Zemaitija National Park

Zemaitija protects the forests and lakes of the Samogitian uplands, centred on the clear waters of Lake Plateliai. Its strangest feature lies underground: a Soviet nuclear missile base, its silos hidden in the forest, now one of the few such sites in Europe you can descend into.

History

In September 1960 the Soviet Union began building the Plokštinė base in these forests, with more than 10,000 soldiers working in secret for over two years; it was the first Soviet base built to house R-12 Dvina nuclear missiles underground, in four silos, and the people of the scattered houses nearby were paid 4,500 roubles to move away. The base went into service about three years after work began and stayed one of the Soviet Union's best-kept military secrets until US reconnaissance revealed it in 1978; no missile was ever launched from it. It was shut down after twelve years, left to decay and stripped by metal thieves after the Soviet collapse, and reopened in 2012 as the Cold War Museum, with one of the four silos open to visitors (Wikipedia, Plokštinė missile base). The national park itself was established in 1991 (Wikipedia, Žemaitija National Park).

What you'll find

• Lake Plateliai - the clear central lake, good for swimming, sailing and diving.
• The Plokstine missile base - the underground Cold War silo, now a museum.
• Samogitian villages - old wooden hamlets and the region's distinct dialect and culture.
• Forest trails - walking and cycling routes around the lakes.

When to go

Summer for the lake and full access; the missile museum runs on seasonal hours, so check before a special trip. Autumn brings colour and quiet.

Practical notes

It is remote in the far north-west, a long drive from Vilnius, so it works best as part of a wider Samogitia trip. The missile base is the headline draw and can be busy in season while the museum is open. Otherwise it is a quiet lake-and-forest park.

Nearby

Plunge with its manor and Samogitian art museum is close; the Baltic coast at Palanga is within reach to the west.

Key facts