Žemaičių muziejus „Alka“
The Žemaičių muziejus “Alka” in Telšiai tells the story of Žemaitija, its nature and everyday life, and has a rich collection of manor art.
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About the museum
The Žemaičių muziejus was founded on 16 February 1932 by the Samogitian antiquarians' society “Alka”. Its founders were the poet Pranas Genys, the head of Telšiai county Eugenijus Šalkauskas, the priest Antanas Juozapavičius and the doctor Jonas Mikulskis. The foundations had been laid as early as 1924–1925, when exhibits began to be collected at the Telšiai teachers' seminary. In 1938 new premises were built for the museum to designs by the architect Stepas Stulginskis, and in 1988 the museum regained its old name, “Alka”.
The museum's collections hold more than 60,000 exhibits: archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, folk art, printed matter, manuscripts, photographs, professional art and natural history collections. Particularly valuable are the paintings, graphic art, sculptures and applied art that came from the manors of Žemaitija in 1940–1941. Archaeologists have been organising expeditions since 1955, and the ethnographic collections stand out for their blacksmithing products and wooden folk sculpture.
After several years of modernisation financed by the European Regional Development Fund, the building was renovated and adapted to the needs of visitors, and a new historical exhibition was set up. The museum brings together several units: the Telšiai yeshiva, the Žemaičių kaimo muziejus (Samogitian village museum), the Žemaičių vyskupystės muziejus (Samogitian bishopric museum) in Varniai and the Rainiai Passion chapel.
Highlights
- Žemaitija's history from archaeology to the 20th century in a new exhibition
- More than 60,000 exhibits, including paintings and sculptures from manors of Žemaitija
- Authentic blacksmithing products and wooden folk sculpture from Žemaitija
- Museum building erected in 1938 to the design of Stepas Stulginskis
- Thematic tours led by guides
Permanent exhibition
- Istorinė ekspozicija – The exhibition opened after the modernisation presents the development of the history of Žemaitija, the region's nature, the everyday life of its people and a collection of works of art, including manor paintings, graphic art and sculptures.
- Founded
- 1932
- Operated by
- Žemaičių muziejus „Alka“
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Students, pupils, pensioners and other persons listed in the order of the Minister of Culture (upon presenting documents granting the reduction) |
| Children & teens | €4 |
| Seniors | €4For pensioners (upon presenting a document). |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Visits to the exhibitions and displays are free for persons with disabilities and one accompanying person (upon presenting a document confirming the entitlement). |
| Students & apprentices | €4For students and pupils (upon presenting a document). |
| Groups | –A guide service for a group of up to 25 persons (duration 1 hour 30 minutes) costs €30 and is paid together with the tickets. |
| Guide service (group of up to 25 persons, 1 hour 30 minutes) | €30Booked in advance; paid together with the ticket price. |
| Announced guided tour with registration (group of 5 to 25 persons, 1–1.5 hours) | €2Per person, together with the ticket price. |
Free admission: Every last Sunday of the month
Teachers accompanying groups of pupils enter free of charge (up to 11 pupils – 1 teacher, 12–25 pupils – 2 teachers), as do guides with a valid certificate.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers educational sessions and tours for school groups.
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
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Up to 50 guests.
The hall for events and celebrations (up to 3 hours, up to 50 persons) costs €250; it is rented from 8:00 to 21:00, and each additional hour costs €50. The renter also pays for the exhibition tickets and educational sessions.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guide services must be booked in advance by e-mail at alka@muziejusalka.lt or by phone on +370 672 94472. Thematic tours are offered, such as “Laisvės kovos: nuo vikingų iki Sąjūdžio” (Freedom Struggles: from the Vikings to Sąjūdis) and “Asmenybės Žemaitijos istorijoje” (Personalities in the History of Žemaitija), €30 each and others. |
