Prienų Krašto Muziejus - logotipas

The churchy place of Silavotas

Address: Naujasodžio k., Šilavoto sen., LT - 59272 Prienų raj.
Museum admission should be arranged by telephone (8~687) 24394

"The Churchy Place"took up occupation of the beautiful slope of Trakelis village which is about 0,7 km from Silavotas. More than a hundred years there was the odd convent where devout women who did people good nestled down. The foundress of the "The Churchy Place" Marijona Dabrisiute settled down here about 1895. Later other prayers located here and built up houses. At one time to sing Litany there gathered 14 residents of "The Churchy Place". Then there were already 7 little houses.

Owners of "The Churchy Place" Marija and Konstantinas Linceviciai decided to save originality, to rebuild destroyed by time houses, clean up the yard and hurdle it up. Now this place shines and attracts everybody: parterres, with care cut lawn, plants planted by those devout women and in each house the exposition is prepared. After assembling authentic things of these women, a new idée to collect old ethnography things, tools, textiles, pictures started up. There were gathered together very interesting collection of old prayer-books and other prints. There are about 2000 museum pieces and this work is on.

Collected museum pieces are displayed interestingly. In one house there is arranged "sacred" exposition showing the daily round of these devout women, in the other house there are feminine things and in the rebuild "shed"- masculine tools. The basements, woodsheds and little cote are cleaned up. "The Churchy Place" became a subdivision of the Museum of Prienai region from 2007.

In 2004 the intensive cultural life started up at "The Churchy Place". The community holidays and events are going on here. Very interesting and imposing event is artists' plenary final when artists organize their works show on the outside walls of houses, also they interact with local people. Teachers of Alytus ,,Dainava" Secondary School every year play in "The Churchy Place" the performance made up according to Lithuanian classics. Ethnographic performance suits to the environment so seniors like such get-together. Here also book presentations, artists, folk artists meetings, shows, international events "Poezijos pavasaris" (Poetry Spring) and "Muzieju naktis" (Museums Night) are going on. Projects on popularization of "The Churchy Place" activity are prepared.

On the last Sunday of June, 2006 the Statue Way near "The Churchy Place" was sanctified.

"The Churchy Place" hill breathes with peace and kindness. There is a lot of done trying to preserve the memory of devout women continuing their works and spreading their values. Also we try to train attention to nature gifts, history traces, folk culture and soul originality.