Joniškis

Joniškis synagogue complex (Joniškis, Upytes str.)

Joniškis is proud of its two synagogues, the only such complex still extant in Lithuania. The complex consists of two parallel brick buildings: the White synagogue and the Red one.

The place of Saule battle (Jauniūnai village, Gataučiai governmental office, Joniškis district) 

The place of Saulės (Šiauliu) battle which was on 22nd September 1236 is said to be in the confluence of Musa and Tautinis rivers. The world famous battle took place in this field - it was one of the biggest bailies in the period of 250 years while there was the war between Lithuania and baits with German Order of Swords and Teutonic Order. The Lithuanian Samogitian army defeated Order of Swords and repulsed the first Cross Crusades in Lithuania. Now there is ihe memorial board and the stone, which is still waiting for Ihe historical place to be memorialized. More over it is planned to build the Saulės battle memorial. 

Jakiškiai manor-estate (Jakiškiai village, Joniškis governmental office, Joniškis district) 

The manor was mentioned in historical sources in 1578. The main buildings were located in the present place of Jakiškiai pond. One of the latest owners of the manor was German Koskolis. In 1898 he built new manor-house with 17 rooms, the building we see nowadays. Big gates and other outbuildings burned during the war. Around the manor there was a 2 ha park. The separate parts of the park are still standing- Linder Avenue, which was formed by the entrance to the manor-estate. There are valuable larches, poplars and pines in the park. In the territory of the park there still remain small pond, icehouse of the manor, steam mill. On 31st December, 1997 Jakiškiai manor complex was enrolled into the Register of Protection of Immovable cultural heritage of Lithuania.

Kalnelis mound (Kalnelis village, Joniškis governmental office, Joniškis district) 

The mound is related with the last Semigallian castle Sidabre. It is on the left bank of the river. The archcological researches showed that the castle and the settlement on the foot were populated in the 5th-13th centuries. Sidabre castle was mentioned in written sources in 1289-1290. According to some researchers the history of Joniškis town is related with Kalnelis. 

Daunovara manor-estate (Daunorava village, Satkūnai governmental office, Joniškis district) 

The manor-estate was built by count Keizerling in 1845-1855. The manor was huge- all in all there were approximately 17 buildings- peon houses, studs, barns, pigsties, fuel-warehouses, stables for peons, building for drying flaxes. There remained three buildings made of field stones and some other fragments of former manor- house and park, where trees of local origin are growing. Near the manor-estate there is a big pond, on the bank of which you can have a rest and observe peaceful nature.

Žagare mound and ridge (Along the road Žagare-Naujoji Akmenė, Jonškis district) 

Žagare mound (also called Žvelgaitis hill) is on the left side of Svete, located on the south western part of the hill on the river bank. There is a convention from the old times that Žagare mound standing on the left bank of Svete river is the centre of Žagare land mentioned in historical sources.The ridge extends for over 500metres of Žagare hills, Žvelgaitis mound. The height of the ridge is 25 metres, length – 8 km. From the year 2002 ridge was enlisted as the object of geo-morphologic nature heritage.

Žagare manor-estate 

There was own estate of the Old Žagare which constantly changed. It once has belonged to Syreviciai, Umestikiai and some other grandees. The entire ensemble of Žagares mansion didn't remain. We are reminded of it only from separate fragments of the former manor park. Naujoji Žagare is proclaimed by ensemble of former favourites of the czar -Naryškinai manor and the park. On 5 December, 2005 Žagares manor-estate was enrolled into the Register of Protection of Immovable Cultural heritage of Lithuania as having the historical, urban and landscape value.

Žagare manor-house

The mansion was build between 1840-1860, because in the inventory of the 1865 there is mentioned two-storied master's house having two annexes. The description of the inventor corresponds the present two storied building of U shape plan, with the facade oriented towards east. In the interwar period the mansion lost it's residential purpose. Architectural historian V. Levandauskas sees Žagare mansion as the example of a building having consistent classical forms in Lithuanian architecture. Žagare mansion is compact, having half closed plan. The vast usage of wood in the interior is not common for the architecture of Classicism; it may witness the link with the English style which was preferable for Naryškinai. 

The manor park 

The park has two parts - the old and the new . The area of the park is 63,25 ha. In the 19th eentury the manor park was reconstructed and expanded according to the project of famous dendrologist George Friedrich Ferdinand Kuphaldt (1853-1938). More than 200 species of sprouts were planted in this park. More 100 species are still growing. For many years park of Naujoji Žagare has been one of the most luxurious and the most interesting park from the architectural point of view in Lithuania. Society likes and visits it.

The complex of the stud, riding-hall and coach house

Very impressive accent of the manor-estate is the complex of the stud, riding-hall and the coach house. It was build around the year 1985-1900, when the park has been expanded. The special lodge for the viewers was established in the big riding hall which was covered with the unique construction of that- time-glued timber. The stud, riding-hall and coach- house were built of high quality resources emphasizing their colour and materials. The outside of the buildings reminds the English Gothic style. The former water-supply and draining equipment still exists as well. The side of the riding-hall is wide, the original glued wooden truss and curved construction of rungs cover the space without any additional support. The room of the riding-hall is light: there are viewers' stands and former NarySkinas lodge near the entrance.

The windmill (Žagare, Joniskis district) 

The oldest building of the park – Dutch windmill became the exotic element of the park. The mill was mentioned in 1780 and worked till 1914. The walls of the mill are made of massive field stones, rubble and bricks. The surface of the walls is covered in thin plaster, but the stones stand out. The windows arc rectangular with brick lintels; the highest window is of the semicircular shape. 

Houses of the English cottage style 

These are the houses reflecting different architectural tendency, used for estate servants. All houses are red bricked with open wooden porches, covered with pitched roofs above which high English chimneys stand out. In sonic facades of the houses there is composed the blazon of Naryškinai.

Raktuves mound (Raktuves st. Žagare, Joniškis district) 

Researchers are interested in the place of Rakte castle and Raktuves mound. Raktuves mound was set up in the knoll. On the foot of the mound there was the settlement. According to the results of the 1996-1997 research it can be stated that in the foot of Raktuve mound from the beginning of the first millennium till the early middle ages (10-13th centuries) there have been rather a big settlement. 

Martyniškiai manor-estate (Martyniškiai village, Joniškis district) 

It is one of many manors that were typical to Joniškis district. In the surroundings of the manor ancient tools are found. The estate-house with preserved authentic building elements are still standing but are not renovated.