Merkinė hillfort, Archaeological hillfort in Merkinė Eldership, Lithuania
Merkinė hillfort sits where the Neman and Merkys rivers meet, showing earthen mounds and traces of past settlements spread across the elevated terrain. From its ridges you can see across the river valleys below to the surrounding countryside.
The site began as a fortified settlement in medieval times and was first recorded in documents in 1359. It stood as one of several strongholds that communities built to protect themselves during periods of conflict.
The site's name comes from the Merkys river that flows nearby, connecting to local identity. Visitors today walk the same ridges where medieval communities once built their homes and defended their territory.
The site has marked walking paths and information boards explaining the earthen structures and what they meant. There is parking available for visitors who want to explore this area within the Dzūkija National Park region.
This hillfort connected with other fortified sites scattered across the region in a defensive network that also controlled important river crossings along trade routes. The placement of these strongholds shows how communities organized their territory and protected valuable passage ways.
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