The Site

The Open-Air Museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės is one of the largest ethnographic museums in Europe, preserving and showcasing Lithuania’s vernacular heritage and traditional ways of life. Established in 1966, the museum spans around 195 hectares and contains authentic wooden buildings relocated from different ethnographic regions of Lithuania, each reconstructed within micro-landscapes that reflect their original settings. The museum serves as a cultural and educational centre, playing a crucial role in the conservation, research, and promotion of Lithuania’s vernacular architecture and intangible heritage.

The museum is divided into several ethnographic sectors, each representing one of Lithuania’s historic regions: Aukštaitija, Žemaitija, Dzūkija, Suvalkija, and Lithuania Minor. These areas reflect the architectural diversity and distinct cultural traditions that have shaped rural life in the country. Among these, the Žemaitija sector is particularly notable for its robust wooden buildings, steep-roofed farmhouses, and distinctive wooden fences, all characteristic for this region’s traditional settlements. The buildings in this area illustrate the regional approach to construction, influenced by local materials, craftsmanship traditions, and functional adaptation to the natural landscape.

A remarkable feature of the museum is the historic town recreation, which includes a market square, a church, a tavern, workshops, and residential buildings. This section presents an authentic depiction of urban and small-town life in Lithuania before the industrialisation of the 20th century. Additionally, the museum houses a collection of household items, tools, and furniture, reflecting the daily lives and customs of Lithuanian rural communities over several centuries.

Beyond its architectural exhibits, the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania is a centre for living heritage, regularly hosting workshops, educational programmes, and cultural events. It plays an essential role in transmitting traditional crafts and conservation knowledge, ensuring that historic building techniques, decorative arts, and folk traditions remain actively practised and appreciated. The museum’s specialists lead research and conservation projects aimed at safeguarding traditional woodworking, thatching, painting, and carving techniques, providing valuable expertise for heritage professionals.

Due to its comprehensive approach to cultural heritage preservation, the museum serves as an ideal setting for training courses focusing on traditional craftsmanship, conservation techniques, and interdisciplinary approaches to preserving wooden heritage. Within the collaboration between the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania and European Heritage Volunteers several hands-on training courses and volunteering projects were implemented that not only protect historic structures but also create a platform for knowledge exchange among professionals and emerging specialists in heritage preservation. Through these efforts, the museum continues to be a living archive of Lithuanian heritage, contributing to the sustainability and appreciation of vernacular architecture and traditional craftsmanship.

The Training Course

The 2025 European Heritage Training Course at the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania continues a long-standing collaboration between the museum and European Heritage Volunteers, further strengthening efforts to preserve and raise awareness about Lithuania’s rich architectural heritage. The 2025 edition will focus on traditional polychrome painting techniques and the construction of wooden fences, both essential elements of Lithuanian vernacular architecture.

Polychrome painting is a historical decorative practice used for centuries on traditional Lithuanian wooden buildings which plays a crucial role in the aesthetic and cultural identity of Lithuania’s historic architecture. Under the guidance of Technical Instructors from the museum, the participants will work on the restoration and application of polychrome painting on shutters, window surrounds, and doors. They will gain practical experience in removing old layers of paint, preparing surfaces, exploring traditional pigments, and applying historically accurate decorative patterns. The work will primarily take place on buildings within the museum’s Žemaitija ethnographic sector and the reconstructed historic township, both of which serve as showcases of Lithuania’s diverse regional heritage.

In addition to polychrome painting techniques, the course will also include the construction of traditional wooden fences, an architectural feature that has historically shaped the appearance of rural settlements in Lithuania. These fences served not only a practical function in delineating properties but also contributed to the visual identity and organisation of traditional homesteads. Participants will be introduced to historical woodworking techniques, from the preparation of wooden poles and planks to the assembly of diagonal wooden fences typical of the Žemaitija region. Through this hands-on experience, participants will develop skills in wood selection, splitting, hewing, and assembling structural elements using traditional techniques.

The training course is designed as both a practical and educational experience, incorporating lectures, guided tours, and expert-led discussions to provide participants with a deeper understanding of Lithuanian vernacular architecture, historic craftsmanship, and conservation ethics. The museum’s curators and heritage specialists will deliver presentations on the historical and cultural significance of wooden heritage, the challenges of its conservation, and the efforts undertaken to safeguard these traditions in the modern era. Site visits to other heritage sites in the region will further enrich the learning experience.

As part of the educational programme, participants will present case studies concerning traditional painting techniques from their own countries. This exchange will facilitate a comparative discussion on traditional craftsmanship across different cultural contexts, fostering a deeper appreciation of the diversity and commonalities in European wooden heritage.

During the last day of the training course, August 15th, throughout the Open-Air Museum the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated, a longstanding tradition in Lithuanian culture. Participants will have the opportunity to experience the festivities which include a solemn holy mass, the blessing of herbs and harvests, and a wide variety of cultural activities rooted in the rich intangible heritage of Lithuania.

The training course will take place from August 3rd to August 16th, 2025, and is jointly organised by the Open-Air Museum of Lithuania and European Heritage Volunteers.