The Way of St. James, section Plateliai-Plungė

SECTION DESCRIPTION:

From Plateliai to Beržoras, you'll follow a cycling path for approximately 2 km. On your way, be sure to visit and climb the 15-meter-high Siberija Observation Tower, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Plateliai and Beržoras. Beržoras is an ancient village stretching along the high street that has preserved its traditional landscape and is also notable for its captivating sacral architecture. Beržoras is home to the Church of St. Stanislaus, built in 1746. This church is one of the most valuable wooden churches in Lithuania, renowned for its exceptional architectural and artistic significance. Between 1759 and 1760, 14 wooden chapels of the Stations of the Cross – part of the Stations of the Calvary – were constructed in Beržoras. Although they were demolished in the early 1970s, they have since been rebuilt. The village is rich in restored or preserved chapels, crosses, and wayside shrines.

From the Church of St. Bishop Stanislaus, continue straight along Gaso g. and then Stirbaičių g. When Stirbaičių g. forks, turn left onto Bajorų g. Follow the signs for the Way of St. James along Alsėdžių g., passing Lake Ilgis, until you reach Malūnas g. Turn right and continue along the cycling path. On your right, you will come across the Babrungėnai Watermill, located on the banks of the Babrungas River. It was built by Count Choiseul of Plateliai (1796-1816). It's hard to believe, but the walls of the Babrungėnai Watermill are up to 2 meters thick. According to legend, a serf was even bricked into one of the walls as punishment for his crime. Today, the watermill houses the Leonardas Černiauskas Art Gallery - Workshop (tel. +370 685 69566). After walking approximately 500 meters along Malūno g., turn right onto Platelių g. Follow the gravel road straight ahead, passing through Babrungėnai and Žvirblaičiai, all the way to the main A11 road. Cross the A11 road straight ahead and continue along Platelių g. until you reach Žemaitijos g. Turn right and follow this street straight ahead until you arrive at the Plungė Tourist Information Centre, located at Dariaus ir Girėno g. 27.

If you're still full of energy upon reaching Plungė, we recommend taking a walk to explore the city that same day, or saving the adventure for the next day. The highlight of Plungė is the magnificent palace ensemble, built and consecrated by Duke M. Ogiński in 1879. It seamlessly blends into the charming mixed-style park, created on the site of a natural forest and enhanced by two picturesque ponds. The architectural centrepiece of the ensemble is the Italian Neo-Renaissance palace, complemented by two outbuildings and a German Neo-Gothic horse stable, adding to the grandeur of the estate. The palace, designed by German architect Karl Lorenz, became the home of the Samogitian Art Museum in 1994, showcasing the region's rich artistic heritage. The oldest surviving estate building, and possibly the town's oldest brick building, is the manor built by the Counts Zubov. It was once used by M. Ogiński as a gardener's dwelling and orangery. The first floor was occupied by a gardener, while the second floor housed a clockmaker who maintained the clock with its unique anchor mechanism. It now serves as the home of the Plungė District Municipal Public Library. The 58.3-hectare park of the manor is home to one of Lithuania's oldest and largest oak trees – the Perkūnas Oak, as well as the legendary Weeping Linden. The park features a monument to the composer M. K. Čiurlionis, who played, studied, and began his first creative endeavours in Plungė at the music and orchestra school founded by Duke M. Ogiński. Take a stroll to Laisvės Avenue and the charming Old Town Square.

Plungė boasts three notable sites marked with the St. James sign. It's the Church of St. John the Baptist – one of Lithuania's largest churches, stretching an impressive 75 metres in length. The construction of the church in Plungė started in 1902 and took place intermittently until 1933, spanning a remarkable 31 years. The bell tower, located next to the churchyard fence, was built in 1850 with funding from Count P. Zubov and the parishioners of Plungė. Adjacent to the church stands the old parsonage, featuring a memorial plaque with bas-reliefs of M. K. Čiurlionis and S. Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė (crafted by V. Juzikėnas), along with the inscription, "The home of M. K. Čiurlionis and Sof. Čiurlionienė-Kymantaitė in 1909." Pastor Vincentas Jarulaitis, being Sofija Kymantaitė's uncle, offered his living room to Sofija and Mykolas Konstantinas Čiurlionis for a few months after they got married. It was the most creative time of their lives. Another "shell" is located on the wall of the Chapel of St. John the Baptist in the Old Cemetery of Plungė, also referred to as the Chapel of All Saints or the Chapel of the Zubovs. According to the older residents of Plungė, the Romanesque Classical brick chapel was constructed in 1858 by local craftsmen, funded by Count Zubov and the parishioners. If you continue straight along Birutės g. from the old cemetery, you'll come across the third "shell," located near the Lourdes of Plungė. We owe the Lourdes of Plungė to Maria Skurzewska-Ogiński, the wife of the Plungė governor, M. Ogiński. With the 5,000 roubles donated by Mrs Ogiński, Priest V. Jarulaitis purchased a 2-hectare plot near Babrungas. In 1905, S. Zakževska brought a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Paris, which was donated to the Lourdes of Plungė. The statue was placed on a stone in the open air on 30 October 1905, and 1906 marked the beginning of making a cave on a river cliff. It's worth noting that the stones used to build the grottoes were typically gathered from nearby villages or fields. The Lourdes of Plungė even features a unique stone set on the left side of the grotto. This stone is called the Cow's Hoof (Lith. Karvės pėda). There are many different stories surrounding it. Locals in Plungė used to claim that Lourdes was haunted at night, with eerie blue flames glowing from its direction.

USEFUL LINKS:

•     Plungė Tourism Information Centre www.visitplunge.lt

PILIGRIM ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Note: The table only lists the locations accommodating pilgrims.