For a cultural introduction to Prienai District Municipality, Šilavoto Davatkynas and the Historic Paci Route offer two different starting points. Davatkynas focuses on the history of a religious community; the route leads to several named churches, museums, a monument and a watermill. You can explore local cultural themes according to your interests: through the story of a community or a series of different stops.
Šilavoto Davatkynas: Community, Care and Art
M. Dabrišiūtė settled at Šilavoto Davatkynas around 1895. Over a period of more than 100 years, 14 women lived there in an informal religious community; they were called “davatkėlės”. The women cared for the sick and supported the church. The history of the place thus connects community life with practical care.
Open-air painting is also among the themes associated with Davatkynas: the open-air painting gatherings organised there by the painter A. Vilpišauskas became a tradition. Alongside the religious community, this adds an artistic dimension that differs from the church and museum stops on the Historic Paci Route.
Cultural stops along the Historic Paci Route
If you appreciate churches, exhibitions and other historic places as different ways to experience a destination, the Historic Paci Route offers a specific selection. The route takes in the following stops:
- Veiveriai St. Louis Church
- Veiveriai Region History Museum, with an exhibition about the partisan Juozas Lukša-Daumantas
- Šilavotas St. Church of the Heart of Jesus
- Šilavotas “Davatkynas”
- Justinas Marcinkevičius Public Library in Prienai
- Prienai Church of the Revelation of Christ
- Prienai Region Museum
- a monument to Kęstutis, Grand Duke of Lithuania
- the Prienai watermill
These stops bring together different themes without combining them into a single story: alongside churches are museums, a library, the monument to Kęstutis and the watermill. Exploring the route, you can distinguish between sacred sites, an exhibition on the history of the partisan Juozas Lukša-Daumantas and other historical points of interest.
In the wider Kaunas District destination
In the wider Kaunas District destination, Kaunas Castle offers a distinct focus on Lithuanian history. Built in the mid-14th century, it is the city’s oldest historical landmark and one of Lithuania’s oldest masonry castles. In the restored and reconstructed castle tower, exhibitions tell the story of the castle, key historical facts and figures, changes to its walls and the evolution of its functions from the 14th century to the present day. The castle offers guided tours and educational programmes.
Also in the wider Kaunas District destination is Raudondvaris Manor Castle, an architectural monument of the Renaissance from the early 17th century. The interactive audio tour “Dramaturas”, created with artificial intelligence, leads visitors through 14 stops in the halls, cellars and park, as well as the surrounding manor ensemble. It tells the story of the manor and the romantic tragedy of Žygimantas Augustas and Barbora Radvilaitė. Check whether the tour is available on your visit date.
The landscape attractions in Kaunas District also differ considerably. Obelynė Botanical Park was founded in Akademija by naturalist Tadas Ivanauskas. Kadagių Valley is a five-hectare slope on the Kaunas Lagoon, covered with wild common juniper and part of Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park. In 2010, a 1.3 km educational trail was laid out along the edge of the escarpment in the upper part of the valley; from there, panoramic views open up over the widened Nemunas, Dabinta Island and impressive geological outcrops.
For a comparison of trail lengths: the educational trail in Kadagių Valley is 1.3 km long; educational and health trails in Kaunas District range from 2 to 17 km. The Šaltinių Trail in Kačerginė has routes from 2.6 to 6 km through the pine forest, with viewpoints over the Nemunas and routes continuing to Pypliai Hillfort and back. It opened on 8 September 2026.
Discover more destinations: Byliškės, Balbieriškio seniūnija, Raseiniai District Municipality, Jurbarkas District Municipality, Kėdainiai District Municipality, Jonava District Municipality, Kaišiadorys District Municipality, Kaunas District Municipality.
For the wider travel overview: Kaunas District.
