The Emilija Pliaterytė Museum gives Kapčiamiestis a specific cultural and historical focus; monuments and the wooden Church of Divine Providence complement it with their commemorative significance and architectural history. When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the ethnographic exhibition, the biographies of individual figures, and the memorial sites in town.

Everyday Culture and Life Stories

The ethnographic exhibition at the Emilija Pliaterytė Museum features old agricultural implements, household items, and furniture. It illustrates the traditional culture and everyday life of Kapčiamiestis in the early 20th century. This timeframe helps visitors understand the exhibits as a picture of a specific period in the town’s history.

Other exhibits focus on the life and work of composer Česlovas Sasnauskas, folk singer Veronika Povilionienė, and Gražina Bigelytė-Bulavienė, the first announcer on LTV. Their three biographies lead to different fields: composition, folk music, and broadcasting. Alongside everyday life, the museum also highlights individual life stories and cultural work.

A separate exhibition is dedicated to Antanas Sadeckas: he was an engineer, traveler, and photographer, a pioneer of expeditions to Siberian deportation sites, and the founder of the “Lemtis” community. This selection connects technical and photographic work with travel and the history of deportation sites. It thus offers a different focus from the exhibits on music and broadcasting.

The museum’s seasonal visiting schedule lists Tuesday through Saturday from June to August and Monday through Friday from September to May as visiting days. Check the current schedule before your trip.

Remembrance and Architectural History

A historical monument in Kapčiamiestis commemorates Lithuanian partisans who were tortured to death by Bolsheviks in a well. It is dedicated to a specific violent event, distinguishing it from the ethnographic exhibition on historical everyday life.

Emilija Pliaterytė is honored with two monuments: one stands in the Kapčiamiestis cemetery, and another in the town center. Together with the museum named after her, the monuments and exhibition present different ways of remembering the same person.

The wooden Catholic Church of Divine Providence was built in 1824 at the initiative of Prince Tadas Antanas Oginskis. Its construction date and style add a specific architectural history to the museum’s themes. In this respect, the church represents architectural history, while the museum focuses on everyday culture and individual life stories.

The River and Planning Your Visit

The Baltoji Ančia River flows south past Kapčiamiestis. This adds a distinct geographical point of reference to the cultural and historical themes.

The Pinčiaragis archaeological settlement site is two kilometers south of Kapčiamiestis. The site has outdoor furniture, an information board, a parking lot, a boat landing, and stairs. Check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Veisiejai, Krosna, Meteliai, Bertasiunai.

For the broader travel overview: Lazdijai District Municipality.