Lake Plateliai

Plateliai is the largest lake in Samogitia, some twelve square kilometres of clear water held in a hollow left by the ice, ringed by forest and scattered with seven wooded islands and a long indented shoreline of bays and promontories. It is the centre of Žemaitija National Park, and the clarity is the point: visibility in the water is good enough that the lake became known for under-ice diving in hard winters, when divers go down through cut holes into a lit green world beneath the surface. In summer it is sailing and swimming water, with a yacht club at Plateliai village, boats for hire and quiet bays reachable only by paddle. The village itself has a manor, an old wooden church and a museum of Shrovetide masks.

What you actually see

• The clear water - some of the cleanest lake swimming in the region.
• The islands - wooded islets you can reach by boat.
• Plateliai village - a lakeside village with a manor and old wooden church.
• Sailing and paddling - the lake is a centre for small boats.

When to go

High summer for swimming and sailing; a cold, clear winter for the ice diving the lake is known for. Spring and autumn are quiet and green.

Honest expectations

It is a peaceful recreational lake rather than a headline sight, so come to swim, paddle and relax. Being deep in the north-west it takes real driving to reach. Facilities are simple and village-scale.

Nearby

The Plokstine missile base is a short drive through the same park; Plunge and Samogitia spread around.