Curiosity for local legends

The only Devils’ Museum in the world, the Hill of Witches, Amber museum boasting Baltic Sea treasures, the monster of the Vilnius dungeons: these and other places, alluring children and adults alike, prove that fairy tales and legends are alive and well in Lithuania. Most of these legends stem from authentic Lithuanian folklore tales and Baltic mythology. Visiting these mysterious spots will make your trip an unforgettable experience and allow you to better understand the country’s culture.

Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology

 

A flying saucer – that's exactly what the Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology looks like thanks to its ellipsoid glass observation deck standing 32 metres tall. The museum’s research focuses on the relations of man and space. You can see the sun and constellations through the telescopes of the Molėtai astronomical observatory. Experienced educators offer patient answers to curious questions and eagerly invite visitors to plunge into the cosmic world.

More information - here.

 

Amber Museum

 

Baltic gold from the age of dinosaurs is another name for amber - pine resin that solidified millions of years ago and can now be found on Baltic beaches. In the Amber Museum in Palanga, you can find out all about it - where it comes from and how it is processed, its uses and health benefits. Among the exhibits, some of which go 50 million years back, you’ll find the rarest amber pieces, containing insects or even tiny lizards forever trapped in the solidified resin. By the way, only in Lithuania, you can experience the joy of “fishing” for amber. Why not try finding Lithuanian gold yourself!

More information - here.

Hill of Witches

 

Almost 100 fairy tale characters reside in the forest of Juodkrantė, one of the Curonian Spit villages. Walking through the dunes, you will encounter a unique collection of wooden sculptures scattered between centenarian trees. Imps, witches and other Lithuanian folklore characters, created by carvers from all over Lithuania, reign over this hill. What is more, there are recordings of folk tales in Lithuanian, English and German that can be found on the Hill of Witches website.

More information - here.

Devils’ Museum

 

The Devils’ Museum, listed as one of the most unique museums in existence, contains around three thousand exhibits from all over the world - works of fine art, applied art, souvenirs and masks. The museum provides a great opportunity to have a closer look at how mysterious mythological creatures are depicted across more than 70 countries, including Lithuania. The collection was started by the famous Lithuanian painter Antanas Žmuidzinavičius, and the museum continues growing with the help of its visitors. - You can also donate a devil artefact to the museum.

More information - here.

Baltic Culture Education Center “Balts’ Road”

 

If you were a yarn spinner, a weaver, a warrior, a fisherman or a representative of some other ancient Baltic profession – what would you look like? What objects did the Balts use in their day-to-day lives? Take this time machine ride to the past and have a look at how the Balts used to live. A new exhibition featuring interactive games allows you to experience the everyday life of the Baltic tribe’s people through the senses of touch, smell, vision and hearing.

More information - here.

Vilnius Dungeons

 

As legend has it, the Basilisk - a monster with a rooster’s head and a tail of a lizard, whose gaze turns you into stone, once roamed the streets of Vilnius at night, terrorizing its people. The only way to protect yourself from the monster is a mirror, which is why, the legend has it, people of Vilnius in the Middle Ages never left their homes without a pocket mirror. The capital’s legendary creature can be viewed as part of an exhibition of the National Museum of Lithuania at The Bastion of the Vilnius Defensive Wall. Get acquainted with the history of the defensive wall and the armaments of that time, and see the ghastly sculpture of the Basilisk with your very own eyes! Just don’t forget to slip a mirror in your pocket.

More information - here.

Shrove Tuesday (Užgavėnės) Museum

 

Samogitia is considered the most authentic Lithuanian region, where the old traditions of Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras or Pancake Day) are still very much alive and cherished. The only Shrove Tuesday museum in Europe, located in the renewed Plateliai estate stable, tells all about the history and traditions of this winter celebration, and is home to an impressive collection of more than 250 traditional masks. The estate ensemble boasts of a craft centre, which offers plenty of activities - from creating your own mask, through candle pouring, to pancake making.

More information - here.

Baltic Mythology Park

 

For the Balts, nature was sacred, and the forest served as home for most of their deities. No wonder that the Baltic Mythology Park is located in a forest. Its thematic educational paths with spectacular wooden sculptures unveil the Baltic worldview. Find out about the deity that was considered to lead travellers, the god that was helpful in love matters, or one to be addressed for a plentiful harvest or good health. You’ll also learn who was keeping wanderers’ sins in a bag and waited for them to enter the Underworld circle. Baltic history, attractively presented through ancient legends, will enrich any family’s walk in the forest.

More information - here.

Palanga Fairytale Park

 

Fairy tales are not just something people read to their children before bed. Palanga’s pine forest is where the most known Lithuanian fairy tales are told in few different languages. While listening to them, you can play with some of the fairy tale characters: give Eglė the Queen of Serpents a swing, get on top of a pink goat, ride a fox that got her head stuck in a jug, or see how a giant bean punched a hole through the roof of a cottage. It is the most amusing way to learn about Lithuanian folklore in the open air.

More information - here.

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