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Do you know how to read a village? Čižiūnai is one of the oldest surviving historic parts of Valkininkai, where centuries of local life can still be discovered.
The village dates back to the 16th century, when it developed along the old Vilnius–Grodno road, closely connected to the royal manor of Valkininkai. The manor's ponds once lay nearby, while Čižiūnai was home to ironworkers and blacksmiths employed at the famous Valkininkai arms forge. The settlement was once known as Kalviai, or the Blacksmiths' Village.
Today, Čižiūnai is a protected traditional village, remarkable for its almost one-kilometre-long cobbled street, historic wooden houses, distinctive decorative details and preserved farmstead layout.
But have you ever wondered what windows, doors, decorated house facades and the arrangement of courtyards can tell us about the people who once lived here?
Explore Čižiūnai at your own pace with a self-guided route created by Valkininkai kviečia and discover the Village Reading ABC – a simple guide to understanding traditional villages, useful not only here but throughout Dzūkija ( https://www.valkininkaikviecia.lt/solo-expedition4).
Visitor information: Čižiūnai is a living village. We recommend exploring it on foot and respecting the privacy of local residents.