Telšiai County is the spiritual heart of **Samogitia** a region of seven hills and fierce local pride. The people here have their own dialect and a deep connection to the ancient traditions of the land. Lake Mastis sits at the center of the county providing a blue mirror for the sculptures of bears and the tall spires of the local cathedrals. The landscape is dramatic with the **Šatrija** hill rising like a giant green dome over the plains where pagan festivals are still celebrated. Deep in the **Žemaitija** National Park you can find a former Soviet missile base that has been turned into a cold war museum hidden underground. Above the surface the **Plateliai Lake** offers clear water for diving and islands that hold their own secrets. Samogitian hospitality is legendary with heavy wooden tables laden with local cheese and sour cream porridges. You can visit the many wooden churches of the region which are some of the oldest in the country and see the folk art that decorates the village cemeteries. The Telšiai County has bears and mystery. It's where the soul of the old world is still very much alive.

Telšiai (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Telšiai (county)

Telšiai County is the capital of **Samogitia** a region that remained pagan until 1413 and maintained its own army and laws for centuries. The high hills of the **Žemaitija** region like **Šatrija** were ancient sacred sites for fire worship and astronomical observation. The local nobility established a semi autonomous duchy that successfully resisted the Polish and Swedish invasions of the 1600s. The people were master woodcarvers creating the Stations of the Cross in **Žemaitija Kalvarija** which remains a major European pilgrimage site. This craftsmanship is also visible in the unique Samogitian Bear iconography found throughout the region’s stone and wood art. This fierce cultural identity has made the county a bastion of traditional language and Samogitian folk customs. In 1962 the Soviets constructed the **Plokštinė** Missile Base deep in the county’s forests hiding four R-12 **Dvina nuclear missiles** in underground silos aimed at Western Europe. This secret facility was built by over 10,000 soldiers and remained a classified military zone until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today the Telšiai county history spans from ancient hilltop myths to the chilling relics of the atomic age.

Telšiai (county)

Telšiai (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Telšiai (county)

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