Exhibition ‘Lithuania – The Land of Crosses’

In the inner courtyard of the National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, an exhibition of authentic Lithuanian crosses can be seen. It highlights the unique tradition of Lithuanian cross-crafting, which is included on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The exhibition features symbols crafted by cross-makers – sun, moon, stars, diamonds, squares, and circles. These designs reflect respect not only for religion but also for nature.

One of the most remarkable exhibits is a rare small chapel made from a hollow oak log called a baublys, which originally housed a saint’s figure. This demonstrates how closely Christian traditions were linked with pagan values, when oaks were worshipped and considered sacred.