Hillfort Complex · UNESCO
Kernavė Hillforts
UNESCO World Heritage Site – a complex of five hillforts in the Neris valley, the former first capital of Lithuania.
The Kernavė Archaeological Site is one of Lithuania's most important historical places, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004. Five hillforts (Altar Hill, Mindaugas Throne, Lizdeika Hill, Castle Hill, and Kriveikiškis Hillfort) stand in the Pajauta Valley along the Neris River. In the 13th century, this was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Archaeological excavations have revealed settlement remains from the late Paleolithic (ca. 9000 BC) to the medieval period. Every July, the international "Days of Live Archaeology" festival takes place here.