Museum of the Battles for Freedom

The small but highly informative Museum of the Battle for Freedom consists of 6 divisions, each dedicated to a specific experience in the Utena Region and Lithuania at large during the era of totalitarian regimes. Established in 2015, inside the former Utena station of a now-defunct narrow-gauge railway, the museum poetically depicts the painful events in Easter and Western Europe following the continent’s partition in 1939. Here you’ll find expositions covering the Soviet occupation and annexation of Lithuania, the forced participation of its people in WWII, exile, post-War resistance – and more. By exploring a single corner of the country and comparing it with life beyond the Iron Curtain, visitors are given a broad view of contemporary European history. Based on the principle of contrast, each division of the museum tells two stories and has a double name, e.g., “War-making partition / War that crushed evil” or “Forced war / War for freedom”. In addition to the permanent expositions, the museum also offers tours and multiple educational activities, as well as commemorates that annual Day of Mourning and Hope on June 14, which features readings of the names of exiles, and memorial concerts. It also organises events honouring guerrilla fighters, partisan anniversaries, and important dates of the partisan resistance.