Birutė’s Hill: A Hill Shrouded in the Ages-Old Tales of Lithuania

Located in Palanga’s municipality, Birutė’s Hill, also known as Naglio Hill (AR-19) and ‘Piliakalnis’ (A392K1P), is believed to be one of the most significant archaeological sites from the IX to XV centuries in Lithuania. The hill is associated with Kunigaitė Birutė, a legendary fire priestess. The first Catholic chapel was built on the hill’s summit in 1506, attempting to suppress ancient fears and superstitions linked to Birutė’s name. However, it was relocated in 1753, and in 1869, a new church, K.

Steponavičius, was built here, with a new stone chapel. In 1896, a grotto with a statue of the Holy Mother was erected at the hill’s foot. Archaeological excavations revealed the remnants of four chapels dating from the 18th to 19th centuries and a 17th-century cemetery. A possible location of Palangos piliakalnis is the currently buried, covered with earth, oak sanctuary located 65 meters to the east of the current Ronžės path, with its base 35 meters to Basanavičius Street.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons