Discover Perloja

Quick facts

• The Perloja History Museum is a department of the Merkinė Regional Museum and was founded in 1998 at the initiative of Antanas Volungėnas.
• Its topics include the settlement's development during the Grand Duchy and under tsarist rule, the Republic of Perloja, and life in independent Lithuania.
• The museum also covers World War II, the postwar period, and the establishment of the collective farm and experimental farm.
• The museum displays works by sculptor Vytautas Baublys.
• By prior arrangement, you can learn weaving, decorating Easter eggs with wax, and crochet there.
• The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi is decorated with wall paintings and Lithuanian heraldic motifs.
• The monument to Grand Duke Vytautas in Perloja is 8.3 meters high.
• The Merkinė Regional Museum offers an excursion in the historic territory of the Republic of Perloja; the graves of Lithuanian partisans can be visited in Perloja.

History and crafts at the museum

The historical topics range from the settlement's development during the Grand Duchy and under tsarist rule, through the Republic of Perloja and life in independent Lithuania, to World War II and the postwar period. The establishment of the collective farm and experimental farm is also covered. This range helps you explore different periods in the town's history rather than associating Perloja with just one historical period.

In addition to these topics, the museum displays works by sculptor Vytautas Baublys. This brings historical subjects and an artistic connection together. If you are interested in different ways of engaging with history, you can also include this part in your visit to the museum.

The handicrafts you can learn by prior arrangement offer a practical addition: weaving towels and bedspreads, decorating Easter eggs with wax, and crochet. These activities are clearly distinct from one another. Therefore, contact the museum in advance to discuss which one interests you, and don't plan the activity without making arrangements.

Church and monument in Perloja

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Francis of Assisi is decorated with wall paintings. The Lithuanian heraldic motifs—the Columns of the Gediminids, the Jagiellonian Cross, and Vytis—are located in the upper sections of the supporting arches. Their specific names and positions give the church's decoration a distinctive connection to art and architecture.

Another point of interest in the town is the monument to Grand Duke Vytautas. Its height of 8.3 meters provides a clear measurement, while the church can be described by its wall paintings and heraldic motifs. These are two distinct features: the church's artistic details and the monument's stated height.

Excursion, partisan graves, and surroundings

The Merkinė Regional Museum offers the excursion “Perlojos paslaptys: išgirsti, pamatyti” in the historic territory of the Republic of Perloja. The title means “The Secrets of Perloja: Hear and See.” If you would like to plan the excursion, contact the museum to make arrangements.

During a visit to Perloja, you can also see the graves of Lithuanian partisans and learn their stories. This historical perspective adds another specific connection to the town's past to the topics covered by the museum.

Lake Paperlojo is near Perloja and offers a separate point of interest when exploring the area. This gives you a distinction between Perloja's cultural and historical topics and a nearby place outside this theme.

Discover more destinations: Ricieliai, Leipalingis, Vytautai, Stračiūnai, Grūtas, Daugai, Dyviliškiai, Taikūnai.

For the broader travel overview: Alytus District.