Lazdijai District Municipality shows its scenic side particularly clearly at Lakes Dusia and Metelys. In Metelių Regional Park, lakeshores, trails and nature come together. Those interested in the region can explore it in different ways: cycling on marked routes, educational walking trails, water sports on Lake Dusia and cultural activities at the museum.
Lakeside landscape and habitat
Metelių Regional Park is a landscape park in the basin of the large lakes of southern Lithuania. Lakes Dusia and Metelys have gently sloping shores and sandy beaches. One of the park’s distinctive features is the European pond turtle: it lives here, is protected in Europe and is also considered a symbol of the park. The lakes therefore represent not only a characteristic landscape but also a special habitat.
The visitor centre for Metelių Regional Park is on the southern shore of Lake Dusia. It offers activities for children and adults. The visitor centre thus adds a place where different age groups can find activities to the experience of the lakes.
Exploring by bike or on foot
Marked cycling routes around Lakes Dusia and Metelys run through the park. There are also two purpose-built educational walking trails. Cycling and walking therefore offer two different ways to explore the lakeside landscape: the cycling routes go around both lakes, while the walking trails are designed as educational activities. No information on trail lengths is available here, so the routes can be distinguished primarily by the type of activity described.
Guided tours and educational activities are also part of the programme at Metelių Regional Park. Park administration specialists lead them by prior reservation. If you are interested in one of these tours or educational activities, making a reservation is therefore part of the planning.
Water sports on Lake Dusia
Lake Dusia offers another perspective: it is often visited by windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts. This interest in water sports relates to Lake Dusia; the marked cycling routes, by contrast, run around Lakes Dusia and Metelys. The activities described therefore differ both in type and in the lake they relate to.
Crafts and culture in Lazdijai
At the Lazdijai Regional Museum, you can learn to make paper by hand and pour a candle from wax. Both activities involve hands-on making, but use different materials and crafts. They complement the nature and activity options with a cultural experience focused on the process of making something.
Another cultural theme leads to the hill forts of the Lazdijai region. The relevant directory lists Rudaminos piliakalnis su gyvenviete, Prelomčiškės piliakalnis su gyvenviete and Papalazdijų piliakalnis su gyvenviete. The Lithuanian name suffix “su gyvenviete” refers to the connection with a settlement. These three entries give your choice of destinations a historical dimension, distinct in nature from the hands-on activities at the museum.
Different perspectives on the region
The activities appeal to different interests: the lakes and the European pond turtle’s habitat shape the nature experience, the cycling and walking trails offer ways to get active, and Lake Dusia is associated with windsurfing and kitesurfing. The museum and hill fort directory add crafts and culture to these highlights. This means you can get to know Lazdijai District Municipality not only through its landscape but also through its educational and cultural activities.
Discover more destinations: Bertasiunai, Veisiejai, Krosna, Meteliai, Kapčiamiestis, Alytus District Municipality, Druskininkai Municipality, Varėna District Municipality.
Go to the broader travel overview: Alytus County.
