European Heritage Days at the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum Branches

The 2025 European Heritage Days invite you to discover architectural heritage as a link between the past, present, and future. The theme “Architectural Heritage: A Window to the Past, a Door to the Future” encourages us to see heritage not only as preserved historical objects but also as a living field of experience—inviting us to learn, understand, and engage through creative and playful activities. The “Aušra” Museum is joining the European Heritage Days programme and offers activities in Šiauliai.

September 18, Thursday, 11:00 AM
Žaliūkių Miller’s Homestead-Museum (Architektų g. 73, Šiauliai)

Forum-Seminar of Windmill Owners “Who Will Turn the Sails?”

Presentations and discussions about the condition of windmills in Lithuania, their maintenance and adaptation to public needs, and other possible uses.

Advance registration required: tel. (0 41) 21 11 98, e-mail: info@ausrosmuziejus.lt

September 18 – November 18
Facebook page of Žaliūkių Miller’s Homestead-Museum

National Creative-Engineering Contest for School Students “Wind Engineers”

Students in grades 3–8, after learning about the history, architectural, and technological features of windmills, will apply their knowledge in practice by creating windmill models. Video recordings of the windmill models will be submitted to the competition.

Partner – Šiauliai Technical Creativity Centre

September 18 – October 26
Žaliūkių Miller’s Homestead-Museum (Architektų g. 73, Šiauliai)

Exhibition of Windmill Watercolours by Artist Antanas Krištopaitis (1921–2011) from the collections of the Šiauliai “Aušra” Museum

Free admission on September 18, on other days – with a museum ticket.

September 19, Friday, 4:00 PM
Starting point – Photography Museum (Vilniaus g. 140, Šiauliai)

An Informative Walk through Šiauliai Old Town with Photography museum manager  Vilija Ulinskytė-Balziene “100 Steps Through 300 Years of History”

Highlights: Šiauliai Old Town, Šiauliai interwar modernism, Photography Museum.

Advance registration required: tel. (0-41) 524393.

September 20 and 21, 12:00 PM
Venclauskiai House-Museum (Vytauto g. 89, Šiauliai)

Educational Activity for the Whole Family “Modernist Architecture in Šiauliai: Discover, Play, Create”

Participants will learn what defines modernist architecture and how to recognise it, get acquainted with the most notable examples of Šiauliai interwar modernism, take on the role of an architect, and create their own model of a modernist building. This educational activity will broaden horizons, provide new knowledge, and allow participants to express their creativity.

Free of charge. Registration required: tel. (0 41) 524397.

September 20, Saturday, 12:00 PM
Chaim Frenkel Villa-Museum Park (Vilniaus g. 74, Šiauliai)

Guided Tour “The Architecture of Chaim Frenkel’s Villa”

Chaim Frenkel’s villa-museum with its park and fountain is a unique space in Šiauliai. Chaim and Dora Frenkel built the villa—a two-storey residential house—in 1908 next to their thriving leather processing factory. It is a rare example in Lithuania of early 20th-century Art Nouveau (Secession, Jugendstil) architecture, in which elements of various styles intertwine in both façade and interior.

Tour participants are invited to explore the villa, its architectural aesthetics, the park and rose garden, and to learn more about the Frenkel family.

Free of charge. Limited capacity. Registration required: tel. (0 41) 52 43 89.

September 20 and 21 at 1:00 PM, and September 26 at 4:00 PM
Šiauliai History Museum (Aušros al. 47, Šiauliai)

Guided Tour “Šiauliai History Museum – A Reflection of Interwar Modernist Architecture”

The tour will introduce visitors to the role of Šiauliai interwar modernist architecture in Lithuania, with a focus on the history of the building at Aušros al. 47 (currently the Šiauliai History Museum).

Free of charge. Limited capacity. Registration required: tel. +370 41 37 53 45.

September 24, Wednesday, 5:00 PM
Venclauskiai House-Museum (Vytauto g. 89, Šiauliai)

Tour of the Venclauskiai House-Museum

Participants will have the opportunity to explore one of the most prominent architectural objects in Šiauliai from the period of Independent Lithuania (1918–1940): to tour the building, admire the restored stencilled wall paintings in Art Nouveau and National Modernism styles, and learn more about the building’s architect Karolis Reisonas, as well as the Venclauskiai family and their contributions to the city and the country.

Free of charge, no registration required.