Varniai Regional Park was established for the purpose of preserving the landscape, natural ecosystem and cultural heritage of the central lake-covered part of the Žemaitija upland. The rivers Venta, Virvytė and Minija, which are the largest in the region, begin in the park.

Nature. Major sites include the hills of Medvėgalis, Šatrija, Girgždūtė, Aukštagirė, Gaudkalnis, Moteraitis, Sprūdė and Žąsūgala, and distinctive tableland. Lake Lūkstas is the largest not only in the park but also in the whole of Žemaitija. Another unique feature of the lake is its amber washed ashore. The self-containing lake in Jomantai Forest is amazing for its water resources: it is full in a dry period and empty during rain.

The park provides habitats to 77 species entered in the Red Data Book. Lakes Paršežeris, Biržulis and Sterva and the wetlands lying in the Varniai depression are among the most valuable areas for birds in Lithuania. Biržulis Botanical and Zoological Reserve contains nesting places of over a hundred bird species. In the Debesnai marsh near Varniai, a typical limy wetland, more than 20 plant species from the Red Data Book are to be found.

Cultural heritage. The most important tourist attractions are Žemaitija’s largest mounds (about 13) dating from the difficult times of wars with the Teutonic and Livonian Orders. Among the most famous hills are Medvėgalis, Girgždūtė, Šatrija, Moteraitis, Sprūdė, Bilioniai and Vembutai. The surroundings of Lake Biržulis have about 50 Stone Age settlements, camps and burial grounds, and also one of the oldest graves in the eastern part of the Baltics (from (5000 BC).

The park’s centre is the town of Varniai, valuable for a number of buildings: the Cathedral, St. Alexander’s Parish Church, the Žemaitija Seminary and the residence of Bishop M. Valančius. A monument commemorating the bishop has been put up here. Varniai is not only the base of Žemaitija bishops but also one of the most important centres of Lithuanian culture. The town was the home and the place of studies and work of M. Giedraitis, M. Daukša, M. Stryjkowski, A. Vienažindis, A. Baranauskas, S. Daukantas and M. Valančius.

            Biržuvėnai, a former large royal manor, is one of the oldest settlements in Žemaitija. The area of the manor has six sacred and mythological sites, the Biržuvėnai mound and the Laumės pėda (Fairy’s Foot) spring.

The park abounds in monuments of old architecture: crosses, small chapels and roadside shrines. Other remarkable buildings include the Church of the Transformation of Christ in Požerė, St. Anne’s Church in Pavandenė, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Janapolė and All Saints’ Church in Luokė. On the shore of Lake Gludas lies an interesting burial site-mausoleum of the Sakelis landowners.

The Sietuva kūlgrinda (boulder road) across the Sietuva stream between lakes Lūkstas and Paršežeris is a unique feature. The road is made from stones that the builders for many years used to put on the ice in winter. After the ice had melted, the stones would sink, this way forming a road known only to local people.

Museums. Varniai has the Žemaitija Bishopric Museum, M. Valančius Secondary School Museum and the Ethnographic Museums of the Biržuvėnai and Viekšnaliai regions.

Recreation. The Visitor Centre is located at the office building of the park’s administration. The Žemaitija Bishopric Museum houses the Tourist Information Centre (S. Daukanto g. 6, Varniai, tel. 8 444 69466, e-mail alma@varniai-museum.lt).

The areas suitable for recreation include the lakeshores of Lūkstas, Paršežeris, Salotas, Didovas, Gludas and Pučkežeris, and the recreation site at the mound in Bilioniai. Lakes Lūkstas and Paršežeris also have camping sites. The camping site at Lake Lūkstas rents rowboats and paddleboats. Different events and festivals are held on the shores of this lake in summer.

The highest hills and mounds afford an excellent view of the beautiful landscape of the Žemaitija upland with forests, marshlands, lakes and shiny roofs of churches. The best viewpoints are on the mounds of Bilioniai, Medvėgalis, Burbiškiai, Moteraitis, Sprūdė and Šatrija and on the hills of Spingė, Gaudkalnis, Žąsūgala and Žiograkalnis.

Tourists have a number of driving routes: the transit trail (Bilioniai-Varniai-Luokė), the southern circular trail (Varniai-Pavandenė-Girgždūtė-Medvėgalis-Vembūtai-Varniai) and the northern circular trail (Varniai-Pavandenė-Šatrija-Biržuvėnai-Žąsūgala-Varniai). The maps of the walking, cycling and water trails are given in a brochure. The southern part of the park boasts the Aukštagirė walking and cycling trail (23 km), the purpose of which is to disclose the individual features of the Žemaitija upland and to present natural and cultural heritage. The Debesnai botanical path (2 km) introduces the unique diversity of the plant life in the marsh. The Jomantai forest path acquaints visitors with the forest, the forester’s profession and valuable natural sites. Water tourists have a trail through Lake Lūkstas and the river Virvytė. The expanse of Lake Lūkstas is best suited for sailing, boating, canoeing and for trips in a paddleboat.  

Accommodation is available at the 14-room Prie Lūksto hotel in Varniai (the place also has a bar-restaurant and a conference room, tel.: 8 444 47494), at the 100-room Varnių Piras holiday home by Lake Lūkstas (in summer it is also a place of international youth camps, and of discotheques and live concerts on weekends, tel.: 869816306), and in the rural tourism farmstead of A. Jonutis near Lake Lūkstas (sauna is also available, tel.: 8 687 69627) where visitors can get a ride on a horse of the žemaitukas breed.

The most popular lakes with anglers are Lūkstas, Biržulis (only ice fishing is allowed) and Paršežeris, for which a permit is required.