S. Šapšalo karaimų tautos muziejus
Exhibition on the history, faith and everyday life of the Karaim people in Trakai, named after the Karaim hakham Seraja Šapšalas.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum's exhibition tells of the Karaims – one of the smallest peoples of Turkic origin living in Lithuania. The Karaims were brought to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from Crimea at the end of the 14th century by Vytautas. At first, in 1967, an ethnographic exhibition of the Karaims was set up in Trakai; in 1997 it was renewed and became the only centre of its kind for learning about this people in Lithuania.
The museum is named after Seraja Šapšalas (1873–1961). This orientalist was hakham of the Karaims of Poland and Lithuania in 1928–1940, assembled a rich collection of museum objects and initiated the construction of a Karaim museum in Trakai: its foundation stone was consecrated on 6 July 1938, but the Second World War interrupted the construction. The Šapšalas collection became the basis of the museum of Karaim history and ethnography in Vilnius, which operated in 1941–1951.
On 18 November 2011 the Trakai History Museum commemorated the founder of the museum: a memorial plaque was unveiled on the wall of the building, and the ethnographic exhibition was named the S. Šapšalo karaimų tautos muziejus (S. Šapšalas Karaim Folk Museum).
Highlights
- Man's robe and cap, clergy garment, festive women's dress
- Karaim cradle, assembled with wooden pins only
- Household objects and utensils: dishes, trays, rugs, embroideries
- Karaim ornaments in embroidery and stories about festivals and customs
- Story of Karaim faith, language and community life
Permanent exhibition
- Karaimų tautos ekspozicija – Karaim history, faith, festivals and daily life: national costumes, household utensils, a cradle and embroidery ornaments.
- Founded
- 1967
- Operated by
- Trakų istorijos muziejus
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4students, seniors and pupils |
| Children & teens | €4A reduced ticket applies to pupils. |
| Seniors | €4 |
| Students & apprentices | €4 |
| Groups | –Guided tour service for a group of up to 25 people: €40 in Lithuanian, €20 for an organised pupils' group in Lithuanian, €50 in a foreign language (English, German, Polish, Russian); visitor tickets must also be bought. |
| Families | €10October–March: 1 adult and 1–3 minor children – €10; 2 adults and 1–3 minor children – €14. April–September: €13 and €18 respectively. |
| Guided tour in Lithuanian (group of up to 25 people) | €40plus visitor tickets |
| Guided tour for an organised pupils' group in Lithuanian | €20plus visitor tickets |
| Guided tour in a foreign language (English, German, Polish, Russian) | €50plus visitor tickets |
From April to September the ticket costs €9 for adults and €5 for pupils, students and seniors; from October to March €7 and €4.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €10 · October–March: 1 adult and 1–3 minor children – €10; 2 adults and 1–3 minor children – €14. April–September: €13 and €18 respectively. |
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The family ticket is valid for 1 or 2 adults with 1–3 minor children.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at Karaimų g. 22, Trakai.
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 |
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| Good to know | Tours can be booked by phone on +370 665 26240 or by e-mail at gidai@trakaimuziejus.lt. |