilinė tavern, but also for its exhibition, The Nemunas River and the Life along its Banks. This display showcases the nature, culture, and traditional industries of the Panemuniai inhabitants. The team at the Panemuniai Regional Park Visitor Centre also hosts educational activities designed to inspire a deep appreciation for nature, ensuring that people of all ages are left truly captivated. At this unique visitor centre, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the plants and animals of the Nemunas River and its valley, and even hear their captivating calls, learn about fishing, shipping, seafaring, and shipbuilding – all of them traditional trades on the banks of the Nemunas River.

Continue your journey towards the town of Pilis I, where you’ll encounter the timeless and historic Panemunė Castle. A true gem of the Jurbarkas region, this renowned landmark is one of the area's most beloved tourist attractions. Panemunė Castle boasts not only stunning scenery but also remarkable beauty in both its exterior and interior. The construction of Panemunė Castle, located on the right bank of the Nemunas River, began in 1604. After extensive reconstruction, the castle is now open and ready to welcome visitors. The castle stands proudly amidst a historic park, enhanced by five enchanting cascading ponds. The castle walls hold a wealth of tales, both dark and romantic, as countless Lithuanian noble families once called this place home. The castle’s captivating beauty and its rich stories will leave a lasting impression on every traveller. And to top it off, the annual exhibitions hosted by the Lithuanian Academy of Arts add an extra layer of allure!

After exploring the splendour of Panemunė Castle, you’ll journey on past the historic Kartupėnai Hillfort. This hillfort, located beside the Jurbarkas-Kaunas road, is also referred to as Kiaukalnis or Sargutis. Nestled on a highland promontory, it sits at the confluence of the right bank of the Nemunas River and the left bank of the Kartupis River. To the west and north, it is bordered by the Kartupis stream, while to the south, it overlooks the expansive Nemunas valley. The slopes of the hillfort are steep, rising 20 metres in height. Some historians link this hillfort to the legendary Bisenė Castle, known as the first Lithuanian castle to fall victim to the aggression of the Teutonic Order. Much like the hillfort's fascinating history, the current view is truly one-of-a-kind. We can confidently say that the view from this hillfort is absolutely breathtaking. Climb the Kartupėnai Hillfort and count the steps as you ascend.

After descending from Kartupėnai Hillfort, follow the footpath towards Vencloviškiai, continuing until you reach the charming village of Raudonėnai. Just a short distance beyond Raudonėnai, you will arrive in the quaint town of Raudonė. Before you even enter the town, the Hare's Yard (Lith. Zuikio Kiemas) on the opposite side of the road will greet you with a cheerful welcome. Finally, at the heart of the town, you'll find the majestic Raudonė Castle.  Here, you can explore natural monuments such as the 200-year-old chestnut tree, alongside the venerable Raudonė linden tree and the black poplar. The castle has endured several fires. It has changed hands. Yet, its beauty has adorned the town of Raudonė for over 400 years. You can also ascend the 33.5-metre-high castle tower. Upon reaching the top, the view is truly breathtaking, offering a panoramic sight of the tiniest bends of the Nemunas River, grand castle hillforts, and tree-lined avenues all in a single gaze. The castle hosts a diverse array of activities for all to enjoy. Children can delight in a fun train ride, savour tasty snacks, try their hand at archery, and enjoy horse riding. When you're in this enchanting place, it’s hard not to be swept away by the romantic tales hidden within the castle’s walls, like the passionate love story between Princess Balanda and the castle prisoner, José Carlos de Faria e Castro, as well as the intriguing lives of the other former masters.

The Raudonė Mill is also well worth a visit. Raudonė is first mentioned in 1717 as having not only a castle but also an inn and a mill. It is believed that the mill was established around 1860, as a drawing by Napoleon Orda from 1875-1876 depicts a corner of the building. This suggests that the walls of the mill were already constructed, but it is unlikely to have been fully completed, as the castle itself was still unfinished at that time. The interior of the mill is believed to date from after 1877. After World War I, the building was used as a residence, housing the horses, carriages, and carts of José Carlos de Faria e Castro, while some rooms were used for storing crops. This latter detail has also been noted by Jonas Stirbys, a local resident who spent his childhood in Raudonė. Later archival documents confirm that the building was not originally intended to function as a mill. The Raudonė Mill was established in 1924, with the distillery being set up in the same building the year before, in 1923. The building's original purpose was to serve as quarters for servants and outbuildings, rather than a mill. In the post-war years, the building housed a state-owned mill and a sawmill. Today, the Raudonė Mill welcomes visitors, who can admire the well-preserved German Gebr. Seck-Dresden machinery.

We suggest concluding this chapter of extraordinary beauty right here. You will be warmly accommodated in an agritourism homestead, situated just a stone’s throw from Raudonė Castle.

USEFUL LINKS:

• Jurbarkas Tourism and Business Information Centre www.jurbarkas.info

PILIGRIM ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Note: The table only lists the locations accommodating pilgrims.