It takes only 300 steps and you have reached the summit of Seredžius Mound. In spite of this, the real journey only begins. Take a break for a minute and enjoy the strip of Pieštvė streamlet and the magnificent Nemunas Valley, let's step back to the legendary Roman Empire and the fierce times of the crusaders. How do these periods relate to the history of Seredžius Mound?

Have you ever thought the Lithuanian people could be of Roman descent? The legend about Duke Palemon surrounds not only Seredžius Mound, but also all of Lithuania. It is said that by fleeing persecution, Palemon, a noble of Rome, travelled to the north with his family and 500 Roman patricians until he eventually reached the Baltic Sea. While travelling across the Curonian Lagoon and later the Nemunas, they stopped in the mouths of the Dubysa. Impressed by the surrounding nature, the Romans settled on an oaky hill and built a castle and a temple. In the 19th century historian Teodoras Narbutas indicated in the "History of the Lithuanian Nation" that the mystical Duke Palemon was buried on the Seredžius Mound, due to which the hill is often called the Palemon Hill up till today. The legend is also related to the Roman history of Lithuanian origin: the allegedly great Dukes of Lithuania as well as the relatives of Alšėniškiai and Giedraičiai are descendants of Palemon, and influential generations of Goštautas, Davainas and Manvydas are descendants of the patricians of Rome.

Seredžius Mound not only reminds of the mysterious times of the Roman settlers. The rebellions of the crusaders still echo in the vicinity. Since 1293 the Pieštva Castle located on the Palemon Hill, mentioned in chronicles, withstood the frequent and fierce attacks of the Order and halted its march to Lithuania. Unfortunately, in 1363 the fortress was occupied and burned down. After the Battle of Grunwald, the Castle was rebuilt for the last time – after the Treaty of Melno it lost its significance and was abandoned.

What an exciting history of this Mound! You do not event think about it, when climbing on the hill or enjoying the wonderful Nemunas Valley. Could you be standing in the place where many centuries ago the Grand Duke was fascinated by the remote distances of his holdings, or in the epicentre of the battle, where a brave Lithuanian was fighting with a soldier of the Order?