This western Lithuanian town has a Neo-Renaissance manor with a 58-hectare park, a former Soviet missile base turned museum, and a 19th-century Neo-Romantic church near a 1905 Lourdes grotto.
In Plungė, western Lithuania, you can walk through the 58-hectare park of Ogiński Manor, climb the manor's clock tower for city views, or explore the Cold War Museum in a former Soviet missile base. The town's Neo-Romantic St. John the Baptist Church and the 1905 Lourdes grotto add to its architectural character, while the ancient Gandinga Hill-fort connects visitors to the region's Curonian past.
Getting to Plungė
You can reach Plungė by train on the Vilnius-Klaipėda and Radviliškis-Klaipėda routes. The city has direct road connections through highways A11 (Šiauliai-Palanga) and 164 (Mažeikiai-Tauragė). Regular buses run from Vilnius and Kaunas, with multiple daily departures.
Exploring Ogiński Manor
The Neo-Renaissance Ogiński Manor, built in 1879, sits in the city center. German architect Karl Lorenz created the two-story palace, which now contains the Samogitian Art Museum. You'll find neo-Gothic stud farms, two oficinas, and a clock tower-orangery building within the manor complex. The 58.3-hectare park has walking paths along the Babrungas river, leading to the centuries-old Perkūnas oak tree - a former pagan ritual site according to local stories.
Religious and Historical Monuments
The Neo-Romantic St. John the Baptist Church from the 19th century rises above the city center. A short walk from the church takes you to the Lourdes grotto and its statue of the Virgin Mary, dating from 1905. Look for the Monument of the 10th Anniversary of Independence, originally from 1928 and reconstructed in 1992. The sculpture of St. Florian by Kazys Barzdys, a Lithuanian book carrier, stands as a reminder of the city's historical fire protection efforts.
Beyond the City Center
Visit the Cold War Museum at Plokštinė missile base to see preserved Soviet-era military installations. Southwest of Plungė, you can explore the Gandinga Hill-fort, one of the region's earliest Curonian settlements. For nature walks, head to Samogitia National Park, or take a short trip to the Baltic coast at Palanga.
Sports and Local Life
Watch FK Babrungas Plungė play football at the Central Stadium in the Lithuanian Football Federation's 2 League, or catch an Olimpas Plungė basketball game in the National Basketball League. The local economy includes food production, with a crab stick factory that exports products across Europe.
