Devil Museum in Kaunas

When people talk about the city of Kaunas, they begin by describing a picturesque city with a historic old town and a fortress that was once destroyed by the knights of the Teutonic Order, only to be rebuilt soon afterwards as a deliberate show of power. From a tourism perspective, Kaunas lies in the shadow of Vilnius, the Russian exclave of Klaipėda, and Palanga, probably Lithuania’s largest seaside resort on the Baltic Sea. Yet Kaunas, set inland and Lithuania’s second-largest city, is well worth a visit. With several lovely hotels and numerous holiday apartments, this medieval city is also worth considering for a city break in Lithuania.

Among all the sights in Kaunas, one rather unassuming museum nevertheless stands out. With around 2,000 exhibits, the Devil Museum in Kaunas is unique in the world. Even the Hill of Witches on the Curonian Spit bears witness to the deep-rooted traditional beliefs of the people of Lithuania. Many stories about witches, devils, the forces of darkness and light originated here in Lithuania. Although traces of deep pagan belief can be found in mythological writings and in the Slavic world of legends and stories, these tales seem to be among Lithuania’s most closely guarded secrets—just as mysterious as the legends surrounding the Codex Gigas in the National Library of Sweden. One could almost believe that even today people speak of the devil with a certain awe and respect. The question is: what power does the devil still hold over us today? The Devil Museum in Kaunas is close to many other sights in Kaunas, making it easy to visit. Exhibits from all over the world are displayed in glass cases across three floors. Among them are a wooden witch from the Brocken in Germany, a satyr from Greece, and idols associated with devil worship from Cuba, Mexico and other Latin American countries. Many of the devil-themed exhibits, however, come from countries in today’s Russian Federation and from the former Soviet Union. The journey of discovery through the world of the devil at the Devil Museum in Kaunas begins with simple figurines and progresses through statues made from various materials and dating from different periods. It reveals Slavic artefacts and presents unique paintings depicting or featuring the devil. The Devil Museum in Kaunas is open every day, all year round.
Source: www.forteantimes.com and www.muziejai.lt