Dusetos - Lithuania European Destinations of Excellence 2008
The present project Travelling across the cultural space: nurturance of cultural heritage, holidays, traditions, entertainment and creative thought in Dusetos Land are attractive and interesting not only for Lithuanians but for the citizens of foreign countries as well. They encompass organization of traditions of cultural heritage (beer brewing, championship of eating crayfish), holidays (summer beginning celebration) and entertainment (fishing, hunting), popularity of folk traditions (festival Musicians of Sėla) and experience and even elements of museum activities (expositions of ancient beer brewing tools). The fact that all activities of the project are integrated into living environment of Ramūnas Čižas and Erika Čižienė is innovatory and based on great personal experience and responsibility. The activity of this family and spirited challenge for the organizers of traditional eating competitions in the world by arranging the championship of eating crayfish a suggestive school of eating culture makes Čižai family famous not only in Dusetos land but in the whole Zarasai region as well. The initiation to organize the championship of eating crayfish, participation in the activities of cultural heritage network moves the businessmen of Dusetos land up to the level of international interest because they present the beer of peculiar recipe and eating championship having no analogue in the world.
The activities of Ramūnas Čižas and Erika Čižienė are not limited to geographical territory of Zarasai region. Presentation of the old beer brewing traditions out of the region by participating in the festivals of experimental archaeology, such as Live Days of Archaeology in Kernavė, Kaziukas Fair, events of Capital Days, Festivals of Live Archaeology in Nida, events of presentation of cultural heritage, and marketing activities is an important activity in formation of tourist-attractive image of Zarasai land.
Dusetos land is a place famous in Lithuania. It has a history with honour leading to famous Plater family and its famous representative Emilia Plater, traditional republican horse-race with the history of over 200 years, the beginning of the road of Lithuanian word in Pažiegė - native land of famous linguist K. Būga. Educative activities executed in this land are also well-known in Lithuania: over for 25 years there was an advanced teaching of art in K. Būga Gymnasium where famous Lithuanian artists were trained. The result of this is an equipoise for provincialism and Gallery of Art with its interesting activities since 1995. The formed cultural environment of Dusetos land and its further preservation, nurturance and popularity witnesses that we are inviting to ambitious, creative, inventive community loving their native land that is interesting even for guests which will feel here really secure.
Gražutė Regional Park - Lithuania European Destinations of Excellence 2009
PROJECT GRAŽUTĖ REGIONAL PARK GLACIAL ORIGIN GEO PARK OF BALTIC HIGHLANDS
In May of 2004 Council of Europe has given recommendation for preservation of places of special geological interest and geological heritage. Leading to this recommendation UNESCO geo parks are created in Europe. It is specific and controlled territory with features and objects of geological heritage, valuable landscape. According to Lithuanias union of geologists president Rimantė Guobytė territory of Gražutė Regional Park as glacial foretime geo park of Baltic highlands could pretend to get to UNESCO International Network of Geo parks.
When visiting park territory you have opportunity to travel along the only one Lithuanias geological cognitive path of Šavaša, sail across the upper reaches of Šventoji and deny belief, that its impossible to cross it, evaluate cognitive path Ąžuolas that is arranged in territory of 24,5 hectares and regulated by following nontraditional principles of farming or you can cycle through grand and minor rings of Gražutė ecological tourism track. Exceptional feature of Gražutė Regional Park is pleasant view of landscape that is full of forests and lakes. Big variety of biotypes is typical for park, in the Lithuania it is one of the least urbanized territory, so here in the home of the nature not only travelers but also rare birds and plants can feel cozily here (Gražutė Regional Park fulfils specifications for PST and Corine). Cultures and natures valuables in this territory represents 15 exceptional parks: 4 hydrographical, 3 telmological and 8 parks of landscape. Territory of Gražutė Regional Park can be visited by individual travelers or travelling groups which have different hobby or interests like: water tourism, pedestrian travelling, cycling, ornithology, botany, folk arts or cultural events. Territory also outstands by its size, only Labanoras, Varniai Regional Parks and Dzūkijos, Aukštaitijos National Parks are bigger.
