Grutas Park

Park Grutas (Gruto)

Grutas Park is a unique sculpture park, located 125 km southwest of Vilnius on the road to Druskininkai. The 20-hectare area is home to Soviet monuments brought here from all over Lithuania in 1990 after the country’s independence. Although all these sculptures were created to glorify the Soviet regime, in Grutas Park they emphasize the negative content of the Soviet ideology and its harmful influence on the country’s value system.

General information

From 1989 to 1991, during the restoration of independence of the Baltic states, the fate of Soviet monuments was unclear. Many were thrown off their pedestals and taken to warehouses. In neighboring republics, some monuments were even blown up. A local mushroom-growing entrepreneur, Viliumas Malinauskas, approached the Ministry of Culture with a proposal to collect Soviet-era monuments and create a sculpture park. In 1998, the proposal was accepted. In 1999, preparatory work began. Many of the monuments had to be restored – you will notice still traces of blue and red paint, cracks and chips.

The opening of the park was met with mixed reviews by the Lithuanian public. Many Lithuanians objected to the display of these monuments and other ideological monuments. Those who had lost loved ones or suffered during the tragic years considered such an idea blasphemous. Supporters of Malinauskas’ idea believed that the park would become another attraction in southern Lithuania and would in no way glorify Soviet art. Grutas Park was officially opened on April 1, 2001 – this day is called Deceiver’s Day in Lithuania.

.

In Grutas Park you will see statues of Lenin, Stalin, Angarietis, Kapsukas, Dzerzhinsky, young Komsomol members, soldiers, writers, workers and other heroes of the Soviet era. The exhibition emphasizes the cruelty and absurdity of the regime that existed at the time. The park is surrounded by barbed wire and observation towers are installed everywhere. On the territory of the park you will also see freight cars in which people were sent into exile. You get the impression that a Siberian camp has suddenly appeared among the Lithuanian forest.

Other attractions of Grutas Park

In addition to the sculptures listed in the article, Gruto Park is home to a wooden information center built in the style of the 40s-50s of the 20th century. It contains examples of Soviet art and design, a children’s playground with original Soviet swings and merry-go-rounds, and a small restaurant serving Soviet-style food.