Telšiai County

Telšiai County lies in the heart of Samogitia (Žemaitija), or Lower Lithuania, a region with its own dialect, flags, and sense of pride. A trip to Telšiai takes you to lakes, to a national park with a former Soviet missile base, and to small towns with manor houses. The industrial city of Mažeikiai is the largest city in the county.

Landscape and Location

The county is hillier than the rest of Lithuania; the Samogitian Highlands rise to more than 200 meters here. Numerous lakes, such as Lake Mastis in Telšiai and Lake Plateliai in Žemaitija National Park, shape the landscape. In the north near Mažeikiai stands the only oil refinery in the Baltics, which has made the city an economic center. Rietavas and Plungė are other towns in the county. Samogitia is considered especially Catholic in character: in July, tens of thousands of pilgrims travel to Žemaičių Kalvarija for a Way of the Cross with chapels, and carved wooden crosses stand along the roadsides, a craft that is part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. Many residents speak Samogitian, a distinct dialect that other Lithuanians find hard to understand.

Sights in Telšiai County

In Žemaitija National Park, near Plokštinė, you'll find an underground Cold War missile base that can be visited as the Cold War Museum. Lake Plateliai, with its islands and swimming spots, is a popular excursion destination, and the village of Plateliai has a manor house and a collection of carnival masks worn in the Užgavėnės processions. Plungė is known for the palace of the Ogiński princes, which now houses the Samogitian Art Museum and is surrounded by a park with the Thunder Oak. Telšiai sits on the slopes above Lake Mastis and is the seat of a bishop; the cathedral and the Alka Museum show the history of the region. In Mažeikiai, a museum recalls the city's development.

Food, Getting There, and Best Time to Visit

Samogitian cuisine is known for kastinys, a butter-and-cream dish, and šiupinys, a stew of peas, beans, and potatoes. These are served with kepta duona (fried bread) and beer. Buses connect Telšiai with Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Vilnius. The best time to visit is May through September; in February, Užgavėnės, the pre-Lenten carnival, is celebrated at Lake Plateliai.