On June 12, Culture Night will invite residents of Vilnius and visitors alike to explore history through stories, legends, sounds and unexpected discoveries. For the occasion, the National Museum of Lithuania (NML) has prepared a program of free events across its locations in Vilnius.

Visitors can look forward to guided tours exploring the participants of the 1863–1864 Uprising, witch trials in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the love story of Sigismund Augustus and Barbara Radziwiłł, traditions surrounding the midsummer festival of Rasos, archaeological tales of fire and light, and an introduction to the optical art of Kazys Varnelis.

Stories of the Struggle for Freedom

During Culture Night, the NML’s Gediminas Castle Tower will open its doors through a series of guided tours. Visitors will have the opportunity to delve into one of the most dramatic chapters in Lithuanian history – the 1863-1864 Uprising. Participants will descend through the historical layers of Gediminas Hill, tracing the lives, ideals and sacrifices of the insurgents who fought for freedom. Guides will discuss the remains of uprising leaders and participants discovered on Gediminas Hill in 2017 and their significance to contemporary historical memory.

This tour offers more than a recounting of facts. It is an invitation to reflect on the cost of freedom, the power of historical memory and the individuals whose sacrifices helped shape and sustain Lithuanian statehood. The National Museum of Lithuania notes that Gediminas Castle Tower will not be available for independent visits during Culture Night; access will be possible only through guided tours.

Witch Trials and Royal Romance

The Castellan’s House will shine a light on some of the lesser-known corners of Lithuanian history. During the tour “Witchcraft in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and at the Castellan’s House,” visitors will explore witchcraft cases from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries, examining the superstitions, fears and legal proceedings that surrounded them. Participants will learn how concepts of witchcraft arrived in Lithuania, how they were understood by local communities and how legal practices in the Grand Duchy differed from those elsewhere in Europe.

Another tour at the Castellan’s House will follow in the footsteps of one of Lithuania’s most famous love stories – that of Sigismund Augustus and Barbara Radziwiłł. Visitors will hear the story of their secret marriage, the political intrigues and conflicts it provoked, and discover why the grounds of the Castellan’s House are linked to this enduring historical romance.

The Search for the Fern Blossom and Contemporary Folklore

As the midsummer festival of Rasos approaches, the Ethnographic Repository at the House of Histories will host a tour titled “The Secret of the Fern Blossom.” Wandering among artifacts that evoke village life from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century, visitors will encounter customs, rituals and legends associated with the shortest night of the year. The tour will explore magical protections against witches, the legendary search for the fern blossom and the meanings these traditions continue to hold today.

Live music will also fill the courtyard of the House of Histories. The folktronica group Braška Lizdas will perform compositions that blend Lithuanian folk songs with the sounds of analog electronics. Drawing on songs discovered in folklore archives, the ensemble reimagines traditional material through a distinctly contemporary lens.

Tales of Fire and Light

At the Old Arsenal, families are invited to embark on an archaeological journey through the exhibition “Fire and Light in the Lives of Our Ancestors.” Visitors will discover how Stone Age communities kindled fire, what sources of light they relied upon and the role fire played in daily life and ritual practice. Archaeological finds – including evidence of early hearths, lighting devices and ancient belief systems – will enrich the story.

Legends, Whispers and the Secrets of the City

At the Bastion of the Vilnius Defence Wall, visitors can join the atmospheric lantern-lit tour “Whispers of the Bastion.” Guides will recount the legends and myths that have surrounded the site for centuries. Participants will venture into rarely seen spaces within the bastion, listen to stories of mysterious sounds and imagined creatures that once stirred the city’s collective imagination, and navigate the darkness guided only by lantern light.

Throughout the evening, shorter tours titled “The Vilnius Bastion Up Close” will also be offered. These tours will introduce visitors to the history of Vilnius’ defensive walls, showcase a seventeenth-century executioner’s sword and recount stories of the legendary Winged Hussars.

The Optical Illusions of Kazys Varnelis

At the Kazys Varnelis House-Museum, visitors can step into the world of one of the most renowned Lithuanian émigré artists. Guided tours will introduce Varnelis’ artistic practice, his life story and his international recognition. Throughout the museum, guests will encounter optical illusions, unexpected visual effects and immersive perceptual experiences created by the artist. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Kazys Varnelis’ works, complemented by displays of fifteenth- to twentieth-century art, historic furniture, maps and other notable collectibles.

Events for Culture Night at the National Museum of Lithuania’s locations will take place on June 12. All events are free of charge, though advance registration is required for some activities. The full program and registration links are available on the National Museum of Lithuania’s website: click here.