GC15HYD Birutes Kalnas (Traditional Cache) in Lithuania created by Gintaras & Dalia

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GC15HYD ▼

A cache by Gintaras & Dalia Message this owner

Hidden : 7/9/2007

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Birutes Kalnas (Birute Hill) is also known as Palanga Hillfort.

The hillfort dates back to 9th-14th century. People first settled to the South and East (Zemaiciu Kalnelis Hill) of the hill whilst a wooden castle was on top of it. Danes took over the castle on June 15, 1161. It was later mention as a Curonian Castle in 1253. A priestess Birute married the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kestutis in 14th century and gave birth to the most famous Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas.

A pagan sanctuary and an astronomic observatory exsisted on top of the hillfort in 14th century a copy of which was later reproduced by local folk art makers in Sventoji, North of Palanga (Zemaitiu Alka, the Samogitian Pagan Sanctuary) in June 1998. The paleoastronomic observatory was very important in determining the calendar holidays like the Dew Day, Stork Day and others.

A chapel on the top of the hill and a replica of the Lourdes Grotto on the slope Northern slope were built by the end of 19th century. You'll also find a bronze sculpture of Birute at a foot of the hill.

Enjoy the view to the sea once you are atop.

The cache is a small transparent plastic box wrapped into a camo plastic bag. It initially contained a logbook with some pencils, an FTF prize: a wooden FTF nickel, ly2kw wooden nickel (this is my signature item, it is not trackable and could be taken by anyone). A Red Handed Micro geocoin starts its journey here, too.
Good luck!