Museum of Ancient Beekeeping

On the bank of the Tauragna stream stands the only museum in Lithuania devoted to beekeeping traditions. Bronius Kazlas, who founded the museum in 1984, probably never expected that even decades later the world of the old beekeepers would still fascinate the many curious visitors who come here. The museum consists of six buildings in all, with several hundred exhibits, and in the open air there are oak sculptures telling the history of beekeeping from ancient times to the present day. On the grounds, the statues of the Lithuanian pagan bee gods Babilas and Austėja catch the eye – they were placed here as guardians of the spirit of the beekeeping museum. The other sculptures, depicting Lithuanian, Indian, Egyptian and Native American myths, are no less striking. The museum staff who welcome visitors are ready to reveal the most interesting behind-the-scenes secrets of beekeeping and to show the beekeeping and woodworking tools and antique honey extractors on display. The museum also has plenty of photographs and drawings depicting the plants from which bees collect honey. The museum of ancient beekeeping is also home to exhibits of international political significance – a gift from Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko to President Valdas Adamkus: three presidential bee colonies. The most eagerly awaited event at the museum is the annual Honey Harvest Festival (Medkopis), held on 15 August. On that day local musicians play and old myths and legends are told. Visitors can taste and buy all kinds of honey and get advice from herbalists and beekeepers. So if you want to see the world of beekeeping even more closely, come on this very day.