A 1000-year-old triangular fort on a wooded river cliff

Senosios Įpiltis II hillfort is a triangular defensive site nestled on a wooded promontory on the left bank of the river. It is located in the northwestern part of the Kretinga district, near the Latvian border. The site is positioned between a power line and the river, situated 2.1 km from the center of Senosios Įpiltis.

The hillfort spans from the first millennium until the 13th century. It first appeared in archaeological literature in 1899 and was recognized as a cultural heritage site in 1998. It was recognized as a state-protected cultural heritage object in 2007, with a special status granted in 2007.

The main courtyard is triangular, 30 metres long and up to 30 metres wide at its northern edge. A rampart, 30 metres long and 1.2 metres high, leads from the height to a trapezoid-shaped forecourt. The forecourt is 37 metres long and widens from 34 metres at the southern end to 55 metres at the northern end, where a curved rampart of 60 metres in length is located. The eastern side of the courtyard is excavated, and the area is now covered with pines and alders.

To find the site today, travel north from the center of Senosios Įpiltis along a dirt track. Pass the power line and turn into the forest to the left in a south-westerly direction, where the fort is located about 50 metres in.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons