museums in žemaitija (samogitia) national park

Museum of the Poet Vytautas Mačernis
Address: Žemaičių Kalvarija, Plungės rajonas.
Tel.: (+370 ~ 448) 43 200, (+3708 ~ 448) 43 142.

The exposition presents many collections of Vytautas Mačernis poetry, photographs, documents, personal belongings of the poet.
The founder of the museum is the poet E. Matuzevičius. The exposition of the museum had been formed by the ethnographer K. Bružas, the teacher J. Nėniškis, the librarian V. Garbenčienė and many others. The museum has been operating since 1987.

The Green Hut of the Ethnographer Konstantinas Bružas
Address: Žemaičių Kalvarija, Plungės rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 43 257.

In this museum a lot of information about the cultural past of Žemaičių Kalvarija has been accumulated.
In a separate building, which is also of green colour, an original wooden book referring to the past of Žemaičių Kalvarija and its environs is displayed.

The Cold War Museum
Address: Žemaitijos nacionalinis parkas (Žemaitija National Park).
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 49 231, +370 677 86 574.
http://www.saltojokaromuziejus.lt
Opening hours: from 1st May till 30st September excursions daily 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m.
October – November, February and April: Tuesday – Friday 10–17, Saturday 10–16.
December – March: Monday – Thursday 10–17, Friday 10–16.
Visits to the museum should be arranged in advance by tel. 8 677 86 574.
Note: when there is a lot of snow it is difficult to make a distance of even 5 km.

Admission: adults – 10 Lt, children – 5 Lt. 

When the United States started building underground military bases, the Soviet Union felt it had to maintain its military advantage. For that reason in September 1960 in the village of Plokščiai the Soviets began to build rapidly an underground military base, one of the first in the S. U. On December 31, 1962 the construction was completed.
Ten thousand soldiers constructed the base.
Four R12 nuclear missiles of 22 meters high, including the 3 meters war head, were install led in the silos.
Soldiers and officers were removed from the base on June 18, 1978.
Now tourists can visit the underground and the missile silos labyrinth, see the depth of it and get some knowledge of the attributes of the Soviet Army.
In 1995 a militarism exposition was founded in the former area of the Rocketry Base.

Granary of Plateliai Manor
Visitors are expected on working days. For further information please contact Plateliai Information Centre (telephone nr. (+370 448-49231).

The granary museum displays the memorial exhibition of the painter Ignas Budrys, and the Shrovetide (Shrovetide – a traditional Lithuanian festival celebrated in February to see off winter and to welcome spring) Carnival Masks exposition.
Since 1998 many exhibitions are being organized in the museum.

Folk Art and Ethnography Museum of Regina and Justinas Jonušos
Address: Godelių kaimas, Plungės rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 48 719.

The museum is private. The museum displays an abundant and diverse collection of wood carvings, paintings, and iron crosses created by Regina and Justinas Jonusai as well as by handicraft masters from other regions. Among the exhibits there are many sculptures of a famous Samogitian folk artist and wood carver Stanislovas Riauba of Godeliai origin. An exposition of ancient objects is also stored in the museum.

L. Černiauskas Exposition of Painting, Wood Carving and Ancient Objects
Address: Babrungėnų malūnas, Plungės rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 50 658, mob. tel. (+370 610) 29 431.

In 1816, near the source of the river Babrungas, the owners of Plateliai manor the Counts Suazeliai constructed a stone water mill. In 1989 the mill was purchased by the artist L. Cerniauskas who repaired the building and established there an art gallery-creative studio.

Granary of the Ethnographer Kazys Striaupa
Address: Dovainių kaimas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 49 432.

The granary museum stores and displays woodcarvings of Kazys Striaupa. The ethnographer carves the sculptures of the Saints, Jesus Christ`s life and death scenes, the Shrovetide Carnival masks, and sculptures depicting country life.

Barn of Plateliai Estate
Address: Didžioji g. 22, LT-90420, Plateliai, Plungės rajonas.
Tel. (+370 ~ 448) 49 231.

Exposition can be viewed by appointment only. Please, contact Information Centre of Plateliai at Directorate of the National Park of Samogitia, (Didžioji g. 8, Plateliai; tel. (+370 ~ 448) 49 231)
Museum, installed in the barn of Plateliai estate features Mardi Gras masks, archeological findings from Sventorkalnis and Castle island, collection of historical folk sculpture, archaic instruments and household objects.