Bažnytinio paveldo muziejus
The museum of the Vilnius Archdiocese: the treasury of Vilnius Cathedral in St Michael's Church, the cathedral bell tower and the crypts with the Royal Crypt.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Bažnytinio paveldo muziejus is the museum of sacred art of the Vilnius Archdiocese. It was founded on 7 October 2005 by a decree of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Vilnius, in the ensemble of St Michael the Archangel's Church and the former Bernardine monastery, when nationalised property began to be returned under the law on restoring the property rights of the Catholic Church. The museum opened to visitors on 18 October 2009.
The main exhibition is the treasury of Vilnius Cathedral, the oldest and richest of the treasuries kept in churches of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. From the 14th century it was enriched by gifts from rulers, nobles and bishops. Before the Second World War the treasury was hidden so well that for almost half a century, until 1985, it was considered lost. In December 2024 another part of it was found in the cathedral's crypts. The museum's collection is supplemented by church art and the largest collection of liturgical textiles in Lithuania.
Besides the treasury, the museum looks after the Vilnius Cathedral bell tower – one of the city's symbols, whose upper floor, at a height of 45 m, can be climbed – and the cathedral's crypts with the Chapter and Royal Crypts, which were handed over to the museum in 2011.
Highlights
- Vilnius Cathedral treasury with 14th-century goldsmith masterpieces
- Exhibition “Dangaus miestas” (City of Heaven) on seventeen Vilnius religious orders
- Cathedral bell tower with a panorama and the city's oldest clock
- Cathedral crypts: a 14th–15th-century fresco and the Royal Crypt (only with a tour)
- Free audio guide in Lithuanian and English
Permanent exhibitions
- Vilniaus katedros lobynas – Golden liturgical vessels with pearls and precious stones from the 14th century, ornate church textiles and other treasures of Vilnius Cathedral.
- Dangaus miestas – The former premises of the Bernardine monastery present the history, heritage and treasures of seventeen Vilnius religious orders.
- Bokšto istorijos (Vilniaus katedros varpinė) – An interactive exhibition on the history of the tower, narrated by the tower guard, an architect, a bell founder and other figures.
- Founded
- 2005
- Operated by
- Vilniaus arkivyskupija
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5students, pupils, teachers, lecturers, guides, soldiers, police officers, pensioners, persons with disabilities and accompanying persons, deportees, and members of the Lithuanian Artists' Union and of the art historians' and archaeologists' associations |
| Children & teens | €5For school-age children with disabilities, socially supported pupils and groups of pre-school children the ticket costs €2.50; pre-school children accompanied by family members enter free. |
| Seniors | €5 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5The concession also applies to the accompanying person. |
| Students & apprentices | €5 |
| Groups | –A guide service in Lithuanian or a foreign language costs €50 (excluding museum tickets). |
| Vilnius Cathedral bell tower | €6With concession: €4. |
| Vilnius Cathedral crypts (only with a tour) | €12With concession: €6. |
Concessions apply on presentation of a certificate. Holders of Vilnius Pass cards, members of ICOM and AICA, clergy, journalists, accredited guides, Lithuanian museum staff, teachers accompanying pupil groups and citizens of Ukraine enter free. There are joint tickets for the treasury and the bell tower, a ticket for all sites, and an annual ticket.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The treasury is partly adapted for visitors with mobility impairments: a ramp is installed at the gate, it is possible to move around the whole ground floor and reach the toilets. The bell tower and crypts are not adapted because of the age of the buildings – there are many stairs, low and narrow passages and no lifts. For visitors with hearing impairments, the treasury offers tablets with descriptions and a printed guide; the museum has a sensory map.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Educational sessions are offered for pre-school children, pupils and adults, as well as a birthday programme at the museum; in the bell tower, the history is presented to children by the pigeon Pranas.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Dailės akademija
Vilnius buses 10, 11 and 33 go to the treasury; the nearest stop is “Dailės akademija” (Academy of Arts). To the bell tower and the crypts: buses 10, 11, 33 and 89, stop “Arkikatedra”.
By car
Paid parking
At the junction of the treasury, Maironio and Onos Šimaitės streets there is a paid car park (yellow zone); near the bell tower or at Tilto g. 14 there is a paid car park (blue zone).
The treasury and the bell tower are easily reached on foot from the Old Town. Because of repair works, bus routes may be temporarily changed.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (LT, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The free audio guide in the treasury (about 90 minutes) introduces the exhibits, the cathedral, the chapels, the crypts and the bell tower. For individual visitors a tour of the treasury takes place every Saturday at 14:00; registration for all tours is required in advance (tel. +370 5 269 7800, +370 5 269 7803). The cathedral crypts are visited only with a guide. |
