The best museums Lithuania

This jewel rests peacefully on its small island in the heart of Lac Galvé. A footbridge provides access from the shore. Built of red brick, the castle was erected in various phases from the late ^14th century onwards, but the most important expansion took place under Grand Duke Vytautas, who made it his residence (and died here). It was partly destroyed in the ^17th century during the invasion of Tsarist Russia, and was not renovated until the ^20th century. The complex comprises the Grand Duke's Palace, surrounded by a defensive wall, and a fore-castle, separated from the palace by a deep moat. Some of the castle's rooms house the Trakai Historical Museum (Trakų istorijos muzeijus). The fore-castle is dedicated to exhibitions of handicrafts (glasswork, ivory, pearls, etc.), important objects such as seals and hunting trophies, temporary exhibitions, and also houses monetary treasures found in the region. The castle itself presents its history, that of Grand Duke Vytautas, life in Trakai and that of its inhabitants, including the Tatar and Karaites minorities (you can learn more about their origins and see their traditional costumes). You can admire medieval weapons and armor, furniture... and the "throne room" where Vytautas received his guests. Every year, the castle grounds host a medieval festival in July, and a festival of ancient crafts in mid-August.

In 2009, on the anniversary of the millennium when Lithuania's name was first mentioned, the Grand Duke's Palace was rebuilt at the foot of the Gediminas castle hill, after 7 years of major construction work. Today, you can discover the ruins of the former sites, works of art and the great hall, which bears witness to successive architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. Numerous events are held here on a regular basis.

Behind the Cathedral Square (just past the statue of Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1316), a paved path climbs through the park to Mount Gediminas(kalnas), the original base of Vilnius. Good to know: Mount Gediminas can also be reached by a funicular from the inner courtyard of the Museum of Ethnography and History, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, from April to October daily from 10 am to 7 pm. On this hill, Gediminas built the upper castle, first mentioned in the chronicles in 1323. Today, part of the castle has been restored and the western tower, called Gediminas Tower (Gedimino pilies bokštas) - the symbol of Vilnius - is the best preserved. From the top of the tower, where the Lithuanian flag flies, there is a magnificent panorama of the city: to the far east stands the Three Crosses Hill (Trys kryžių kalnas), to the south stretches the Old Town, and to the west, the Gediminas shopping avenue runs into the new town districts behind the banks of the Neris River, while in the distance the new districts dating from the Soviet period loom. Just to enjoy this view of the city, you won't regret having come this far! Inside the Gediminas Tower, a remnant of the Vilnius High Castle, there is a small museum displaying armour from the 16th to the 18th century and models illustrating the castle at different times.

This bastion is the remains of the "barbican", a fortification system that Vilnius was equipped with in the 17th century. Construction began in 1503, covering a perimeter of 2.5 km. The museum contains a collection of military equipment, weapons and ancient armour. The site offers a beautiful view of the old town. Today, the only things that remain are the legends about a basilisk that lived in the bastion and an underground tunnel connecting the castles of Vilnius and Trakai.

Not to be missed! We discover the evolution of the bicycle since the 19th century. Faced with certain machines, you wonder how it can roll... You can even test your cycling skills on certain bikes! This museum has existed since 1980, because the city is known for its cycling industry. Not to be missed: a célerifère - a "running machine" - that the Count of Sivrac rode in 1792 in Paris by pushing against the ground with his feet.

The Panevėžys region is known for its flax production. So it is the area of the mills. The museum recounts the process of manufacturing flax in a 125-year-old mill. It is advisable to call before travelling.

The museum is dedicated to the everyday life of Lithuanians from the 13th century to the Second World War. The first rooms are devoted to painting. The most interesting is on the first floor with the reconstruction of the traditional habitat during the ages and the linen costumes. There are also wooden pagan crosses and religious paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. Near the museum is a statue of Mindaugas, the first grand duke of all Lithuania and the first and only Lithuanian king. The base of the statue is surrounded by symbols of the ancient Baltic calendar.

This museum, dedicated to one of the leading styles of the interwar period, is the brainchild of Karolis Banys and Petras Gaidamavičius. These young men fell in love with this architectural style and this beautiful gray building that once belonged to a doctor, and lovingly restored an apartment to its 1929 appearance. After a tour of the exterior, take a stroll through the apartment, listen to stories about the rooms and their former inhabitants, and enjoy a drink in the lounge as you recapture the atmosphere of Kaunas' beloved Roaring Twenties.

Vilnius's newest museum. In a setting designed by Daniel Libeskind, scientists Danguolė and Viktoras Butkus display the thousands of works of modern and contemporary art they have collected over the years. What makes the museum so special? Almost exclusively Lithuanian artists from the last sixty years. Exhibitions change twice a year, so you can discover other works and artists depending on the theme. It's a great way to learn more about contemporary Lithuanian art. A big bonus? A floor reserved for children.

It's in the city's very first power station that this museum dedicated to technology has logically taken its place. The enormous steam boiler is still there, and is the centerpiece of the museum. In the basement, the Transformation Hall and its interactive exhibition invite children and teenagers in particular to learn more about electricity. Each visitor is given a card, the Quantum Card, and at each station a challenge awaits you to put into practice what you've just learned. The more challenges you win, the more points you earn, which you can redeem in the gift store.

The Energy Exhibition shows you how the power plant works, in all its glory. We take you through the bowels of this monster, in a tangle of pipes. Most impressive of all? The control room recreates the ear-splitting thud of electricity.

The Industry Exhibition focuses on the industrialization of Vilnius and the production of goods. The Made in Vilnius room is particularly well done, with reproductions of a 1970s apartment filled with appliances and furniture developed in Vilnius. The top two floors are entirely dedicated to younger visitors, with the aim of stimulating their interest in science. Even the power station's roof terrace is used to display a replica of the Lituanica, a plane piloted by Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas, who both attempted a transatlantic flight to Kaunas.