- Place
- Širvintai District Municipality
- Region
- Širvintai District
- Type
- open-air living-history museum
- Address
- Širvintų Street 36, Družai, Širvintai District
- Coordinates
- 55.01890, 24.87480
- Visit duration
- 2-4 hours depending on the education session and chosen activities
- Best time
- May-October for group programmes, or an announced open event
Viking Village in Družai, Viking Village by the Širvinta
Not an archaeological settlement, but living history
Viking Village is a planned open-air living-history space. It uses setting, explanation, and hands-on work to interpret life, labour, and celebrations in a tenth- to twelfth-century environment; archaeological evidence does not identify this place as a surviving Viking settlement.
Here, ‘Viking’ means a way of life and a professional role rather than a single ethnicity. Visitors receive an experiential history lesson: they can handle materials, watch crafts, play games, and talk with educators; the reconstructed setting is an interpretation rather than a surviving settlement.
Timber buildings beside the Širvinta
The village stands beside the Širvinta River in a natural setting where woodland, water, and timber buildings create a sense of distance from town. Wooden houses, craft shelters, fences, firepits, and handmade tables form one immersive scene rather than a museum of separate cases.
Historical work may be demonstrated by the buildings, and archaic games or evenings of merriment may be arranged. The exact experience depends on the programme and weather: much happens outdoors, so practical clothing is more useful than museum formality.
Education through old work
Pupils can grind grain, bake bread, cook over a fire, taste herbal tea, and make pancakes at Viking Village. These activities show sequences of work, cooperation, and decisions needed in everyday life, not just historical objects.
Named programmes include Senoviniai stalo žaidimai: išmok, pasidaryk ir žaisk and Karaliaus Mindaugo laikų Lietuva. Content, tools, and length may be adapted to the group, so confirm age, registration, and the current format with the educator.
Groups, season, and open events
Groups are accepted by prior registration, with the usual group season running from 1 May to 30 October. A practical group size is 10-50 people, allowing an education session to keep a shared pace and participation.
The village also offers canoe or campsite rental, archaic board-game and merriment evenings, and archaic crafts and warfare camps. Individual access usually depends on a public event, so check before making a spontaneous visit.
A practical visit to a living-history space
The map coordinates identify the visitor site at Širvintų Street 36 in Družai. Because activities are outdoors and often booked, check the event date, group admission, price, and any weather changes before travelling.
Because activities are outdoors, wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes. Contact the village about the chosen education session or event so you know its length, price, and meeting point.
