The Heart of Lithuanian Pottery: The Story of Kuršėnai Manor
At Balttour 2026, visitors will have the opportunity to discover living Lithuanian craftsmanship through the presentation of the Šiauliai District Municipality Ethnic Culture and Traditional Crafts Centre, located at the historic Kuršėnai Manor Estate.
The exhibition will reveal how traditional Lithuanian ceramic pots are created, offering live pottery demonstrations that showcase the full creative process from raw clay to finished vessel. Visitors will also be invited to try pottery themselves and experience the craft hands-on. Authentic Lithuanian ceramic products will be available for purchase on site.
Kuršėnai is widely known as the city of Lithuanian potters and ceramic artists, with deep-rooted and actively preserved pottery traditions. It is here that the Lithuanian King of Potters is elected, bringing together the country’s most distinguished ceramic masters and continuing the living heritage of this ancient craft. The presentation at Balttour 2026 will also introduce the most popular events held at Kuršėnai Manor, as well as educational programmes, creative workshops, guided tours and curated cultural routes.
The Ethnic Culture and Traditional Crafts Centre is located in the unique Kuršėnai Manor Estate, the only surviving wooden manor of the former fiefdom type in Lithuania that has preserved all characteristic elements of traditional wooden manor architecture. The Kuršėnai Manor Palace is 214 years old, while the manor estate itself marks 395 years since it was granted as a fiefdom to the Gruževskiai (Gruszecki) family. Restored in 2021, the manor reopened to visitors on July 6 and today functions as a vibrant centre of living traditions, crafts and culture.
The Centre actively preserves and promotes traditional crafts typical of the Šiauliai region, including pottery, wood carving, sash weaving, wicker and straw weaving, wool felting, Easter egg decorating and other traditional skills. Activities are carried out through educational programmes, guided tours, exhibitions, creative workshops, events and projects designed for visitors of all ages, from children and youth to seniors, communities and international guests.
At the Kuršėnai Manor Palace and the former Servants’ Quarters, visitors are invited to take part in guided tours, tasting-based educational programmes, traditional craft training, creative camps and conferences, as well as to discover and purchase national heritage products. The manor also hosts a unique calendar exhibition, featuring a collection of approximately 5,000 calendars.
After exploring the manor, visitors are encouraged to stroll through the historic manor park, where pathways lead towards the Venta River, passing a centuries-old linden tree and one of the longest pedestrian bridges in Lithuania, measuring 262 metres.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Šiauliai District Municipality Ethnic Culture and Traditional Crafts Centre, a place where history meets living traditions and the future of Lithuanian crafts continues to be shaped.
Contacts:
Šiauliai District Municipality Ethnic Culture and Traditional Crafts Centre
Kuršėnai Manor House
Ventos St. 7E, Kuršėnai, Šiauliai District, Lithuania
Phone: +370 41 41 64 44
E-mail: siauliurajektac@gmail.com
Kuršėnai Servants’ Quarters
Ventos St. 7A, Kuršėnai, Šiauliai District, Lithuania
Phone: +370 41 58 34 22
E-mail: etninekulturaektac@gmail.com
Social media:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/kursenudvaras
www.facebook.com/kursenuamatucentras
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www.instagram.com/visit_siauliurajektac/
