Vilniaus st. 2B, Kretinga
Tel. +370 670 93890
Working time:
I – IV 08.00 – 17.00
V 08.00 – 15.45
Lunch 12.00 – 12.45
VI 10.00-14.00
VII Closed
Vilniaus st. 2B, Kretinga
Tel. +370 670 93890
Working time:
I – IV 08.00 – 17.00
V 08.00 – 15.45
Lunch 12.00 – 12.45
VI 10.00-14.00
VII Closed
We suggest starting your tour of Kretinga at Town Hall Square. The square, formed more than 400 years ago, once had a Town Hall in its center. The building housed the town treasury and court, where verdicts were announced, and important information for townspeople was shared. When Kretinga became part of the Russian Empire, the Town Hall was demolished and replaced by an Orthodox church. Though no trace of the church remains today, the square now features shady trees and benches. From the square, where bustling markets were once held, you can view the Lutheran church, admire the Franciscan sacred ensemble, and visit the monument to J.K. Chodkevičius. With a bit of imagination, you can even picture the houses that once lined all sides of the square.
A bit further away, right in the center, stands the Church of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has been there for 400 years. It is renowned for its Franciscan traditions. Moreover, it’s unlikely you’ll find another place in Lithuania with such a concentration of sacred objects and unique records. The church features seven altars, including one that is the tallest in Lithuania, the miraculous painting of St. Anthony of Padua, relics of saints, and the oldest church doors in Lithuania, which have withstood fires and hardships. These are just a few of the sacred treasures you can see and experience in Kretinga.
Kretinga is rich with traces of the monk Jurgis Ambraziejus Pabrėža. One of them is the Monument to Jurgis Ambraziejus Pabrėža, which reflects the gratitude of the people of Kretinga to this great Samogitian and clergyman. It honors his comforting words and helping hand extended to those in need, as well as his love for the native language and homeland. The monument, created by sculptor A. Bosas, was unveiled in 1993 in front of the monastery and church.
The Lourdes grotto behind Kretinga’s main church is a tranquil oasis in the heart of the town. The Franciscans built Kretinga’s Lourdes in 1933 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the original Lourdes in France.It has long been believed that the spring flowing near the grotto is miraculous and healing. Kretinga’s Lourdes was constructed using stones from a demolished brewery. During the war and the Soviet era, the white marble altar in the grotto was destroyed, but the sculptures that once adorned it have survived to this day.
Another renowned jewel of Kretinga is the neo-Gothic chapel-mausoleum of the Tiškevičius family, built in 1893. It was designed by Karl Eduard Strandman (1867–1946), a Swedish-born architect living in Latvia, for whom this was the first project realized in Lithuania. In this chapel, next to Count Joseph, who rests here eternally, several family members were laid to rest: his granddaughter Maria in 1896, his wife Sophia in 1919, his daughter-in-law Jadvyga in 1939, his grandson Kazimieras in 1941, and an unknown woman in 1931, possibly the family’s governess. The chapel and the sarcophagi preserved in the mausoleum can be viewed during guided tours, and the chapel is open to visitors free of charge every year on All Souls’ Day.
You can’t say you’ve visited Kretinga if you haven’t been to the Winter Garden! Since the 19th century, Kretinga has been renowned for the Winter Garden built and nurtured by the Tiškevičius family. Today, it is the most visited greenhouse in Lithuania, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. It is also the oldest Winter Garden in Lithuania.
To complete your tour of Kretinga, we suggest visiting the unique astronomical calendar. This Solar Calendar with a sundial was the first of its kind in the Baltic States. The one-of-a-kind creation is the diploma project of architect Rita Gorodeckienė. Even after several years, this work, which reveals human creativity, the talents of wood, stone, and metal craftsmen, and aspects of Lithuanian culture, remains relevant. The astronomical calendar with the sundial covers an area of 0.5 hectares. It features stones, 13 oak sculptures, and even a 6-meter-tall sundial rod, all helping to measure the passage of time.