Tucked away in the Panevėžio rajono savivaldybės territory, north of Upytė in the Upytė seniorship, lies Upytės piliakalnis, also known as Čičinsko kalnas or Tarnagalos. To reach it, follow road 195 Kėdainiai–Krekenava–Panevėžys to the village center, then turn right toward the northwest, passing Vešeta. After passing the first homestead, turn left again toward the northeast, following a 100-meter path over a stream to reach the site.
The hillfort was established in the drained marshes of Vešeta, near naturally oval mounds. The main courtyard is a rectangular area measuring 40 by 18 meters, with a side one meter higher than the others. Along the northeast edge of the courtyard, there is a slipway 1.2 meters high and 17 meters wide. Its exterior slope, 4 meters high, leads into a trench 8 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep. Behind this lies another slipway, 0.3 meters high and 8 meters wide, containing stones up to 30 centimeters in diameter.
On the southwest edge of the courtyard, a 14-meter-wide slipway with a 2.5-meter-high exterior slope leads to an 8-meter-wide terrace, which also contains stones up to 30 centimeters in diameter. Beyond this terrace is a 4-meter-wide, 0.5-meter-deep trench followed by another 0.3-meter-high, 6-meter-wide slipway. The slopes of the site stand 6 meters high, and the area is covered with sparse trees and shrubs.
Archaeological research has revealed that a manor house belonging to Vladislav Sicinski stood on the site during the 17th and 18th centuries. It is believed that this location served as the center of Upytės land from the 13th century. Nearby, a 3rd-5th century burial ground and a 16th-century castle further mark the area's long history as a significant cultural landmark.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
Discuss this with the author and others
No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.