Ladakalnis Hilltop

Ladakalnis is perhaps Lithuania's most famous natural viewpoint and certainly one of the most rewarding. This modest hilltop in Aukštaitija National Park — once a pagan sacred site — offers a panorama that has become iconic in Lithuanian landscape photography: a view of six lakes simultaneously, their silvery surfaces gleaming among dark forests of pine and spruce. The hill is steeped in mythology. Its name derives from the pagan goddess Lada, and the site was used for pre-Christian rituals. Even today, there's a palpable sense of sanctity about the place. The climb is short but the view is extraordinary, especially at sunset when the lakes turn golden.