Maironio lietuvių literatūros muziejus

About the museum

The Maironio lietuvių literatūros muziejus (Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature) was founded in 1936 in the house of the poet and priest Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis (1862–1932), which he had bought in 1909. The poet lived in eight rooms on the second floor, and his flat was decorated by the artist Tadas Daugirdas. In 1940–1944 the museum was headed by the poet Bernardas Brazdžionis, on whose initiative the archives of other writers also began to be collected; the institution later became the Republican Museum of Literature.

In 1989 the museum was named the Maironio lietuvių literatūros muziejus, and in the garden the statue of Christ, demolished in 1976, was re-erected. Maironis's flat was fully furnished in 1992, and in 2016 the rooms reopened after a new restoration: the ornaments of the Great Parlour, the Art Deco designs of the study and the early rococo decoration of the Red Parlour were renewed.

The building was erected in the middle of the 18th century on the foundations of three Gothic cellars of 16th-century houses. After the 1812 war it housed a hospital, and during the suppression of the 1863–1864 uprising a field court-martial sat here. The museum includes the house-museums of Juozas Grušas, Salomėja Nėris and Bernardas Bučas, of Balys and Vanda Sruoga, the Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas flat-museum and the Children's Literature Museum.

Highlights

• Maironis's memorial flat with restored Art Deco and rococo decor
• Exhibition on the history of Lithuanian literature, “Literatūra keičia” (Literature Changes)
• Maironis's garden and the Gothic cellars
• Audio guides, sign language, and the tour “Maironio namai per prisilietimą” (Maironis's House by Touch)
• Branches: the Children's Literature Museum and writers' house-museums in Kaunas

Permanent exhibitions

• Maironio memorialinis butas – The restored flat of the poet, with the Great and Red Parlours, the study and the house kitchen.
• Literatūra keičia – An exhibition on the history of Lithuanian literature; a part on émigré literature is displayed on the third floor, together with temporary exhibitions.
• Rūsiai ir Maironio sodelis – The Gothic-foundation cellars and a small garden, which can be visited on a separate ticket.

Founded

1936

Operated by

Maironio lietuvių literatūros muziejus (biudžetinė įstaiga)

Admission & discounts

The audio guide in Maironis's memorial flat is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The museum has a lift and an adapted toilet. For visitors with visual impairments a tour “Maironio namai per prisilietimą” (Maironis's House by Touch) is offered, and for visitors with hearing impairments an audio guide in sign language. The website has information in easy-to-read language.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family tickets are sold; educational sessions are organised for families and pupils.

Getting there & parking

If you arrive by car, note that parking in the Kaunas Old Town is paid.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum has a shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 130 guests.

Halls and the cellar are rented out for conferences, exhibitions, seminars and other events; wedding ceremonies are possible in Maironis's garden.

Plan your visit