nalšia Museum

Contacts
Address: Laisvės a. 1, LT-18111, Švenčionys.
Tel. (+370 ~ 387) 51 831. nalsi
E-mail: nalsiosmuziejus@gmail.com
http://www.nalsia.lt 
Director – Alytė Svirbutovičienė.
On "YouTube"

Information for Visitor

Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday 10–17.
Closed on the last day of the month.

Admission:
adults – 2 Lt;
pupils – 1 Lt.

Guided tour:
guide service for groups to 20 people – 15 Lt;
guide service for groups to 30 people – 20 Litas.
50% discount is applicable for the pupils groups started from 15 persons (without guide service), families, soldiers, students and pensioners (on producing of certificate).

Free from charge are pre-school age children, inmates of a Children's Home, disabled of I and II group.

Additional services:
reservation of excursions to the museum and to Švencionys Region.
guided tours to Lugiai Rural Life Farmstead and to Lugiai area.

Collection
The museum contains nature, archaeology, history and ethnography collections.

Exposition

Exposition of Archaeology Section
Mesolithic Age (8th millennium BC)-Late Iron Age (13th century)
In the showcases of Stone Age maps are displayed reflecting prevalence of Mesolithic and Neolithic camp-sites in the territory of Europe, in the environs of the Retunes lake (Švenčionys region), as well as implements typical to that period and to special cultures, such as arrow points, axes, scrapers, cutters etc.
The Neolithic period is reflected by the Narva culture, characteristic of articles out of bone and horn.
There is also presented the rich material from investigations in the Kretuona settlement 1C (Old Brass Age: from 1600/1400 to 1400/1100 BC) (A. Girininkas, Ph.D., the archaeologist).
Hunter-worn wild beast teeth, fangs, amulets, and anthropomorphic masks for worshipping of ancestors’ cult, zoomorphic distributors, reflect spiritual life of the Stone and Brass Ages.
The Iron Age period is represented by items from latest investigations, these items being typical to culture of burial mounds in the East Lithuania.

Exposition of Nature Section
The exposition starts from sights of the Švenčionys area made by art photographer A. Jakstas. Birds from oak woods, fields and gardens sitting on oak-tree - the national tree of Lithuania - meet the visitor. One may find birds and animals of marshes, lakes and rivers, large birds and beasts of prey, as well as fauna from mixed forests.

Exposition of History Section
In the exhibition “From Past of the Švenčionys Town” the visitors get to know the history of Švenčionys from the 19th to 20th century. The general plan of Švenčionys and the old scenes of town are exposed here. Emphasis is laid on damage done by World War One and World War Two for the town. Features of industry, trade and education once existed in this town are revealed.
In the exhibition “Archives of Tigras Regiment from the Lithuanian Freedom Army” the archives of partisans’ headquarters of abovementioned regiment are presented.
The exhibition “2000 Years for Christianity” exposes monumental works of art from the Švenčionys Church, a selection of prayer books, books of Holy Scripture, examples of religious folk art.
The visitors of History Section exposition are familiarized with household articles of manors and town-dwellers from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, such as furniture, dishes, clocks and watches, candlesticks and other exhibits.

Exposition of Ethnography Section
Here are displayed crafts and trades of people from the Švenčionys area.

Exhibitions
Art, folk art, history and ethnography exhibitions are arranged in the museum.

Cultural, educational activity
Organization of conferences and lectures;
Organization of various events;
Organization of expeditions.

Branch Museums

Lugiai Rural Life Farmstead
Address: Lugių vienkiemis, LT-18139, Strūnaičio seniūnija, Švenčionių rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 387) 51 831.
The museum's exposition presents creativity of folk artists and ethnographic articles.

Reškutėnai the “Rytas” Society’s Primary School Museum
Address: Reškutėnų „Ryto“ draugijos pradinė mokykla, Reškutėnai, Švenčionėlių seniūnija, Švenčionių rajonas.
Tel.: (+370 ~ 387) 47 644; (+370 ~ 387) 47 633.
More information >

History of the Museum
In 1912 Ignotas Šilkinis, the inhabitant of the Santaka village (the Švenčionys region) started collecting and storing various historical and ethnographical items.
In 1925 the society was established for preservation of old heritage.
In 1934 the public museum was established at the Švenčionys Section of the Teachers’ Union.
In 1937 the Polish Government closed the Museum. The exhibits did not remain.
In February of 1945 the Švenčionys Ethnography Museum was established. The Museum’s funds were composed of teaching means used at school, a collection of minerals, small stone axes, a collection of coins and banknotes.
On February 19, 1992, by decision of the Sections District Board, the Museum was named as Nalšia Museum.
On February 15, 1999 the keys of a new building were transferred to the Museum and on February 14, 2000 the Nalšia Museum opened its door to visitors.
Museum’s founder is Švenčionys Region Municipality.