- Place
- Vilnius City Municipality
- Region
- Vilnius
- Type
- private centre for Lithuanian art and historical artefacts
- Address
- Užupio g. 40, Vilnius
- Coordinates
- 54.68173, 25.29945
- Visit duration
- 60-90 minutes independently, or according to the guided-tour length
- Best time
- at the time printed on your advance ticket; groups are deliberately small
TARTLE, Lithuanian Art Centre
Lithuanian history through original works of art
TARTLE was founded by the Lithuanian Art Foundation and collector Rolandas Valiūnas and opened on 30 August 2018. It collects, researches, and returns dispersed Lithuanian heritage, telling history through original works and artefacts rather than reproductions.
Artists connected with historic Lithuania are included regardless of nationality or language. TARTLE's story is therefore broader than ethnic Lithuanian art and encompasses the different cultures of Vilnius and Lithuania as borders changed.
More than eight thousand objects
In 2026, the centre described holdings of more than 8,000 objects: about 1,000 paintings, over 360 sculptures, more than 490 maps, over 1,100 works of historical graphic art, and almost 2,000 Lithuanian books and prints issued before 1905.
Highlights include the largest private collection of Petras Rimša medals and sculpture, extensive Grand Duchy of Lithuania maps, Roman albums by Franciszek Smuglewicz, graphic art by Kazimierz Wilczyński and Napoleon Orda, interwar stamps, and silver by Vilnius masters. Only a curated portion appears in any one exhibition.
A thematic exhibition rather than an open store
TARTLE does not attempt to show its entire collection at once. Thematic narratives combine painting, sculpture, maps, photography, and documents so that objects explain one another. Read the current exhibition description before booking because works seen on a previous visit may now be in storage.
Modern concrete, timber, and historic masonry form an intimate setting. Small visitor groups allow close looking but also mean that arriving without a ticket does not guarantee entry.
Advance tickets and limited accessibility
On 2026-07-21, TARTLE admitted independent visitors or guided-tour groups only with advance tickets, in groups of up to 12. Independent admission cost EUR 5 for adults and EUR 2.50 for pupils, students, and seniors; an art-historian tour cost EUR 15 and EUR 7.
The centre explicitly stated that exhibition rooms were not adapted for visitors with disabilities and that no space was available to leave prams. Consider this important limitation before buying a timed ticket and confirm the current exhibition, price, and access information officially.
