After the Birštonas Tourist Information Centre, the Forest Trail leads for more than 1 km along the Nemunas bank promenade, then turns onto Algirdo street, crosses Vytautas Jurgis Meška Park, returns to the promenade and after 0.6 km turns onto the pedestrian and bicycle path. The path crosses the Žvėrinčiaus forest for about 5 km, and then the leads through the Paprienė recreation area, reaching the Greimų bridge over the Nemunas river. Behind the bridge the Forest Trail moves along the Vytauto, Nemuno, J. Zdebskio, Kęstučio, J. Basanavičiaus streets and along Kęstučio street (No. 3306) exits from the central part of Prienai. Along Paupio street, it forms a loop around the Nemunas and about 7 km from the centre of Prienai turns left to northeast towards Alksniakiemis. Part of this section is located in Nemunas Loops Regional Park.
Practical information
Length: 19 km
Duration: 5 – 7 h
Starting point: Birštonas Tourist Information Centre
End point: Alksniakiemis, Bičiulių street
The course of the route: Birštonas – Prienai – Rūdupis – Alksniakiemis
Road surface: Asphalt and paved sidewalks – coastal promenade, pedestrian / bicycle paths, in a small section – gravel road.
Difficulty: Easy
Danger points: Be careful when walking along the side of the road!
Good to know! There are no shops or catering services in the end point.
Alternatives: There is a ferry between Birštonas and the left bank of the Nemunas. If you use a ferry, you can continue along Turistų street, after less than 3 km turning right to Alksniakiemis. Thus, the route can be shortened by about 14 km and half of the day can be spent exploring Birštonas. Ferry opening hours: www.visitbirstonas.lt/en/activities–what–to–do/small–ferry–birstonas
Nature
One of the biggest natural values of Birštonas resort is mineral waters. In the old territory of the resort, on the right bank of the Nemunas, there were previously nine natural springs. Two of them, “Vytautas” and “Aldona”, were lost when the Kaunas hydroelectric power plant was built in 1959. The “Vytautas” spring was decorated with a whale sculpture – the symbol of Birštonas. Other springs have lost their practical significance and have been eliminated. Nowadays, the resort uses mineral water from wells. In 1960, hydrogeologists discovered mineral water in the underground layers, similar in chemical composition to the water of the historical “Vytautas” spring. It can be tasted in the Yellow buvette (from French – “building on a mineral spring”), which belongs to the “Tulpės” sanatorium. Non-carbonated mineral water “Vytautas”, whose chemical composition is slightly different from the previously mentioned, can be tasted in the buvette belonging to the sanatorium “Versmė”.
Tourism information:
- Birštonas Tourism Information Center
Address: B. Sruogos g. 4, Birštonas; Phone: +370 31965740; Website: https://www.visitbirstonas.lt/
- Prienai Tourism and Business Information Center
Address: Vytauto street 35, Prienai; Phone: +370 602 87027, +370 676 49010; Website: https://www.infoprienai.lt/en/
More information about the route (accommodation, catering, shops, map, GPX coordinates) - https://baltictrails.eu/en/forest/day/137
