Kretinga Museum

Kretinga, Lithuania

The Kretinga Museum (Kretingos muziejus) is located to the Kretinga Manor. Originally a private estate, it was converted to a museum in 1992, and now contains a number of archeological finds, fine and applied art collections, folk art, and ethnographic exhibits, as well as a restored orangery. Nearby is a sculpture garden featuring a reconstruction of a Lithuanian solar calendar.

The manor's location had always provided shelter from maritime winds in the area. Its modern history is said to have begun when the bishop of Vilnius, Ignacy Jakub Massalski, planted fruit trees there in the late 18th century. In 1874 the land was purchased in an auction by Count Tyszkiewicz. In the course of creating a family manor, he converted the existing residence into a palace, built the orangery, now known as the Winter Garden, and re-landscaped the grounds. The landscaping included cascading ponds, a waterfall, arbors, fountains, sculptures, and parterres.

The idea of turning the manor into a museum is credited to Juozas Žilvitis (1903–1975); the Kretinga Museum Committee was established in 1935. The garden was completely destroyed during World War II. In 1940 the museum became a branch of the Kaunas State Museum (now the Vytautas the Great War Museum). In 1987 the greenhouse was rebuilt; since 1998 the Kretinga Estate Park Friends Club has been a co-sponsor.

The exhibits portraying the life of the Tyszkiewicz family occupy seven halls, and contain family portraits, furniture, photographs, household objects, and paintings. The folk art exhibits contain textile art and works of kryždirbiai, the traditional Lithuanian art of fashioning crosses. Household articles include tools and furniture used during various eras.

Recent exhibitions have featured jewelry, ceramics, printed matter of historic interest, and folk costumes. The gardens and the orangery, which contains a cafe, are frequently updated. The museum sponsors concerts, scientific and research projects, holiday specials, a 'Tree Feast', and folk dance presentations.

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Details

Founded: 1992
Category: Museums in Lithuania

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

oksana osiniene (2 months ago)
After visiting the Kretinga Museum, I would like to share my impressions of this unique regional and cultural heritage-preserving facility. The museum, located in the historic Kretinga Manor Palace, impresses not only with its exhibits, but also with its surroundings – in a beautiful park with an astronomical calendar and a sundial. It is also interesting that the roots of the museum date back to the 19th century, when the first finds were collected by various enthusiasts. The first opening of the museum in 1935 and its subsequent expansion show the importance of this facility in the cultural and historical tradition of the region. When visiting the Kretinga Museum, one feels constant care and love not only for historical finds, but also for living culture. Today, the museum, through various educational and cultural activities, invites not only to get acquainted with the history of the region, but also to actively participate in modern creative activities. The winter garden, which grows about 600 species of plants from warm countries, adds another element of charm - it is a place where the past and the present come together in one space. Kretinga Museum is definitely worth a visit, not only for those interested in history, but also for everyone looking for cultural diversity and inspiration.
Yurey C (5 months ago)
Kretingos Museum is a must-visit, especially for its beautiful Winter Garden! The garden is a lush, green oasis filled with exotic plants and flowers, making it a perfect escape, no matter the season. The tranquil sound of flowing water from the ponds adds to the serene atmosphere, and the variety of plants is truly impressive. You can easily spend hours here, just wandering through the greenery and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. The museum itself is also fascinating, with exhibitions that give a great insight into the local history and culture. Highly recommend visiting, especially during the colder months, when the Winter Garden feels like a tropical retreat!
Ignas Butėnas (6 months ago)
Sometimes it is hard to navigate to see all exposition. Also interactive pieces are broken or stuck (phone unplugged, puzzle with “ooops broken”, tablets with app crashed messages). But the winter garden is really beautiful. Worth a visit.
Andrej Darashkiavichus (14 months ago)
It is a Tishkevich property and a nice place to visit. Walking through the rooms of the castle, you will find a lot of historical items and paintings. Also, there is a winter garden with a pool with fish and turtles and a little café. Also, the territory around the museum is a beautiful park with some other little buildings, worth visiting.
Natie N (2 years ago)
Kretinga Manor was constructed in the 16th. The manor was later owned and controlled by the Chodkevičius, Sapiega, Masalskis, Potockis and Zubovas families. Manor has the ethnography, the archeology exhibit, the famous Winter Garden exhibit and the exhibit introducing the history and culture of the manor. Overall is impressive Winter Garden, it looks like tropic paradise. On the 2nd floor is avialable restaurant. Tickets costs 4eur per person. Free parking is located near the ticket office. Firstly need to buy tickets at the tickets office, it's small white building near the parking. Near the manor is located several hectars park.
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