Kernavės archeologinės vietovės muziejus

About the museum

The roots of today’s museum go back to 1930, when Juozas Šiaučiūnas, head of the primary school in Kernavė, opened one of the first regional museums in Lithuania in the school building. With his pupils he collected archaeological finds and ethnographic objects; by 1940, 630 exhibits had been gathered. In 1941 the teacher and his family were deported. In 1948 the museum was moved to the premises of the nationalised parsonage, and in 1965 it became a branch of the Trakų istorijos muziejus (Trakai History Museum).

From 1979 systematic archaeological research began in Kernavė, revealing traces of a medieval town. In 1989 the independent Valstybinis Kernavės archeologijos ir istorijos muziejus-rezervatas (State Kernavė Archaeology and History Museum-Reserve) was established; in 2002 it was granted the status of the State Kernavė Cultural Reserve, and in 2004 the Kernavė archaeological site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In 2012 a reconstructed modern museum opened at Kerniaus g. 4A, with a new exhibition presenting the most significant archaeological finds from Kernavė and the work of archaeologists. In 2016 an open-air museum exhibition opened: based on the research material, a fragment of the 13th–14th-century medieval town was reconstructed – a complex of three craftsmen’s homesteads, built with an axe alone, as in those times.

Highlights

• Interactive exhibition on the UNESCO-protected Kernavė archaeological site
• Work of archaeologists and finds from research carried out since 1979
• Reconstructed fragment of a 13th–14th-century town: three craftsmen’s homesteads (skansen)
• Entrance to the reserve is open and free of charge
• Free admission on the last Sunday of each month

Permanent exhibitions

• Archeologinės vietovės muziejaus ekspozicija – Interactive exhibition on the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Kernavė archaeological site, the work of archaeologists, their finds and the research material from 1979 onwards.
• Muziejus po atviru dangumi – Reconstructed fragment of the 13th–14th-century medieval town of Kernavė – a complex of three craftsmen’s homesteads, called a skansen; open April–October.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Valstybinio Kernavės kultūrinio rezervato direkcija

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the last Sunday of each month the museum’s exhibitions can be visited free of charge.

Entrance to the reserve is free, but a voluntary visitor ticket is suggested. Visiting the open-air museum and the exhibition hall is free of charge. Tickets can be bought at the museum box office (in cash or by bank card) and on the bilietai.lt platform. Persons aged 80 and over, Ukrainian citizens, holders of the Family Card and POLA card, and members of certain organisations also visit free of charge.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Kernavė can be reached by bus or by car.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Plan your visit