A delegation of Santas visiting the capital for the opening of Vilnius’ festive season stopped by the newest branch of the Lithuanian National Museum (LNM) at the foot of Gediminas Hill – the Castellan’s House. Guests from Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Jonava, Trakai, Alytus, Panevėžys, Riga, and Warsaw were the first to try out the new holiday game “The Treasure of Lithuania.”

Festive programme at the museum

“Here, the Santas found curiosities and historical stories; I’m sure our visitors will discover them as well,” says Daina Šėmienė, director of the LNM’s Pilininkas House. “After completing the engaging team-game tasks, the guests realised that the most important and genuine treasures are not necessarily made of gold. A sense of togetherness and a joyful mood are the greatest treasures of the holiday season.”

The Pilininkas House offers activities for visitors of all ages. In December, schoolchildren are invited to age-appropriate educational programmes, while city guests can join guided tours. On December 27 and January 3 at 1 p.m., families with children eager to discover the treasures sought by the Santas are welcome.

“We aim for the festive season at the museum to be enriching, meaningful, and accessible to different audiences. We invite you to discover the Pilininkas House as a place where Lithuania’s history becomes close and understandable,” Šėmienė adds.

A museum inviting you to understand Lithuania

The Pilininkas House hosts the modern exhibition “Understanding Lithuania,” which presents the essential ideas that have shaped Lithuania’s identity and their development. The exhibition includes the themes: “Creativity,” “Beliefs,” “Struggles,” “Turning Points,” “Global Connections,” and “Faces.” In each hall, visitors encounter the most important events and phenomena of the country’s history – from ancient times to today. An additional exhibition in the basement presents the craft of the pilininkas, stonework, and the historical transformations of the city of Vilnius two centuries ago.

A historic building with unique architecture

The Pilininkas House building itself is unique. The structure we see today was built after the great Vilnius fire of 1610 and served an important purpose – it was the administrative centre of the Vilnius Lower Castle. Over the centuries it changed and was adapted for various uses: castle wardens worked here, and the building also housed a court. In the 19th century it contained gunpowder warehouses, workshops, and a bakery; later it became home to the museum’s collections and administrative offices. For many years it housed the LNM Restoration Centre. In 2024, after reconstruction, the new exhibition branch – the LNM Pilininkas House with the modern exhibition “Understanding Lithuania” – was opened.