Places to visit

Monastery of St. Clara’s Sisters

Kretinga has long been known as the centre of the Franciscans in Lithuania. Franciscans were invited to the town in the 17th century by J. K. Chodkevičius. Thanks to him, the First Franciscan Order, i.e. the men’s monastery, appeared in Kretinga, and later the Third Secular Franciscan Order settled in the town. The Franciscan family was completed by the Monastery of St. Clare’s Sisters, finished in 2000. Established away from the bustle of the town and surrounded by a large garden, the monastery looks mysterious to most people. This is probably because the Sisters of St. Clare are rarely seen in public. They live a secretive, contemplative life according to the rhythm of prayer and work. The nuns may be visited at set times, with meetings taking place while the Sister stands behind bars — a symbol of the boundary between secular and spiritual life. The chapel may also be visited: the entire complex, designed by an architect from Italy, is filled with serenity and brings one to Italy, the birthplace of the Franciscan Order.