Hill of Witches

On a forested dune above the village of Juodkrante, a winding trail is lined with around eighty carved oak sculptures of witches, devils and characters from Lithuanian folklore and midsummer legend. Made by folk artists from the 1970s, the Hill of Witches is an open-air gallery you walk through in the pines.

Background

Work on the gallery started in 1979, and it has grown in several stages since. It occupies a wooded sand dune with the Curonian Lagoon about 0.5 kilometer to the east, and the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route passes by. The carvers built on two old local customs, the woodcarving of Samogitia and the Joninės festivities long held on this hill, and their figures come from Lithuanian folklore and pagan belief. Woodcarving symposia take place here regularly, so new pieces keep joining the roughly 80 already standing along the trails.

Source: Wikipedia, "Hill of Witches"

Highlights

• The witch and devil carvings - dozens of weathered oak figures from folk tales.
• The midsummer legend theme - characters tied to the Rasos festival and old beliefs.
• The forest trail - a shaded loop through the dune pines.
• Playful pieces - a slide and figures aimed at children among the darker ones.

When to go

Any snow-free season; the shaded trail is pleasant even in summer heat. Morning light through the pines suits the weathered wood.

Before you go

It is a short, gentle woodland walk rather than a major sight, easily an hour. The carvings are weathered and some are worn, which adds character but is not polished. It pairs well with the rest of a Curonian Spit day rather than a trip in itself.

Nearby

Juodkrante village and its lagoon promenade are below; Nida and the great dunes are further south.