Panerių memorialas
The memorial at the largest mass-killing site in Lithuania, with memorial markers and a visitor information centre.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Paneriai is the largest site of mass killings in Lithuania. In spring 1941, on Soviet orders, pits were dug here for fuel storage, but the work was never completed. In June 1941, after the Germans had occupied Vilnius, they used the unfinished fuel depot for mass killings. Tens of thousands of people were killed, most of them Jews from the Vilnius region. After the war, in 1960, the Panerių memorialinis muziejus (Paneriai Memorial Museum) was established on the site of the killings. In 1977 the memorial park was officially named the Paneriai Memorial, and in 1985 the site was arranged to a design by the architect Jaunutis Makariūnas.
Since 1991 the memorial has been looked after by the Vilniaus Gaono žydų istorijos muziejus (Vilnius Gaon Jewish History Museum). Visitors can follow the visitor path and see the sites of mass killings and the memorial markers dedicated to the different groups of victims – Jews, Poles, Lithuanians, Soviet prisoners of war and Roma. In the building that stands on the site of the former museum, a visitor information centre opened in 2018; it shows a temporary exhibition until a suitable way to present the memorial’s history is found.
Key themes
- Memorial markers for different groups of victims
- Visitor path through the sites of mass killings
- Visitor information centre with an exhibition
- Free admission
- QR codes at the sites with their histories
Permanent exhibition
- Lankytojų informacijos centro ekspozicija – The information centre presents basic information on the Paneriai killings, facsimiles of archival photographs and maps; the exhibition is temporary until the final presentation has been prepared.
- Founded
- 1960
- Operated by
- Vilniaus Gaono žydų istorijos muziejus
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
A site of mass killings; suitable for teenagers and adults.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Paneriai (geležinkelio stotis) · 20-min walk · 1 km
By train from Vilnius (Paneriai stop, about 10 minutes’ journey); buses 8 and 42. From the station it is about 1 km on foot along Agrastų Street.
By car
Parking available
Car park next to the memorial.
From central Vilnius, drive along Liepkalnio Street.
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 |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Tours must be booked in advance by phone or email. Scanning the QR codes next to the sites with a phone gives access to their history. |
