Veliuona

Veliuona sits on the high north bank of the Nemunas and was one of the strongholds of the medieval Lithuanian defensive line along the river, with two hillforts above the town, Gediminas's Grave and the Castle Mound, the first of which tradition connects with the death of the grand duke in 1341 during a siege in this area. The town below has a market square, a Baroque church, a manor and a small regional museum. Views from the mounds run a long way up and down the valley, which is why they were chosen. The Nemunas valley here is one of the more attractive stretches of the river, and Veliuona sits between the castles at Panemunė and the hillfort at Seredžius.

History

Veliuona, also called Junigeda, is first mentioned in 1291 in the chronicle of Peter of Duisburg. It is best known as the burial place of Gediminas, and its old church, founded by Vytautas the Great in 1421, was rebuilt and enlarged in 1636 (Wikipedia, Veliuona).

What's there

• The two hillforts - Gediminas's Grave and the Castle Mound above the town.
• Valley views - the Nemunas running east and west from the mounds.
• The market square - the small town centre and its Baroque church.
• The regional museum - local history in the old manor buildings.

When to go

May to September for the mounds and the valley; autumn colour along the Nemunas is good. The museum keeps limited hours and closes on Mondays. Winter views are clearer with the leaves off.

Before you go

The hillforts are grass mounds with no structures; the interest is the position and the story. Interpretation is limited and mostly in Lithuanian. The town is very small with few facilities. A car is needed for the valley road.

Nearby

Panemunė castle lies west; Seredžius is east.

Key facts