Kapčiamiestis: Museum and Historic Sites

Cultural History at the Emilija Pliaterytė Museum

Kapčiamiestis offers several ways to explore local history: the Emilija Pliaterytė Museum brings everyday culture and individual life stories together, while monuments and a historic church add to the picture. If you would like to plan your stay around cultural themes, you can explore ethnographic exhibits, biographies, memorial sites, and architectural history.

The museum’s ethnographic exhibition features old agricultural tools, household items, and furniture. They illustrate the traditional culture and everyday life of Kapčiamiestis in the early 20th century. The objects draw attention to different aspects of daily life: farming, household activities, and furnishings. This focus differs from the biographical exhibitions in the same museum and offers a perspective through objects and their uses.

The exhibits include items related to the life and work of composer Česlovas Sasnauskas, folk singer Veronika Povilionienė, and the first LTV announcer, Gražina Bigelytė-Bulavienė. Composition, folk song, and broadcasting are presented as distinct fields of activity. This makes it possible to distinguish the biographical section from the ethnographic display: one focuses on the lives and work of individuals, the other on everyday objects from the early 20th century.

A separate exhibition is dedicated to Antanas Sadeckas. He was an engineer, traveler, and photographer, a pioneer of expeditions to Siberian deportation sites, and the founder of the “Lemtis” community. This focus complements the exhibits about other notable people with themes of travel, photography, and expeditions. The museum thus presents different biographical subjects alongside everyday life.

The museum’s visiting days vary by season: Tuesday to Saturday from June to August, and Monday to Friday from September to May. Before traveling, confirm that these visiting days apply to your date.

Monuments and Architectural History

Outside the museum, you will also find different forms of commemoration in Kapčiamiestis. Emilija Pliaterytė is honored with two monuments: one is in the cemetery, and another in the town center. A different historic monument commemorates Lithuanian partisans who were tortured to death by Bolsheviks in a well. The monuments to Pliaterytė and the monument to the partisans each highlight different historical themes.

Another structure with historical significance is the wooden Catholic Church of Divine Providence in Kapčiamiestis. It was built in 1824 at the initiative of Prince Tadas Antanas Oginskis. The year of construction and Oginskis’s role are part of its history, while its wooden construction is a distinct architectural feature. The church thus adds a connection to church history alongside the museum and memorial themes.

The River and the Archaeological Settlement Site

The Baltoji Ančia River flows south past Kapčiamiestis. The Pinčiaragis archaeological settlement site lies 2 km south of the town. These are two distinct geographical reference points: the river by the town and an archaeological site nearby. The grounds at Pinčiaragis have outdoor furniture, an information board, a parking lot, a boat landing, and stairs. Check the condition of these facilities before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Krosna, Veisiejai, Bertasiunai, Meteliai.

Go to the main travel overview: Lazdijai District Municipality.