The Old Arsenal

The very location of the Old Arsenal alone holds significant historical value. Here, in the area where the Vilnelė flows into the Neris, archaeologists have found wooden and stone fortifications and defensive towers dating back to at least the 13th century. Simply put, there is no better place to embark on a journey through the early history and prehistory of Lithuania. In the first floor hall of the Old Arsenal, you’ll find an exposition named "Lithuania before Christ." It is home to some of the most precious finds from the country's prehistory, filled with pagan artifacts, early farming, fishing and domestic tools, as well as examples of ancient Baltic tribes' art. A walk through this hall is a unique opportunity to connect with people who walked this very land thousands of years ago. Meanwhile, the second floor offers a better understanding of how the Lithuanian state was born. It focuses on the development of local trade, agriculture, ceramics, metallurgy, and other economically important areas. The exhibition is structured in such a way that you can compare and discover cultural differences between the Baltic tribes in the first millennium.