Kelionė-ekskursija „Mažosios Kuršėnų krašto bažnyčios ir didelės jų istorijos"

What do we really know about the small churches of the Curonian Spit - Micaičiai, Varputėnai, Juozapava and Raudėnai? At first glance, they may appear modest and quiet, but each of them hides extraordinary stories, famous personalities, legends and even secrets. ✨ During this excursion we will travel to places visited by Motiejus Valančius, Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, Kazimieras Pakalniškis and Jurgis Pabrėza. We will visit not only four exceptional churches, but also Paežeriai and Varputėnai mansions, whose histories are closely related to the nearby churches. Churches may not surprise you with their majestic towers or luxury, but their significance for the culture of Žemaitija and the preservation of Lithuanian identity is enormous. The living history of our region opens here - from the 18th century to the times of the national renaissance. And in Raudėnai, we will get to know the "padvečerka" gas padina. 😊
Which will invite you to taste the unique food of the Raudėnai region, which both the pastor and the farmer ate for the "padvečernios" time - chutneys with sauerkraut, and tea with St. Baltramiej's treats for dessert, from the hands of the gaspadina. It will not be just an excursion.
This is a tour of the small churches of the Curonian Spit and their big stories. ✨
📅 Departure date: 2026 August 8 🕙 Time: 10:00 a.m. 📍 Place of departure: Parking lot in front of L. Ivinskis square, Kuršėnai, near the cafe "Šiuga Šiuga"
⏳ Duration: 3-3.5 hours. 💶 Price: 25 Eur/person
📍Guide Jonas Kiriliauskas
✅ PRICE INCLUDES: Travel by comfortable bus; Services of guide Jonas Kiriliauskas; Travel organization; The pastor's guest house "Padvečernia" and its funny stories and busyness of the guests. 🚨 The number of places is limited - hurry! 📸 Don't forget comfortable shoes and a good mood - this trip will be worth every minute! 🚌 Route: Kuršėnai-Micaičiai-Varputėnai- Paežeriai dvaras- Juozapava-Raudėnai-Kuršėnai.
⛪The first stop is the Micaičių Crucified Jesus Church. This is a place where history is literally alive within the old church walls. The famous bishop Motiejus Valančius visited here, and Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas worked as a branch clerk of the church for ten months. It is said that he not only took care of people's souls, but also organized the repair of the church himself. 🔨📖 Even more interesting - Vaižgantas secretly lent banned Lithuanian books to the villagers, but warned them not to show them to anyone. Imagine the times when a single book could become a true symbol of freedom. 📚🕯️
🕍 Second stop - Varputėnai St. Anthony of Padua Church. This church hides one of the most romantic and mysterious stories of Žemaitija. It was specially built so that the main altar could be seen through the window of the mansion. It is said that the landlords could pray even without coming to the church. 👀🙏 The distance between the mansion and the altar was about 1450 meters - at that time it was not only an architectural decision, but also a real symbol of prestige. 🏰✨
🕍Third stop - Varputėnai manor was one of the most beautiful manors of Šiauliai region. We will visit the preserved palaces of the manor and hear stories about the landlords who lived here and the history of the manor. 🕍Fourth stop - Paežeriai manor. Paežeriai manor is a true witness of the history of the nobles of Žemaitija. The Nagurskis who ruled it were one of the richest and most influential Lithuanian nobles. In the 17th century, their holdings were so large that the Nagurskii surname was heard almost throughout Lithuania. In 1910, Zigmantas Nagurskis started the construction of the impressive manor palace, which lasted even a decade. 🕍Fifth stop - Juozapava St. Church of Apostles Simon and Jude Thad. In 1829, Juozapas Nagurskis built this church, and the area was named Juozapava in his honor. It is not only a sacred place, but also a living memory of the Nagurski family. In the church, there is an old organ, which is believed to have been made in 1830 and is associated with the famous Curonian craftsmen Tiedemann. Their sound reminds of the times when music in churches was like a real miracle for people. We will also visit the burial place of the landowners Nagurskis and hear stories about the life of this family. 🕍Sixth stop - Raudėnai St. Apostle Bartholomew's Church.

In Raudėnai, not only interesting stories will await us, but also a cozy, welcoming environment. We will see the rectory built in 1928, which has survived to this day, and was built by priest Kazimieras Pakalniškis - better known as Uncle Atanazas. We will go to the church where valuable relics are kept, and together we will remember the priest Jurgis Pabrezas - a priest, botanist, doctor, teacher and plant researcher. However, perhaps the most intriguing part of the excursion will begin when we are greeted by the "padvečerka" gas pad. Only the participants of the excursion will know what she will tell.
And the most important thing is what to eat!

On the AllEvents portal you can always Buy tickets to an event Exhibitions Kelionė-ekskursija „Mažosios Kuršėnų krašto bažnyčios ir didelės jų istorijos", Kuršėnai, Centrinė aikštelė August 08

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