Already in the 18th century the tavern of Šilinė was well-known among travellers: they used to stop by for a rest or for an overnight stay. Now travellers begin their journey from this national protected cultural heritage object across the magnificent Panemunė vicinities or wonder what the life next to the Nemunas looked like in the ancient times.

This historic tavern of Šilinė is an office of the Directorate of Panemunė Regional Park

Directorate and Panemunė Regional Park Centre of Visitors. The latter one also operates as an exposition "The Nemunas and Life nearby". Did you know that boats used to sail down the river carried by currents, and used to go up by means of sails?

Have you heard what craft (unfortunately, already extinct) the residents of Panemunė used to work?The Nemunas constituted an employer, breadwinner and home for people who lived here. The Nemunas River From provided fish from the old days, which fed the people of Panemunė. In the springtime, the Nemunas would flood on the meadows by fertilising them at the same time. In the summer, the grass would thrive and abundant crops would grow. In this way people used to stock up for the winter. In order to earn money, the residents of Panemunė used to catch fish and sell it. Other residents used to earn for a living by sailing rafts. The last raft sailed in a Lithuanian river was sailed not so long ago: it happened in 1988, but this traditional Lithuanian craft disappeared along with it. Others were engaged in navigation and shipbuilding. In the exposition we can see a unique and the only remaining fragment of the bottom of a boat of "Vytinė" type that was built in 1757 and used to sail in the Nemunas.

When you get acquainted with the routine of life of Panemunians, what is left is to see this unique location live. In the outskirts there is a small stand with references, informing tourists about the beginning of a spectacular cognitive path along the Šilinė Botanical Reserve.

Due to its outstanding rarity and diversity of species, this reserve is protected and included in the network of NATURA 2000 territories. The path leading along the forest tracks is 1.6 km long, making it ideal for all family members. While walking the path, one may get acquainted with even 4 forest and meadow habitats: steppe grasslands, western taiga, pastures grown with centuries-old oaks and hornbeam areas.

Both banks of the Nemunas can be travelled in the park. On the right bank, from the Naudupis streamlet to the Šilinė oakwood, it is encouraging to see the mounds, the majestic castles and the parks surrounding them. On the other bank of the Nemunas, there is Gelgaudiškis Manor, which is one of the most original manors in Lithuania, located in Gelgaudiškis town. While sailing along the Nemunas River up to Žemoji Panemunė, we witness the remaining accents of other manors and charming towns. In Plokščiai we can see and take a walk on Vaiguva, the only river - street of Lithuania. Professor Česlovas Kudaba wrote patriotically about the banks of the Panemunė Regional Park: "As you sail along the Nemunas and look at the magnificent, unbroken right slope of the banks, you know it is "the country where the heroes sleep in their graves". Probably it is the most expensive piece of land of Lithuania purchased for our ancestors’ blood ".