Aukštaitija National Park Ancient Forests

Aukštaitija National Park, established in 1974, is Lithuania's oldest and most beloved national park. Covering 405 square kilometers of northeastern Lithuania, it protects a landscape of over 100 lakes, ancient forests, and traditional villages that preserve centuries-old ways of life. The forests here include some of Lithuania's oldest trees — centuries-old oaks and pines that have stood since before Lithuanian independence. Walking through these woods, with their cathedral-like canopy and moss-covered floors, is like stepping back in time. The park is also home to traditional Lithuanian beekeeping, practiced in hollow log hives mounted on trees, a tradition that stretches back over a thousand years. The lakes are the park's jewels — from the clear waters of Lūšiai, where you can see the bottom meters below, to the interconnected Baluošas chain perfect for kayaking. Traditional wooden villages dot the lakeshore, many still maintaining folk crafts, wooden architecture, and community traditions that have survived centuries of occupation and modernization.