Because of subjects that participates in development of tourism and variety of services they are providing (for example: rural tourism, catering, full travels packet, organization of shows and events, traditional crafts) attractive products of different purpose, duration or form are created for tourists that are visiting the territory. Here you will find 19 homesteads for rural tourism, 2 campsites and 5 public resorts, nearby the riverbank of Šventoji in Water Centre inventory for water entertainments are being rented, in winter time here you can find skating-rink, culinary heritage, crafts and other traditions are being introduced constantly, celebrations and traditional festivals are being arranged here too. Besides that in Regional Park of Gražutė are plenty of archeological monuments and historical structures.
It is certain that those who travel in Gražutė Regional Park will be fascinated by hilly landscape, more than 70 billowy lakes, pretty forests, Antalieptės sea which has the most complicated configuration in the country, spits of Luodis lake, hydro climatic barometer Šventas lake, old watercourse of Šventoji, Salakas, Antalieptė, Degučiai or Senasis Dūkštas surroundings.
Zarasai district - declared the European Destination of Excellence destination in Lithuanian for aquatic tourism 2010
Zarasai land is famous for its beautiful lakes and forests. Visitors are astonished by the diversity, uniqueness and flamboyance of its nature. Twisting and bending rivers and lakes, hills scattered as if little beads, peaceful woods, and scarcely populated area are the miracles that visitors and tourists find anew each time.
The land of Zarasai boasts profusion of lakes that is the highest in Lithuania. There are 296 lakes of various sizes in the region, totally comprising 13381.1 ha (one tenth of the total land area). 8 rivers make their way across the region. Though small lakes with area less than 10 ha prevail in the region, several of the lakes are famous throughout the entire country, including the Drūkščiai lake, the largest Lithuanian lake whose area is 4479 ha, as well as some others listed in the national top ten, e.g. Luodis (1320 ha), Sartai (1350 ha) and Avilys (1258 ha). Nearly every water body of the land is suitable for recreational purposes.
Isnt it wonderful that the landscape of Zarasai such a varied in terms of relief and literally adorned with blue beads of lakes lies in the vicinity of Rokiškis Kupiškis plains? In the process of studies of the regions stones, as people say sown by the devil himself, it transpired that the surface of the region was shaped more than 16 thousands years ago during the last glacial period. Ice, in the course of movement from different glaciation centres, brought boulders of different substances, while the edges of broken melting ice tongues turned into valleys, hollows, and hills
this was how throughout long ages the moraine landscape of Zarasai land formed reflecting the contours of former glaciers. So it would not be a mistake to state that people of Zarasai land live on the site of the final glacial battle.
Almost all the water bodies in the district are used for the purposes of recreation in one or another manner. Zarasai residents love the lakes lying in the vicinity of the town, the Antalieptės marios (so-called sea), Lake Sartai attract crowds of holidaymakers from all over Lithuania. The rivers are mostly frequented by fishermen, however, water tourists are increasingly choosing the River Šventoji for romantic trips, this river being of the equal importance to the land of Zarasai as the Nemunas for Lithuania and it justly deserves the repute of the beauty of Aukštaitija.
UAB Degesa has been providing tourism services since 2001. UAB Degesa represents a recreational and water entertainment centre near river Šventoji. Company offers a variety of recreational and water entertainment services such as kayaking and canoeing on lakes and rivers in the Eastern part of Aukštaitija. UAB Pasartėlė offers active recreational services: kayaking and canoeing on the river Šventoji, trim by the entertaining raft on the lake Sartai. UAB Adatėlė organizes water picnics on pontoon floats catamarans, also produces and rents them. The old fishermens traditions, Crayfish eating competition, fish cheese manufacture, traditional republican trotter horse racing, forum of youth creation Undinėlių daina, water sports festivals events, sights and activities, which purpose is to promote one of the most important land values water.
