Plateliai

A picturesque lakeside village at the heart of Žemaitija National Park, known for its wooden manor estate and famous Samogitian Shrovetide (Užgavėnės) mask traditions. It offers swimming, sailing and access to islands on Lithuania's deepest scenic lake.

Things to do

• Sail or swim in Lake Plateliai — Rent a boat or take a dip in Lithuania's deepest and one of its clearest scenic lakes, dotted with seven islands.
• Visit the Žemaitija National Park Visitor Centre — Learn about the park's forests, lake ecology and hiking routes before exploring the surrounding trails.
• See the Užgavėnės mask collection — Explore the famous carved wooden Shrovetide masks displayed at the old manor stable that celebrate Samogitian carnival traditions.
• Walk the Plateliai Manor Park — Stroll the historic wooden manor estate grounds and see the ancient oaks along the lakeshore.
• Explore the Plokštinė former Soviet missile base — Tour the Cold War Museum set in an underground nuclear missile silo hidden in the park's forest.
• Cycle the lakeside and forest trails — Follow marked routes around the lake and through Žemaitija's woods to hidden villages and viewpoints.
• Visit St. Peter and St. Paul Church — See the wooden village church that anchors Plateliai's religious and community life.

Food to try

• Kastinys — A traditional whipped Samogitian butter-and-sour-cream spread, eaten with hot boiled potatoes.
• Cepelinai — Hearty potato dumplings stuffed with meat and served with sour cream and crackling.
• Šiupinys — A thick Samogitian Shrovetide stew of peas, beans, barley and pork traditionally eaten during Užgavėnės.
• Smoked lake fish — Locally caught fish from Lake Plateliai, smoked or fried and sold near the shore.
• Kūčiukai and dark rye bread — Sample dense Lithuanian rye bread and small poppy-seed pastries from village bakeries.

Local customs & good to know

• Time your visit for Užgavėnės — Plateliai is a heartland of the masked Shrovetide carnival held in late winter, with parades, the burning of Morė and pancake feasts.
• Respect the national park rules — Camping, fires and boating are only allowed in designated areas within Žemaitija National Park to protect the fragile lake environment.
• Learn a little Samogitian — Locals take pride in the Žemaitian dialect, which differs notably from standard Lithuanian, so a friendly greeting is appreciated.
• Bring cash for small vendors — Rural cafés, craft sellers and boat rentals may not always accept cards, so carry some euros.

Nearby

• Žemaitija National Park — 6 km
• Plokštinė Cold War Museum — 7 km
• Žemaičių Kalvarija — 11 km
• Orvydas Garden — 13 km