The street of painted shutters in Rokiškis has long been considered one of the most unique cultural phenomena in Lithuania. In particular, this small town in Aukštaitija managed to create something no other city or place in the country can boast – a true open-air art gallery. Here, the main highlight is the brightly decorated shutters of wooden houses. Today, they attract tourists, photographers, and even travelers from abroad looking for authentic and unexpected corners of Lithuania. We visited this street with our kids, and believe us – they loved it! So, if you travel in this part of Lithuania, definitely add this street to your list of must-see places.
The street of painted shutters in Rokiškis
The street of painted shutters in Rokiškis is a unique and unprecedented cultural phenomenon in Lithuania. As always, everything started with a simple idea, which eventually became Rokiškis’s signature symbol. Over more than twenty years, artists have decorated hundreds of shutters, and each one tells its own story – from Lithuanian folklore and nature motifs to historical and contemporary interpretations.
Rokiškis truly stands out as the only city in Lithuania known as the city of painted shutters. As a result, this unique tradition clearly marks the city’s cultural identity.
The idea’s author is artist Arūnas Augutis. In fact, back in 2003, he came up with the idea to revive the traditional decoration of wooden houses. By 2005, painting shutters had already grown into an ongoing project and artistic movement, which continues to this day.
Painted shutters – a place that fascinates kids
Over the years, artists from all over Lithuania and neighboring countries have participated in organized plein air events. Thanks to their work, more than 300 shutters have been painted. Each shutter has become a unique work of art – you can see folk art motifs, nature scenes, historical symbols, folklore, and elements of contemporary interpretation. It’s wonderful that these painted shutters decorate not only old, abandoned houses, but also brand new homes, whose owners eagerly joined the project.
You may wonder if kids find it interesting? Absolutely – our kids examined every shutter, because each one is different and painted in such an engaging way (from animals and patterns to flowers and fairy-tale characters). Most importantly, kids can safely explore the shutters while riding their scooters and searching for their favorites.
Interestingly, painted shutters decorate not only the houses on one street, but also homes on nearby streets and even in villages in the Rokiškis district.
Painted shutters can be found in various parts of the city:
- Respublikos street
- Kauno street
- Kęstučio street
- Ąžuolų street
- Sodų street
- Vilniaus street
- Mikėnas street
This tradition has spread beyond the city – many villages in the Rokiškis district now display painted shutters:
- Jurgiškiai
- Kamajai
- Antakrianys
- Bajorai
- Salos
- Šetekšnai
Because of this project, Rokiškis has become a sort of open-air gallery, where old wooden architecture blends with contemporary art. This is not only a tourist attraction but also a living example of community spirit and the preservation of culture.
