About „Vandens malūnas“

Verkiai restaurant “Vandens malūnas” (Water Mill) is located in XIX century water mill which has been ably restored. Authentic millstone’s mechanisms and wooden interior details create special and cosy atmosphere.

Since 1999 years of work Verkiai “Vandens malūnas” earned itself a good name among customers and companies. Good food, excellent service and pleasant surroundings – are our main goals which are improved with every year.

Brief History

Water was the main energy source for Verkiai Estate during last centuries. If to talk about present central part of the Estate, water cascade of four dams, joined by the nameless stream, possibly called Verkė, should be pointed out. Water resources of these three streams water dams were used to power water-mill’s power stations.

First two water-mills by this stream were designed by L. Gucevičius.

The most impressive classicism style water-mill with pillars was built at the stream’s lower reaches by the river Neris. We can judge its exterior from the work of art by the painter Vincentas Smuglevičius.

By the mill, there is a dam with four shutters and a bridge with barriers above it. It is not known for how long these water-mills stood, but they were still standing in 1818.

Present mill, which stands nearest to the river Neris was built in second half of XIX century. It is a masonry two storey building in the folk architectural style, which has a basement that descends to the ground floor at the lower part of the hill. Till the First WW mill was driven by water, later electricity. It operated till 1975. During the fire at 1984 flames damaged the roof and the interior mechanisms of the mill. Later it became a nest for tamps till year 1995, when derelict building was passed on to the Botanical Institute which leased the building out UAB “Vandens malūnas”.  The mill building is now restored and used for the new restaurant. Specially marked places in the restaurant hall still remind of the old mill interior and equipment.