Kepaluškalnis, also known as Pilės or Kaltinėnai Mound, is located in the Šilalė district of Lithuania near the town of Kaltinėnai. Founded in the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD, the mound was a key center for administration and land defense in Žemaitija. During wars with the Crusaders, it was one of the strongest castles in the region, featuring a 45 x 50m upper ground surrounded by formidable bulwarks.
The mound was established on a highland point formed by two hollows with precipitous hillsides reaching 20m in height. While many fortifications have been destroyed, some remains are still visible in the south-western part of the mound. Historically, the north side was fortified with five bulwarks and moats, while the southern hillside featured a moat and a bulwark with a 2-metre-high outer side. Over time, heavy ploughing and the construction of a former homestead damaged much of the original earthworks.
Modern changes have further altered the site. Cleaning works conducted between 2002 and 2004 resulted in a stone path being paved through the northern fortifications, and a parking lot was built where the 5th moat once stood. Today, the top of the mound features an altar of stones to honor the castle protectors, where flags of Lithuania, Šilalė, and Tauragė often wave. The site remains a place of gathering, hosting bonfires and performances during St John’s Day and other festivals.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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