Samogitian Village Museum

The Žemaičiai Village Museum is a branch of the Žemaičiai Museum "Alka", established in the southwestern part of the coast of Lake Mastis, on an area of 8.5 hectares under the open sky.

It is a museum space whose vision is to preserve the heritage of architectural structures characteristic of the Žemaitija region, extend the traditions of ethnic culture and nurture the Žemaitian identity. The ethnographic museum reflects the 19th century. help - 20th century Ave. A view of the village of Žemaitija . Today, three authentic ensembles of homesteads have been established here, which are complemented by the most important objects of the old settlements: cemeteries, a mill, a forge. In the museum, only traditional crops and animals characteristic of the village of Žemaitija are grown: Žemaitja, sheep, goats, rabbits, etc. Education and events are held here, old crafts and customs of the people of Žemaitsi are presented to visitors.

History of the Žemaicai Village Museum:
The creation of the museum began in 1963, when the Council of Ministers of Lithuania, supporting the proposal of museum workers and cultural figures, made a decision to establish the Folk Household Museum (now Rumšiškių) by the Kaunas lagoon and three regional museums (Telšiai, Rokišky and Alytus). In Alytus, the works were not even started, only a few huts were built in Rokiškis, and the second largest household museum in Lithuania (after Rumšiškii) was built in Telšiai. The first, in 1967 the exhibit moved to the museum is a sauna from the Tryškii area. in 1982 Žemaičiai Village Museum is open to visitors. Today, the museum has 16 buildings. All of them are equipped with expositions, displaying authentic furniture, work tools, household items, dishes. The interiors are decorated with crosses, paintings and other objects reflecting the historical interiors.

The Žemaitiai Village Museum was renovated in 2012. all buildings were reconstructed, fences were erected, new crosses and chapels were built. The facility is adapted for people with mobility disabilities. Every year, Mardi Gras, night dances, laying theaters and other museum events related to ethnic culture and which have already become traditional take place here. In May, the museum hosts an annual festival - Žemaitiu gīvastis - which aims to extend and preserve the ethnic identity of Žemaitiu.

VIRTUAL TOUR OF ŽEMAIĆI VILLAGE MUSEUMS.

ŽEMAIĆI VILLAGE MUSEUM WORKING HOURS:

November 1 - April 30

Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

May 1 - October 31

Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Saturdays - Sundays 11:00 - 19:00

in 2023 Žemaičiai Village Museum will be closed: February 16, March 11, April 9, 10, November 1, 2,
December 25, 26
* We work one hour shorter before public holidays.

Ticket price - 5 EUR, for students, schoolchildren and pensioners - 2.5 EUR. Education and guide services must be ordered in advance by tel. +370 601 92417 during the working hours of the Žemaičiai Village Museum.

PRICES OF TICKETS AND SERVICES CAN BE FOUND HERE

Authors of the photos: Tomas Viršilas, Loreta Norvaišienė, Audrius Aluzas, Žemaičiai village museum archive.