Šaltojo karo muziejus

About the museum

The Šaltojo karo muziejus is housed in the former Soviet Union's shaft launch complex for ballistic missiles, “Dvina”, in the Plokštinė forest near Lake Plateliai. Construction began in 1960, and at the end of December 1962 the first combat duty was announced. From 1963 to 1978 four medium-range SS-4 ballistic missiles with thermonuclear warheads, aimed at cities in Western Europe, were deployed in four shafts almost 30 m deep. The base was closed in 1978.

The buildings were later used for other purposes, and in 1993 the complex was transferred to the Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko direkcija (Žemaitija National Park Directorate). Under a project supported by the European Union, the first museum exhibition in Lithuania presenting the Cold War era was officially opened here in 2012. It is described as the only exhibition in Europe set up in one of the first Soviet underground missile launch complexes.

Visitors go down into the bunker with a guide: they see the central control room, the armoury hall with mock-ups and the only accurate mock-up of the SS-4 missile, the recreated office of the bunker commander, a communications hub, propaganda and civil defence exhibitions, the power plant hall, the missile shaft and a simulation of a nuclear explosion. In the neighbouring former military town there are information boards with audio guides in Lithuanian and English.

Highlights

• Former Soviet underground ballistic missile base “Dvina”
• Bunker with control room, communications hub and a 30 m deep missile shaft
• The only accurate mock-up of the SS-4 missile
• Documentary film “Šaltasis karas – baimės šešėlis” (The Cold War – Shadow of Fear)
• Observation platform and former military town with information boards

Permanent exhibition

• Šaltojo karo ekspozicija – The exhibition in the bunker tells of the Cold War and Soviet nuclear weapons in Lithuania: the control room, missile mock-ups, communications hub, propaganda, civil defence and the 30 m deep missile shaft.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Žemaitijos nacionalinio parko direkcija

Admission & discounts

The free admission on the last Sunday of the month set by the Ministry of Culture does not apply to this exhibition.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops

An educational programme “Žaidimai ir atradimai raketinėje bazėje” (Games and Discoveries at the Missile Base) is offered to pupils in grades 6–7 (1 hour 30 minutes, €6 per person, October–April). Visitors must not leave children unsupervised.

Getting there & parking

From Plungė, drive along the Mažeikiai road and follow the brown road signs “Šaltojo karo muziejus”; from the Plateliai visitor centre (Didžioji g. 8), take Didžioji gatvė towards Plungė for about 5 km and then follow the signs for another 5 km. The exhibition is in the Plokštinė forest, about 13 km from Plungė.

Amenities & dining

Tickets are sold at the visitor centre cash desk; where possible, payment by bank card is requested.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit