The 13th-century fort of Gardai

Local lore tells of a pagan leader who commanded all people passing through the area to carry and pile soil here. Over time, this hill was said to be filled with earth, where pagans burned sacrifices before the site was later used as a cemetery.

Archaeological research indicates the site functioned as a fortification between the 1st and 13th centuries. The site is situated on a ridge of the Varduva river where it meets the Pagardenius (Kedronius), and nearby areas have yielded artifacts such as pottery and a 9th-century to 13th-century cemetery.

Between 1637 and 1639, the hill was developed with the construction of chapels. A four-station brick chapel named "Viešpats Jėzus suimamas" stands at the northern end of the courtyard, while a five-station wooden chapel and a sculpture of the Taking of Christ are located on the southern slope.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons