Liškiava
The town of Liškiava was first mentioned in historical sources in 1044. It is situated on the scenic left bank of the Nemunas
River about 8 kmfrom Druskininkai. People have lived in the area around Liškiava since the second millennium B.C. There
arefour archaeological monuments in Liškiava: the mound-shrine hill, church hill, the stone with ox’s foot, and the so-called
“witches’ stone.”
Liškiava is famous for its architectural monuments: a 14th-15th century castle (ruins of one tower remain); the 17th century
religious settlement (church, former Dominican monastery, and barn); the 18th century churchyard fence and staircase to the
church; the 19th century belfry and memorial tower with the sculpture of St. Agatha; and inside the church, a number of
paintings from the 17th to 20th centuries. During the period from the 6th century B.C. to the 9th century A.D., a wooden castle
stood on the mound-shrine hill. Construction of a stone castle was started at the end of 14th century, but was abandoned
after the Battle of Grunwald (1410).
Merkinė
Merkinė is one of the oldest towns in Lithuania, and is situated at the confluence of Nemunas and Merkys Rivers. It was
mentioned in 1377 in the descriptions of the Teutonic Order campaigns. Merkinė is the old capital of Dzūkija ethnic region,
and issurrounded by wonderful landscapes. It witnessed not only the battles with crusaders, the old rulers of Lithuania and
Poland,but also a visit by Russian Tsar Peter I. The ancient traditions of black ceramics-firing techniques are still being
employedaroundMerkinė. Merkinė is the starting point of a number of ecological and ethnological routes throughout the
area, and there are two museums: the Museum of Regional Studies and the Museum of Lithuanian Freedom Fights and
Sufferings.
Raigardas Landscape Reservation
Raigardas valley is a landscape preserve 9 km from Druskininkai on the road to Grodno. Folklore says that a town was
swallowedby the sliding slopes of Raigardas hollow, enlarging the valley floor, currently comprised of wide meadows,
small dunes, and riverwashes. The names derives from ancient times when towns were called ‘gardas’ and the swamps
‘raya.’ Raigardas valley is apreservation area because of its unique soil structure, thought to be only 5000 years old and
still evolving. There are many springsat the base of the slopes, and it is thought that these water sources are the reason
that at least one slope has been sliding downfor centuries.
Švendubrė
Švendubrė is one of the villages in the forests around Druskininkai, situated in Raigardas valley 5 km from the resort. The
villagewas first mentioned in historical documents in 1620. It is an old, one-street village declared an architectural monument.
Especiallyinteresting are the homesteads of the Dzūkai ethnic group, with their distinctive fenced courtyards. Some 20
square kilometres ofmeadows surround the village, etched by creeks and streamlets. Where Nemunykštis Creek falls into
the Nemunas River, there is a mound with abrupt slopes called Black Hill. It could have been a defensive spot, but today
provides a wonderful view of the Nemunas,Raigardas valley, and in the distance, Užubalio hill. North of the village there is
a large boulder, the Švendubrė stone, a geologicalmonument that is the source of many lege.
