SECTION DESCRIPTION:
After resting in Švėkšna, make sure to stock up on food and water for the next leg of your journey. You can purchase supplies in the local shops, enjoy a snack at the cafés, and if you need any medical supplies, there is also a pharmacy. Take a moment to admire the over 150-year-old Švėkšna Evangelical Lutheran Church, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Ervinas in 2005 but was swiftly restored.
In the village of Vilkėnas I, located on the southern side of Švėkšna, about 2 km from the centre, along the sharp bend of the road from Žemaičių Naumiestis to Gardamas and Švėkšna, you'll arrive directly at the Švėkšna parish cemetery (Vilkėnas Cemetery), situated on the left bank of the Švėkšnalė River. As soon as you enter the cemetery gates, you'll be greeted by a striking and expansive view of the cemetery. On the right side of the cemetery stands the mausoleum, housing the coffins of the renowned Counts Plater of Vilkėnas Manor; other members of the family are also buried in the cemetery. In the older section of the cemetery, you'll find a wooden chapel built at the end of the 18th century. On the gravel road towards Gardamas, near the village of Žakainiai, you’ll find an opportunity to stop and visit the Žakainiai Hillfort, located on the right-hand side of the forest.
On the Švėkšna-Gardamas-Žemaičių Naumiestis road, you'll find a memorial stone marking the presumed birthplace of Martynas Mažvydas, the author of the first Lithuanian book.
Once you arrive in the town of Gardamas, you can stock up on food supplies at the local shop. The town is renowned not only for its beautiful surroundings and the scenic Tenenis slopes but also for the Church of St. Roch and Lourdes. The church is beautifully perched on a hill, featuring a rectangular layout with a single tower and an apse. The church tower features a clock on its front side. Its face glows at night. In the early 20th century, on a hillside near the Church of St. Roch, the miraculous Lourdes was constructed, with various stories and legends told about it. Some say that Mary appeared at the site, while others tell of a man who, despite having no faith in God, witnessed the healing of his child and, and later built the Lourdes as a sign of gratitude. On the right side of Lourdes, stone steps lead up to the church. There are 14 steps, corresponding to the same number of stations on the Way of Suffering. Elderly locals say that anyone who climbs those stairs "passes the stations."
Continue towards Šyliai, taking in the stunning landscape of the area, until you reach the Adomavas region in the Šilalė district.
USEFUL LINKS:
- Šilutė Tourism Information Centre http://siluteinfo.lt
- Šilalė Tourism Information Centre http://silalesmuziejus.lt
PILIGRIM ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
Note: The table only lists the locations accommodating pilgrims.
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