The Deceptive Hillfort of Naujaupis: A Hidden Stronghold

Naujaupis hillfort, also known as Pilionis hillfort, Naujaupis hill, or Piliukas, stands in Ukmergė Regional Park. The hillfort is triangular in shape and has three entrances on the south side – all facing east. It is 44 meters long and 35 meters wide (narrower on the south side). The height of the hillfort is 35 meters, with a 14.5-meter-wide, 3-meter-deep trench, where a 3-meter-wide, 0.3-meter-deep ditch is found. In the northern part of the hillfort, there is a square tower, 5-7 meters tall.

In 1934, ancient artifacts and a wooden cross were found at the hillfort. The southern part and eastern part of the hillfort were inhabited. Remnants of baked, glazed, and ordinary ceramics are found in the hillfort. It is claimed that Lithuanians captured Swedes in this place, killing or enslaving many of them. Lithuanians, disguised as Swedes, filled their shoes with ashes. The hillfort is also known as Naujaupės dvory, owned by the Girštautai family – Oaks Hill.

In 1930–1934, Vladas Girštautas built a stone wall around the hill and a chapel inside the hill. Saint Helena’s relics (supposedly belonging to the founding sisters Helena) were once kept at the hillfort. A photograph of the hillfort taken in 2016 is available in the Lithuanian Archive from the Wayback Machine project.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons