Vainutas is a border town of Žemaitija, situated in a beautiful valley where the Šyša River begins its journey. The town was first mentioned in historical sources in 1506. In 1640, there were 29 families living in Vainutas. At the beginning of the 18th century, during the Great Northern War, the town was completely burned down, leaving not a single resident. Over time, life in Vainutas was rebuilt, a church and a school were constructed, but in 1853, the town burned down again. However, after every disaster, it quickly recovered.
From 1853 to 1855, Antanas Baranauskas, a famous Lithuanian poet and literary classic, worked in Vainutas as an assistant clerk. His most famous work is the poem “Anykščių šilelis”. The poet also wrote verses about the fire of Vainutas. In 1856, a small church was built, which was later rebuilt in 1869 on the initiative of Bishop Motiejus Valančius. The church has survived to this day – it is a rectangular stone masonry building with two towers and an apse, featuring three altars inside. The churchyard is enclosed by a stone wall.
The town is adorned with chapel poles dedicated to priest and poet Antanas Baranauskas, a wooden sculpture of a shepherd, a monumental stone for the Restoration of Lithuanian Independence, and the Atgimimas Oak Grove. At the entrance to the town, on a stone pedestal, stands the symbol of Vainutas – an oak cannon.
Today, visitors will find a small and peaceful town, where time flows slowly, just like the waters of the Šyša River. The school, church, store, and cemetery are all nearby, within easy reach. In spring and summer, as nature awakens, visitors arriving from Žemaičių Naumiestis are greeted by the town’s name – Vainutas – beautifully written in blooming wildflowers on the hillside.