Merkine Observation Tower

Merkinė stands where the Merkys joins the Nemunas at the northern edge of the Dzūkija forests, and a spiral observation tower built on the high ground above the town climbs some twenty metres to a platform that clears the treetops. What it gives is unusual for Lithuania: an uninterrupted view over forest running to the horizon in most directions, with the two rivers winding through it and the confluence directly below, the pine canopy broken only by the occasional village clearing. The tower's open spiral ramp makes the climb easy. Merkinė itself was a substantial town in the Grand Duchy with a castle mound and a market square that is far larger than the present population needs, and the hillfort beside the tower gives a second, lower view over the same country.

What's there

• The river confluence - the Nemunas and Merkys meeting below the forest.
• The forest panorama - unbroken pinewood of Dzukija to the horizon.
• Merkine town - the old settlement and its mound below.
• The tower itself - a modern spiral climb above the trees.

When to go

A clear day for the long view; autumn adds colour to the forest. It is a quick stop within a wider Dzukija visit.

Things to know

It is a single viewpoint, worth about an hour, and its value is entirely in a clear day. The surrounding forest is quiet and thinly served, so combine it with the wider park. The climb is a tall spiral, manageable but a workout.

Nearby

Dzukija National Park spreads around it; Druskininkai and Grutas Park are a short drive south.