The enigmatic Žilvė hill: A glimpse into the distant past

Nestled in the Alytaus district, Žilvė's Iron Age hill fort stands proudly on the left bank of the River Žilvia, near Pupasodis and Tolkūnų kaimai. To reach this mesmerizing site, take a road leading from Tolkūnus to Balkasodis, passing Žilvios upelis, then travel 350 meters northwest. The hill fort's elevation is 20 meters, with a base height of 10 meters, rising to 12 meters at the top. Its width spans 12 meters.

The stones at Žilvė's hill fort vary in height from 7 to 12 meters, and two cement blocks were found in the center. Constructed from a limestone quarry, this ancient site includes a section of an old road, partially hidden beneath soil. The hill fort also features a section of the road cut into the stones. Legend tells of 70 people from a primitive tribe buried at Žilvė's hill fort, who miraculously escaped on the night of St. John. The Lithuanian government legally protected this treasure on May 19, 1998.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons