Jono Basanavičiaus gimtinė

About the museum

The Jono Basanavičiaus gimtinė in the village of Ožkabaliai, Vilkaviškis district, is one of three branches of the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus located outside the capital. Here Dr Jonas Basanavičius, the patriarch of the Lithuanian National Revival, was born and spent his childhood. In 1991–1998 the buildings of the birthplace home from the second half of the 19th century were restored; the homestead has a chestnut tree about 200 years old, known as the “Basanavičynės” chestnut.

Next to the homestead is the old Ožkabaliai cemetery with a metal cross and a wayside shrine. Beside the homestead, the Lithuanian National Revival Oak Grove has been growing since 1989–1998, inspired by the spirit of Sąjūdis. It consists of 14 thematic groves dedicated to the Sąjūdis congress, the national revival, the victims of repression, the victims of 13 January and of Medininkai, the book smugglers, the signatories of the Act of Independence and other themes. The grove covers about 40 hectares, and its newest part is the Centenary Grove of Restored Lithuania, made of 100 oaks.

The homestead exhibitions are set up in the four buildings of a traditional village farmstead. Visitors are offered guided tours and educational sessions for children and adults (food education, beekeeping, baking riestainiai, traditional Lithuanian pastries), a nature trail through the oak grove and quizzes.

Highlights

• Restored birthplace of Jonas Basanavičius with 19th-century buildings
• Lithuanian National Revival Oak Grove (14 thematic groves)
• Centenary Grove of Restored Lithuania, made of 100 oaks
• Educational programmes for children and adults
• Free admission on the last Sunday of the month

Permanent exhibition

• Jono Basanavičiaus gimtoji sodyba – In the restored 19th-century farmstead buildings, the story of Jonas Basanavičius's childhood, his family and village life of the time; in the neighbouring oak grove, the history of the national revival.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every last Sunday of the month

Discounts apply upon presenting a document confirming the entitlement. Free admission is also granted to orphans, POLA card holders, employees of Lithuanian museums, ICOM members, teachers accompanying pupil groups, holders of the Family card, Ukrainian citizens and other persons determined by the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus (LNM).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: not available
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum can be reached only by car. The exhibitions are set up in four buildings of a traditional farmstead with high thresholds, low door frames and low ceilings; the courtyard ground is uneven. Visitors with mobility impairments can visit one exhibition building (the “pigsty”) on their own, which also has an adapted toilet; the residential house, the granary and the threshing barn are not adapted. There are no tactile models, but if the visit is arranged in advance, a guide accompanies visitors with visual impairments and lets them touch most of the exhibits.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family tickets and educational sessions for children (a bee programme, baking riestainiai) are offered, as well as a nature trail in the oak grove with the “Acorn Spirits” (gilių dvasios); birthdays can be celebrated at the homestead.

Getting there & parking

The museum can be reached only by car; the homestead is in the south of Ožkabaliai village, next to the Šiulė stream.

Amenities & 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