Lithuania
There are spectacular views of Mol臈tai鈥檚 lake-studded landscape and the stars above from the Mol臈tai Astronomical Observatory on Kaldiniai Hill (193m). The observatory boasts northern Europe鈥檚 largest telescope; visits must be booked in advance online or by phone.
To visit the observatory, catch a bus from Mol臈tai to Utena, ask to be let off at the 鈥榚tnokosmologijos muziejus鈥 turn-off (signposted 10km north of town) and follow the road to the right for another 4km.
Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum
0.12 MILES
This unusual museum explores the cosmos鈥檚 connection to cultural ideas of hell, heaven and earth in its bubble-shaped exhibition centre. Dwarfing it are鈥
23.33 MILES
Housed in Anyk拧膷iai鈥檚 old station, a couple of kilometres outside the town, this fun museum gives visitors the chance to ride on manual rail cars, a鈥
23.01 MILES
A pine forest 10km south of Anyk拧膷iai contains the Puntakas Stone (Puntuko akmuo), a boulder 5.7m tall, 6.7m wide and 6.9m long, which legend says was put鈥
25.66 MILES
Horse lovers 鈥 and kids 鈥 will want to make the journey 6km north to Lithuania鈥檚 only horse museum, in the tiny village of Ni奴ronys. Set out as a鈥
16.36 MILES
Stripeikiai鈥檚 Ancient Beekeeping Museum spins the story of beekeeping through a merry collection of carved wooden statues, historic log and straw hives鈥
17.68 MILES
This 19th-century mill in Ginu膷iai retains its original mechanism, and you can poke around its interior and check out the ye olde farming equipment in the鈥
22.83 MILES
Accessed via the village that bears the same name, this protected wildlife refuge may only be visited with park guides from the Auk拧taitija National Park鈥
19.78 MILES
Accessed from near its namesake village, this nature reserve is only accessible with trained guides. Organise them via the Auk拧taitija National Park鈥
1. Lithuanian Ethnocosmology Museum
0.12 MILES
This unusual museum explores the cosmos鈥檚 connection to cultural ideas of hell, heaven and earth in its bubble-shaped exhibition centre. Dwarfing it are鈥
15.8 MILES
Popular with canoeists, this is the deepest lake in the Auk拧taitija National Park (60.5m deep).
3. Museum of Ancient Beekeeping
16.36 MILES
Stripeikiai鈥檚 Ancient Beekeeping Museum spins the story of beekeeping through a merry collection of carved wooden statues, historic log and straw hives鈥
17.21 MILES
Take the footpath to the top of the 155m Ice Hill (Ladakalnis), to view a watery panorama of some seven lakes.
17.68 MILES
This 19th-century mill in Ginu膷iai retains its original mechanism, and you can poke around its interior and check out the ye olde farming equipment in the鈥
19.18 MILES
This is one of the most impressive lakes in Auk拧taitija National Park, fringed by pine forest and speckled with islands. White-tailed and golden eagles鈥
7. Traini拧kis Wildlife Sanctuary
19.78 MILES
Accessed from near its namesake village, this nature reserve is only accessible with trained guides. Organise them via the Auk拧taitija National Park鈥
22.83 MILES
Accessed via the village that bears the same name, this protected wildlife refuge may only be visited with park guides from the Auk拧taitija National Park鈥