Lithuania > Balvi

Balvi

Balvi differs from other Latgale towns with its unique charm, created by verdure and combination of modern and ancient architecture, which altogether forms the image of a small European town.

BALVI DISTRICT MUSEUM

In 2010 the museum moved to a new place - the reconstructed manor granary. Here history is mixed with new trends - the cellar vaults built by manor people stand together with the new roof window of the exhibition hall, old granary door made from 200-year old timber and furniture made by local masters, exhibitions portraying the olden times of the district and the life vision of young artists. At the end of September 2014, a new and up-to-date exposition was opened: "Nonmaterial Cultural Heritage of Northern Latgale". Five exposition halls of the museum show themes characteristic to the Northern Latgale, namely, ethnography, traditional music, folklore, customs, psalms, May chants, skills of people, and other local values. The museum offers educational programmes and tours around the manor and the town (please, notify us on your visit in advance). The museum welcomes also people with special needs.

UNIQUE EXHIBITS:

National costume of Abrene

This replica costume set was made in 2011 -2013 according to the 19th century originals available in the collection of the National History Museum of Latvia. The costume was made by a group of authors under the guidance of Iveta Gabrane (1974) within the framework of the project "Abrene National Costume Revival Workshops".

Awards of the General Valdis Matiss

Photos, documents, General's festive and everyday uniforms, and awards of Valdis MatTss - the General of ground troops brigade, the head of the reinstated National Defence Academy, and Latvia's military attache to the USA, Canada, and Russia, Valdis MatTss being a man from the same district.

Collection of traditional folk music instruments, the most unique of which is a contrabass or a bass balalaika.Ceramic collection by applied arts masters Jolanta and Valdis Dundenieks