Jonalaukis rural tourism farmstead is separated from Gaveikenai by a tiny wooded area. You usually pass the village on your way to Ginučiai from Ignalina or while boating on Lake Dringis. The village was first mentioned in written sources as early as 1373.

 

Traveller K.Čeponis wrote that the family of Bortkevičiai ruled the manors of Kazokinė (Ignalina region)and Paliesius (Mielagėnai region) in the 18th-20th centuries. Later they acquired Jonapolis (Jonalaukis) estate farm and Gaveikėnai village as well as the mill (Kazokinės Bortkevičiai). The large Bartkevičiai family ruled quite a few estates in Ašmena region in the 18th-19th centuries. It is believed that this family are the descendants of Lithuanian boyar Bartkus. Vincentas Bartkevičius was born in Paliesius in 1776 and was the leader of the uprisings of 1794 and 1831.

 

In the 19th century the mill was the property of Kaminski’s (the owner of Vidiškiai manor and Ignalina manor land), later it belonged to Romanovičius, and the last owners were the family of Subačiai who ran several mills.

 

Gaveikėnai is a typical Aukstatija linear village. The village belongs to Palūšė parish, therefore the life of the inhabitants of the village is closely related to the lives of other parishioners. The great St. Laurynas’ Pilgrimage used to be held in Palūšė church. A procession from each village would arrive at church, each village “delegation” distinguished from the other by certain attributes and with villagers dressed up in original clothes.

 

By the road there stands the old Gaveikėnai village cross. Juozapas Čeponis (born in 1886) put it up in memory of his daughter in 1948. The reason for putting up the cross is quite touching but would seem quite odd to most of our modern young people. As the girl was getting ready to go to church she put on her stockings and secured them with a rubber band so that they wouldn’t fall down. Young people in those days used to go to church in groups, so the girl, who was 16, probably was ashamed to loosen the rubber band which was too tight. As blood circulation was blocked, later gangrene set in. The farmer was wealthy, but even doctors in Vilnius were unable to save the girl’s life and she died of blood poisoning. A few years ago the cross was reconsecrated.

 

The village is a birthplace of famous Lithuanian painter Jonas Čeponis. His house is very well looked after by his relatives.

 

The homestead of the Auguliai family, who have returned to their native village, is extremely attractive. Though used to city life, they managed to see the old household utensils in a new light, so they collected, renovated and displayed them in a small museum which they established themselves. You will see there different utensils such as a fishing line made from horse-hair, a pair of bellows and other agricultural implements. The agile hostess Aldona will show off stylized Lithuanian national costumes of her own design and upon your wish you will have a possibility to try them on and have a photo shoot while raking hay or drawing water from the well or maybe just sitting in a buggy?.. There is a “lucky bench” in the house and if the hostess likes you, she will by no means suggest that you should sit on it. Just do not forget to make a silent wish...it will most certainly come true.

 

In the south-eastern part of the village, on the edge of the forest where the Palaukinis rivulet carries its waters, close to the road of Ignalina-Ginučiai and in the territory of Aukštaitija National Park there stands one of the six mills which was notorious for its devils. According to the sources, the Mill was built in 1800. After the war a personal service centre moved in there, then in 1953 the collective farm “Aušra” had its headquarters in the Mill, and later, in 1958, employees of Ignalina fishing farm, who had no concern for their surroundings, had their office there. People were grateful for the preserved ancient tools to A. Bagdonavičius, the ingenious manager of Ignalina Fishing Farm. In 1977 the building was renovated and a leisure centre was set up there. In 1978 a reconstructed Gaveikiai Mill was inscribed into the list of Lithuanian cultural monuments. This monument is protected by the state as a historical monument with technical elements. In 1993 some technical parts still survived: a covered turbine at the back of the building, grindstones and two grain funnels on the ground floor of the mill, and a cog wheel in the basement. The leisure centre attracted visitors with its falls and a possibility (for a small fee) to catch that big fish.

 

The villagers tell stories about the notorious and angry devil Abisinas who used to live in Gaveikėnai Mill. To keep him company, he had his buddies pay him a visit now and then. Devil Abisinas, his mates and servants used to enjoy fishing in the nearby pond. Based on the stories craftsman Teofilis Patiejūnas carved several devils out of wood as decoration to the porch of the Mill. Now the sculpture of Devil Abisinas stands as a roofed pillar on the Sculpture Trail on the shore of lake Lūšiai.

Recently the evil beings have been driven away by the presence of the employees of the Archdiocese of Vilnius. It is not yet clear who is about to settle in the Mill. Hopefully, the international bicycle track running both through the village of Gaveikėnai and the Mill yard will not be closed for visitors.