A fountain that combines water, light and music, and a museum in a former parish school building dating from 1823 give Kupiškis two distinct cultural highlights. There is also public art and Ritinis. This offers a way to explore the town through everyday and festive culture, design and sport. The wider destination of Kupiškio rajono savivaldybė also opens up perspectives on water and landscape.
Museum, everyday life and local history
The Kupiškis Museum is housed in a former parish school building dating from 1823. Its permanent exhibitions focus on peasant households in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as Kupiškis wedding traditions. Everyday life and festive traditions are thus presented as two distinct themes.
In the wider destination of Kupiškio rajono savivaldybė, the Kupiškis Museum also preserves a collection of traditional Lithuanian clothing and accessories, assembled by Stefanija, Mikalina and Elvyra Glemžaitė, dating from the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. The museum collection also includes aurochs horns almost 4,000 years old, regarded as the largest found in Lithuania.
Since 1950, the Kupiškis Public Library has been housed in a former Jewish synagogue. It preserves materials on local history, manuscripts and photographs. If you are planning a visit, check the current service hours in advance.
Musical fountain and art in public spaces
On Laurynas Gucevičius Square, the musical fountain combines water, light and music. During a show, the jets of water rise up to eight metres. If you are planning to see a show, check the current schedule.
The open-air museum trail by sculptor Henrikas Orakauskas in Kupiškis features more than two dozen of the artist’s sculptures. Information boards with QR codes stand by the most visited sculptures. After scanning, special apps play a short introduction to the artwork on a mobile device, narrated in the artist’s voice. The QR and audio offer may change; check availability before making plans. Orakauskas’ works “Kupiškėnai wedding” and “Rainbow horse” are also part of Kupiškis street art.
The owner of the Stone Sculpture Park of Vytautas Jasinskas invites visitors to view the sculptures in his yard. Check access in advance if you are planning a visit.
Ritinis and a seasonal activity
The permanent exhibition on Ritinis at the Kupiškis District Physical Education and Sports Center displays awards and other exhibits. It is open on weekdays; weekend visits are possible by prior arrangement. Confirm the visiting time in advance. A seasonal activity invites visitors to play Ripka together in summer with Vidmantas Liubomirskas, president of the Kupiškis Ritinis Sports Club and an educator. Ask the venue whether the activity is available during your travel dates.
In the wider destination of Kupiškio rajono savivaldybė
The Kupiškis Reservoir was created in 1984 by damming the Lėvuo River. The artificial body of water covers 828 hectares and is about 25 kilometres long. Various sporting events are held there every year, including the Kupiškis Reservoir Regatta, international powerboat formula races, Lithuanian and international triathlon competitions, and the Lithuanian beach soccer championship. There are also ice-fishing competitions and summer festivals. If you are planning your trip around a particular event, check its dates separately.
The Kupiškis, also known as Aukštupėnai, hillfort lies just outside Kupiškis, on the left bank of the Lėvuo, near the Kupiškis Reservoir and the village of Aukštupėnai. Historians speculate that a wooden communal castle or refuge stood there and that this was where the earliest beginnings of the later town lay. This remains a historical hypothesis and complements the tangible museum themes with a cautiously worded account of the area’s early history.
Discover more destinations: Panevėžys, Kučiai, Kazliškio Seniūnija, Rokiškis, Naciūnai, Puožas, Krekenavos Seniūnija, Šilagalys.
For the wider travel overview: Panevėžys County.
