Orvidas Homestead: An Off The Beaten Track Destination In Lithuania

Full of religious and traditional carvings, the Orvidas Homestead is a little known attraction in Lithuania. The former home of a troubled stonemason, artist and monk, the rural farm is now a museum and an interesting, spiritual place to visit.

Located in Plunge in northwestern Lithuania, in the heart of Samogitia, the Orvidas Homestead is a rural farm full of religious and traditional carvings. The man who primarily created these carvings, Vilius Orvidas (1952 to 1992), came from a long line of carvers and his ancestors were Samogitian nobility (a ancient Lithuanian cultural group).

During Soviet times, Orvidas and his father Kazio Orvidai (1905 to 1989) carved stone and wood, hoping to keep their trade alive during a time of destruction. In particular, Vilius Orvidas became recognized for being having a unique ability to observe stone to see what form it wanted to take on through his carvings.

Orvidas was a particularly religious man, and this is represented in the numerous faith-based statues displayed throughout the homestead. (Orvidas became a Franciscan monk towards the end of his life, following a lifetime of religious devotion).

Vilius Orvidas took on apprentices to share his skills and keep his family’s long history of carving techniques alive. This was particularly important during Soviet and early post-Soviet times, as carving was thought to bring peace to troubled minds. Over time, people heard of the carvings and started visiting the Orvidas Homestead, beginning the transition of the homestead into a museum.

Following Orvidas’ sudden death, the photographer, Audrius Naujokaitis, displayed photographs and a film of the Orvidas Homestead in collaboration with agnes b and the Serpentine Gallery in London, UK. This exhibition led to the call for UNESCO to recognize the Orvidas Homestead as a World Heritage Site, although this designation was not bestowed.

The family home of Vilius Orvidas is currently a museum, with the main aim of bringing visitors peace while viewing numerous statues and miscellaneous artefacts. Derelict Soviet tanks are on display, symbolizing the defeat of and triumph over the Soviets. This spiritual center also features numerous religious carvings completed by Orvidas and visitors who can read Lithuanian might also enjoy the religious hymns and poems he wrote.

Entrance to the Orvidas Homestead costs 3 EUR for an adult ticket and 1.50 EUR for a student ticket. The museum is open seasonally from Tuesday until Sunday from 10 am until 7 pm. In the winter, visitors must prearrange visits by calling in advance. The best time to visit is during clear weather at sunset (seasonally) for the most beautiful photographs.

Plungės g. 18, Gargždelės km., Imbarės sen., LT – 97318 Kretingos raj., +37061328624

Save

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.