Žemaičių kaimo muziejus
An open-air ethnographic museum on the shore of Lake Masčio, with three authentic Žemaitian homesteads from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Žemaičių kaimo muziejus (Žemaitija Village Museum) was begun in 1963, when the Council of Ministers of Lithuania decided to set up a Liaudies buities muziejus (Folk Life Museum) on the Kaunas Reservoir and three regional museums. The second-largest Lithuanian folk life museum after Rumšiškės was built in Telšiai. The first exhibit, a bathhouse from the Tryškiai area, was moved to the museum in 1967, and the museum opened to visitors in 1982.
The museum occupies 8.5 ha on the south-western shore of Lake Masčio. It has three authentic homestead ensembles and objects of old settlements: a small cemetery, a windmill and a smithy. Only crops and livestock typical of Žemaitija villages are kept – Žemaitukai (Samogitian horses), sheep, goats and rabbits.
Every year the museum hosts Užgavėnės (Shrovetide), night dances, threshing-floor theatre performances, and in May the festival “Žemaitių gīvastis”, which is devoted to cultivating Žemaitian identity. The museum is a branch of the Žemaičių muziejus “Alka”.
Highlights
- Three authentic Žemaitian homestead ensembles
- Windmill, smithy and small cemetery
- Žemaitukai and other traditional farm animals
- Festival “Žemaitių gīvastis” in May
- Tasting of Žemaitian dishes
Permanent exhibition
- Žemaitijos kaimo ekspozicija – Three authentic Žemaitian homesteads with a windmill, a smithy and a small cemetery, recreating the village scene at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Žemaičių muziejus „Alka“
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50students, pupils, pensioners and others under an order of the Minister of Culture |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Admission to the exhibitions and displays is free for persons with disabilities and one accompanying person. |
| Students & apprentices | €2.50 |
| Visiting the museum when the exhibition is closed (1 November – 30 April) | €3 |
| Guided tour (1.5 hours, group of up to 25 people) | €30In Lithuanian, English and Russian. |
| Educational programme (per person, group of 10 to 25 people) | €6 |
| Kalėda (Christmas) at the Žemaičių kaimo muziejus (30 min., during Advent, group of up to 25 people) | €50 |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The site is adapted for visitors with mobility impairments.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Traditional farm animals are kept at the museum, and educational sessions and festivals are held.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & 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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tastings of Žemaitian dishes and educational sessions can be booked in advance. |
