Places to visit

Gaidys mountain chapel

The Gaidys Chapel of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Salantai is surrounded by legends about hidden treasure, a church that once stood there, and the mysterious crowing of a rooster. The hill, where traces of ancient people were found, was named Gaidys (Rooster) Hill because of this strange phenomenon. Allegedly, people passing the hill were frightened by the mysterious crowing of a rooster, which stopped only after a chapel was built. It is said that the first church of Salantai may have stood on the same hill. However, there are also signs of paganism: a massive stone near the chapel is associated with nature worship. During the Soviet years, graduates used to secretly gather at the chapel and pray for success in exams, walking around the church on their knees three times. The Franciscan Vilius Orvidas left his mark here by creating an altar and decorating the surroundings of the chapel.