A 6.7-kilometre boardwalk through a telmological reserve and exhibitions on Joniškis history give Joniškis District Municipality a character shaped by both moorland and culture. When planning your trip, you can choose between nature experiences in Žagarė and museums, churches and city routes in Joniškis.
Moorland trails and glacial landscapes
The Mūšos Tyrelis boardwalk runs through the Mūšos Tyrelis telmological reserve. At the start of the 6.7-kilometre trail is a wooden observation tower, from which you can take in the moorland views. The trail thus combines a defined distance with views across the protected moorland area.
The landscape around Žagarė is shaped by the Žagarė Ozas: a long, narrow ridge formed from sand and gravel shaped by retreating glaciers. The area is part of the Natura 2000 network and lies within Žagarė Regional Park. The 3.6-kilometre Žagarė Ozas Discovery Trail introduces visitors to the natural features of the surrounding area. Another trail, the Žagarė Ridge Discovery Trail, starts near Žagarė and is 5 kilometres long; its features include an observation platform and an observation tower. The different lengths and trail names make it easier to distinguish between the routes.
Joniškis and Žagarė: architecture and history
In Joniškis, the synagogue complex consists of the summer synagogue, the “White Synagogue,” and the winter synagogue, the “Red Synagogue.” An exhibition in the White Synagogue presents the city’s historical development and key moments in its history. Another exhibition in the synagogue complex explores the history and culture of Joniškis’s Jewish community up to the Second World War. The Joniškis History and Culture Museum complements these topics with exhibitions on the region’s history and archaeology, as well as its ethnic and sacred heritage.
The churches also offer distinct points of interest. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Joniškis is a significant architectural and cultural monument dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. In Žagarė, the Old Church of St Peter and St Paul is one of Lithuania’s most valuable Renaissance architectural monuments. Following its restoration, it reopened in 1994; a symbolic coffin of Blessed Barbora Žagarietė was reconstructed in the crypt.
An exhibition in Joniškis commemorates Sofija Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė, who was born there. She was a writer, public figure, literary and art critic, playwright, poet and translator. Since 2009, the Joniškis Basketball Museum has told the story of basketball in Joniškis, Lithuania and around the world. One of the museum’s distinctive features is a basketball court on the ceiling, bearing the handprints of basketball players who have visited.
Festivals, routes and hands-on activities
The Žagarė Cherry Festival is an annual summer event. The cherry is at its heart as a symbol and part of the town’s cultural identity. The programme includes concerts, fairs, sports competitions and artistic performances. If you would like to include the festival in your trip, check the event dates in advance.
The “Hidden Joniškis” routes present Joniškis and its surroundings as an orienteering game. You can explore them on foot, by bicycle or by car using the Actionbound mobile app. A two-day tourist and cultural route of the Camino Lituano runs from Žagarė to Gataučiai; its second day passes through Joniškis. In Žagarė, the Camino Lituano also connects with the Camino Latvia and continues south into Poland’s Camino Polaco.
Museum activities in Joniškis include exhibitions, educational activities, lectures and traditional events. Žagarė also offers hands-on activities: at the “Lėlių namai” Doll Museum and Education Space, doll-making activities are available by prior arrangement. Participants make a doll as a souvenir and can take it home. The Žagarė Scarecrow Factory offers educational activities for children and adults on making scarecrows.
When looking for a holiday apartment, you can start with the locations of the places you plan to visit: Joniškis is home to the synagogue complex, museums and city churches, while Žagarė offers the Ozas, discovery trails, the Old Church and the Cherry Festival. Tailor your search to the cultural or natural attractions that matter most to you.
Discover more destinations: Gataučiai, Radviliškis District Municipality, Šiauliai District Municipality, Pakruojis District Municipality, Kelmė District Municipality, Akmenė District Municipality.
For the broader travel overview: Šiauliai County.
