Lithuania is a country of surprises, and there is a lot to see and do in this former Soviet nation. The turbulent history makes for a fascinating country to explore. The country's arts and cultural scene have taken off in the past couple of decades, and the plethora of arts on offer in cities like Vilnius are testimony to the talent and creativity in contemporary Lithuania. Here is some background from Netferry, including where to go and what to see!

Museums and art galleries 

Most of the very best Lithuanian museums are located in Vilnius. The National Art Gallery is the best place to start, it's full 20th-century Lithuanian paintings, then there is Grūtas park, which features numerous Soviet propaganda sculptures which the artists were forced to create! The National Museum in Vilnius Old Town covers history, culture and traditions from all over the country. 

Architecture 

For centuries Lithuania was a land of endless forests and rivers, so the traditional architecture in Lithuania was wooden. In most towns, almost every building, including churches, constructed before the 20th century was built of wood; there are even wooden mosques and synagogues! These wooden buildings were very elaborate and intricate detail.

Brick started to displace the wood as early as in the 14th century in cities. Romanesque architecture was the first international style to reach Lithuania, but few examples of it survive. Some of the most famous architectural gems are from the Gothic period, such as the Saint Anne's Church in Vilnius and the Renaissance. The Baroque period followed, and Vilnius has plenty of church architecture in this style. 

After World War 1, the city of Kaunas became the temporary capital. Therefore, it expanded rapidly, and many elegant art deco buildings constructed. However, the Soviet occupation brought the most extensive urbanization, as in 1939, 70% of Lithuanian people lived in villages, but by 1989 70% of Lithuanian people lived in cities. Buildings were beginning to be constructed in a Soviet realist style, and from the 1950s onwards all unnecessary architectural details were removed from plans. New buildings built in a functionalist style, made much of the urban landscape very generic and hard to distinguish from any other city in the Soviet Union. In this period, the old wooden houses found in the villages were replaced by similar-looking, but prefab "Alytus homes". Shops, schools, and hospitals also used to be built by similar designs all across the Union. In modern times, since Lithuanian's independence in 1990, architectural design has become more about glass-covered buildings and skyscrapers 

Contemporary art

Vilnius is the undisputed hub of Lithuanian contemporary arts and the Contemporary Art Centre, the city's art institution, was established in 1992 by Lithuanian Ministry of Culture. The CAC replaced the Arts Exhibition Palace and took over the building on Vokiečių street in Vilnius. The centre contains five exposition rooms and a cinema hall. The other place to check out is MO Museum, a modern art museum, also Vilnius. It began life as a private initiative from Lithuanian scientists and philanthropists Danguolė Butkienė and Viktoras Butkus and functioned as an art museum without walls for about ten years. Today the collection includes 5,000 modern and contemporary pieces from the 1950s to today. The museum was opened to the public in 2018 in a building designed by Studio Libeskind and the team of Lithuanian architects; Do Architects. 

Theatre 

Lithuania is the land of theatre, and it plays a big role in Lithuanian culture. There are many theatres in Lithuania, and back in the day, people would wait in long queues all night long for theatre tickets. Today this is no longer necessary, and tickets are online. There is some exciting stuff going on in Lithuanian theatre, so check out a show. If you also want to learn more about the theatre culture in Lithuanian, then check out the Lithuanian Theater, Music and Cinema Museum in Vinilos. 

If you are looking for something more avant-garde, then check out a show at OKT at Vinilos City Theatre, a place that is pushing the boundaries and experimenting with innovative methods. The founder of OKT is Oskaras Koršunovas, a globally acclaimed director who disarms foreign critics with his performances that can be absurd and shocking, but always straight to the point and truthful. His unconventional shows provide more than just entertainment; they question and expand the boundaries of the medium of theatre.

Ferries to Lithuania 

Take a ferry to Lithuania and use the Netferry booking site to find out information about the port of Vilnius. The website provides you with information on everything from departure and arrival times, ports, ferry companies and onboard accommodation. Don't hesitate to call us if you need more information. Browse hundreds of routes, get a quote and book a couple of days later with Netferry. 

Netferry: a sea of ferries!