Kretingos muziejus

About the museum

The Kretinga Museum was founded in 1935 on the initiative of the public figure Juozas Žilvitis. For many years it operated in other premises: in 1977 it moved to a restored monastery, and in 1992 it settled in the former palace of the Counts Tiškevičius. Since 2009 the manor's estate buildings have been renovated and adapted for tourism: five listed buildings were restored in total and new exhibitions were opened.

The history of the Kretinga manor is linked to Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius, who founded the town of Kretinga, a Franciscan monastery and a church at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1875 Count Juozapas Tiškevičius established the family residence here with a park and the largest private Winter Garden in Europe; in 1878 he built the first hydroelectric power station in Lithuania; and in 1882, together with Prince Bogdan Oginskis, he laid the first telephone line in Lithuania, from Kretinga to Plungė and Rietavas.

The central palace houses an archaeology exhibition, an exhibition on the history and culture of the manor, and a numismatics exhibition with nine silver coin hoards. Visitors can also see the Winter Garden (orangery), the exhibitions in the water mill and the steward's house, the Tiškevičius chapel-mausoleum and the manor park.

Highlights

• Archaeology exhibition on the people of the western Lithuanian coast up to the 13th century
• Manor history and culture exhibition, the legacy of the Chodkevičius and Tiškevičius families
• Numismatics exhibition – nine silver coin hoards
• Winter Garden (orangery)
• Water mill with the first hydroelectric power station in Lithuania
• Manor park with fountains and a waterfall

Permanent exhibitions

• Archeologijos ekspozicija „Kretingos krašto priešistorė“ – The culture of the people of the western Lithuanian coast from the earliest times to the 13th century: Neolithic artefacts, amber sets from Palanga and Šventoji, and jewellery made by Baltic goldsmiths.
• Dvaro istorijos ir kultūros ekspozicija – A chronological account of the owners of the Kretinga manor, the Chodkevičius and Tiškevičius families, and their legacy in Kretinga and Lithuania.
• Numizmatikos ekspozicija – Part of the nine silver coin hoards (2,862 coins), showing the money market on Lithuanian territory in the 16th–18th centuries.

Founded

1935

Operated by

Kretingos muziejus

Admission & discounts

The €8 ticket is valid for the exhibitions in the central palace, the water mill and the steward's house, and for the Winter Garden. On Mondays and Tuesdays tickets are sold only at the self-service cash desk of the palace (Vilniaus g. 20), paid by bank card; from Wednesday to Sunday tickets can also be bought at the museum's cash desk (Vilniaus g. 37). Teachers, employees of Lithuanian museums and ICOM members also visit free of charge.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The “Pažinimo kuprinė” (Knowledge Backpack) subscription programme and educational sessions are available.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café “Pas grafą” and the Dvaro saldaininė (manor sweet shop). Dogs may be brought into the museum if they do not disturb other visitors.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit