Kartena Hillfort, also known as the Castle or Lūžtis Mountain, stands on the opposite bank of the Minija River from Kartena Town in Lithuania, in the Minija valley. The view from the hillfort encompasses the town, a bend in the river, and the surrounding valleys. The hillfort is traceable back to the 8th to 13th centuries, with evidence of a wooden castle taking residence as a defensive and administrative centre for the Curonians of the Ceclis lands.
According to local legend, the hillfort received its name from a battle cry uttered by a Samogitian leader during a conflict between Swedish and Russian armies. In the 13th century, the Samogitian leader reportedly watched a battle unfold in the valley from the towers of the castle, shouting to his subordinates in Lithuanian, 'Veizėkiet, karė tenā! ('Watch out, the war is there!'). Due to this warning cry, the hillfort is said to have been named Kartena.
In 2012, the hillfort and its surroundings underwent a tidying up and adaptation suitable for visitors, with the hillfort, Witch's Stone, and Lourdes Grotto replica connected by a circular overview trail, spanning a total length of 2.8 kilometres.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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