# Samogitia

Samogitia (Lithuanian: Žemaitija, literally lowlands) is a region of western Lithuania.

## Cities

* 55.92805623.3166671 Šiauliai is the largest city. It's near the Hill of Crosses pilgrimage site.
* 55.91666721.0666672 Palanga is Lithuania's main beach resort.
* 55.89421121.2471723 Kretinga has several religious sites.
* 55.91321.8454 Plungė has a Cold War missile base.
* 55.98333322.255 Telšiai is a lively town and the local government centre for Samogitia.
* 55.623.26 Tytuvėnai has a famous monastery and pleasant lakes.
* 56.31722.3337 Mažeikiai is dominated by its oil refinery.
* 56.32081922.0122788 Židikai was home to writer Šatrijos Ragana.

## Other destinations

* 56.11666722.0166671 Žemaičių Kalvarija — famous pilgrimage site, most visitors come in the beginning of July to visit the large church festival.
* 56.01527823.4166672 Hill of Crosses — site of religious significance, north of Šiauliai.

## Understand

Historically, Samogitia had the biggest autonomy in Lithuania and had its own grand dukes (the most famous being, probably, Vykintas and Kęstutis). People of Samogitia fiercely resisted from being "colonized" by dukes of Lithuania and by the Order of Germans (crusaders), winning several important battles. Samogitia remained pagan for the longest time - its people were baptized the last of Lithuania. Today, one can find a mixture of Pagan and Christian tastes, represented by sacral sites and folklore.
Samogitia is mostly hilly, with a lot of forests.
* Dolmen in Lopaičiai sacral place
* Kryžių kalnas, the Hill of Crosses
* Mount Šatrija - offering one of the nicest views of Samogitia landscape
* The view from Lopaičiai mound
* The spring at Lopaičiai sacral site

## Talk

The Samogitian dialect is the one that varies most from official Lithuanian. People from other regions of Lithuania may find it unusual. In Telšiai, at the cathedral, you can find examples of forged/carved Samogitian texts.

## Get in
### By plane

Palanga International Airport is small, but serviced daily by SAS, Ryanair, Norwegian, and AirBaltic.

### By bus

Most cities are serviced by intercity bus, allowing for connection to the rest of the country.

## Get around
### By car

Traveling by car you can admire the hilly landscape and reach some beautiful and significant places difficult to reach by other means.

## See

* 55.87258322.558251 Mount Šatrija (in the region of Telšiai, near the town of Luokė). Supposedly sacral pagan place and former village site. The mount, being in this location and standing out (228,7 m above sea level) from the surroundings, offers stunning views of Samogitia all around. Šatrija is braided with legends, one of which tells that once there was no hill, but a church stood there. Then all Samogitia witches had gathered in this place and have poured the church over with the ground - and so have made the hill.
* The grave of Vytautas Mačernis, Žemaičių Kalvarija (close to Šarnelė village (latitude and longitude points there), some 30 km north of Plungė. There is a pointer to the grave site from the village). Vytautas Mačernis is a famous Lithuanian poet, who loved nature, studied philosophy, languages and nature sciences. Mačernis has tragically died, being a bit late to escape the soviet occupation during WW2. Close to Mačernis grave a house can be seen, where Mačernis has lived. On the way from car parking to the grave there is a spring.
* 55.74477822.1869172 Lopaičiai sacral place (some 16 km east from Rietavas via Tverai). Supposedly one of the main pagan sacral places, and the place, where Samogitia grand duke Vykintas has lived. The place is very well-prepared for tourists: wooden paths lead you where it would be otherwise almost impossible to walk, there are numerous information tables and route signs. The site includes Lopaičiai mound, some banks of river Aitra, the spring, pagan ritual stones and science places. On a sunny day, just after the rain, the feeling in the air there may be fabulous.

## Do

* 55.6620122.29341 (Sietuvos) Kūlgrinda. You might want to try passing the underwater stony road, used for defense in medieval times) near the lake Lūkštas. For the possibility, contact the administration of Varniai regional park. If you go with a tour, they will provide wet pants. Otherwise, it does only make sense when you are prepared to sink waist deep into mud. So, it is best during a warm summer day. The tracks can also be found on OpenStreetMap. Better to carry a rope or holding rods in case you go alone. (updated Dec 2019)

## Eat

Samogitia has delicious and unique food, which is related to the rest of Lithuania, but has a unique taste. Especially good are Samogitian foods made from potatoes, such as kleckā, potato cake kogielis and stuffed potato sausages viedarā.

## Drink

Samogitia has a long and great beer making tradition, preserved by local brewers.