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.

References:

Wikipedia

Museums in Lithuania

User Reviews

Dalius R (2 years ago)
They have a great selection of exhibitions on the site. Have a great botanical garden inside, but unfortunately it's now under reconstruction. But there was interesting native people history with interesting infographics and it's quite beautiful historical bracelets and body pendants and etc.

darius savolskis (3 years ago)
One of the key manors in western Lithuania, built in XIX century. Make sense to visit if you are splashing on the Baltic coast nearby. It also contains a winter garden, a rarity in Lithuanian manors.

Kamilė Navardauskaitė (4 years ago)
Lovely winter garden. The museum itself lacks information connecting everything. But still a sight worth seeing.

Vitalij Ivanov (5 years ago)
Very interested place

de Gourét Litchfield (5 years ago)
A well preserved manor house with origins from the 16 century. A fine collection of paintings and old furniture with an attached winter garden that also houses a simple but pleasant restaurant. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. There is an Ethnological museum on the other side of the road and pleasant cafe. Impressive park with large well maintained oak trees.

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