Guided tour of the exhibition "Hidden Within"

We invite you to embark on a journey through time – to see the 16th-century regalia of the rulers of Lithuania and Poland, and to learn the dramatic history of the Vilnius Cathedral Treasury, from its concealment in 1655, 1939, and 1991 to its discoveries in 1931, 1985, and 2024.

In 2024, the burial regalia of King Alexander Jagiellon and Queens Elizabeth of Austria and Barbara Radziwiłł—crowns, a scepter, and an orb—were discovered in the vaults of Vilnius Cathedral. These treasures were first brought to light in 1931, following a severe flood of the Neris and Vilnia rivers in Vilnius. In 1939, with the outbreak of World War II, when it was impossible to safely evacuate the treasury's valuables, the Cathedral itself became their most reliable hiding place.

During the tour, we will examine the echoes of the treasury's discoveries and the circumstances of its concealment. You will learn what the burial insignia placed in royal tombs symbolized and discover other valuables found in the 2024 cache: the queens' jewelry, testifying to the craftsmanship of Renaissance goldsmiths, a collection of precious stones, and panels and votive offerings from the St. Casimir Chapel of Vilnius Cathedral.

Tour duration: 1 hour. Tour price: 1 EUR + visitor ticket (10 EUR, discounted – 5 EUR). Discounts apply upon presentation of a valid ID. Advance registration is required by phone at +370 5 269 7800 or via email at edukacija@bpmuziejus.lt. Tickets can be purchased at the museum box office or via the "Paysera Tickets" system.

The exhibition "Hidden Within" will be open at the Church Heritage Museum (Šv. Mykolo g. 9, Vilnius) from July 9, 2024, to January 30, 2027. For more information: www.bpmuziejus.lt, email muziejus@muziejus.lt or phone +370 5 269 7803; media inquiries +370 684 07792.

The exhibition is organized by the Church Heritage Museum, in partnership with the Vilnius Academy of Arts. The museum's activities are funded by the Archdiocese of Vilnius, the Lithuanian Council for Culture, and the Vilnius City Municipality. The project is partially funded by the Research Council of Lithuania.

DISCOUNTS APPLY TO: students, pupils, teachers, lecturers, tour guides, soldiers, police officers, pensioners, people with disabilities, deportees, members of the Lithuanian Artists' Association, members of the Lithuanian Art Historians' Society, and members of the Lithuanian Archaeological Society. A full list of ticket concessions offered by the Church Heritage Museum can be found at www.bpmuziejus.lt.