We have visited Druskininkai many times, but this time we made a real discovery. Just a few kilometres from the resort, you will find an extraordinary place that, in our opinion, far too few people know about. A. Česnulis Park in Druskininkai is not an ordinary sculpture park. As you walk among the trees, the sculptures start to move, play music, and seem to come to life, while the entire park feels like a separate world created by the artist.
A. Česnulis Park in Druskininkai genuinely surprised us. We went there to see the sculptures, but we found much more – a walk in nature, an introduction to Lithuanian folklore and art, as well as plenty of interactive elements that are especially engaging for children. It is one of those places that makes you wonder: how did we not know about it before?
Not ordinary sculptures – some of them actually come to life
For us, the biggest highlight of A. Česnulis sculpture and recreation park was its interactive nature. Here, simply walking past the wooden sculptures and looking at them is not enough. You can set some of the works in motion, while others make sounds or play music. It feels as if the wooden figures come to life right before your eyes.
That is exactly what makes the park so interesting when travelling with children. They are not simply observing an art exhibition. Instead, they want to come closer, find out what will happen, and look for the next surprise.
The park brings together Lithuanian folklore, history, nature and Antanas Česnulis’s imagination. Here, you can meet all kinds of characters and see huge compositions carved from wood.
One man has been creating the park for many years
The story behind this place makes it even more impressive. Folk artist and woodcarver Antanas Česnulis established the park at his homestead in the village of Naujasodė.
His works are displayed across a large area beside the Ratnyčėlė stream. Moreover, the park is not a finished museum – the artist continues to add new works to it.
Knowing this, I think you experience the park quite differently. It is not simply a dozen sculptures placed together in one location. Instead, the entire surroundings, paths, trees, water, and artworks create one cohesive world.
Four-storey windmill
One of the first things that really catches your eye is the impressive windmill.
It is more than just a decoration. The windmill houses a wooden sculpture exhibition spread across several floors. As you climb higher, you can see different works, making the windmill a separate part of the park experience.
You will also see one of A. Česnulis’s best-known works, the wall of Pensive Christs, as well as various monumental compositions and sculptures inspired by Lithuanian folklore and history.
A walk along the Ratnyčėlė stream
Another reason why we found this place so cosy is the surroundings themselves.
The park sits beside the Ratnyčėlė stream, among trees, so visiting the sculptures also becomes a beautiful walk in nature. The artworks are not crowded into a single area. Instead, you discover them as you follow the park’s paths.
Therefore, it is worth taking your time here. Stop by the more interesting sculptures, let the children explore them and simply enjoy the surroundings.
Why we recommend Česnulis Park for families with children
We really like places where children learn something without even realising that they are taking part in an educational experience. Česnulis Park is exactly that kind of place.
Here, you can talk about Lithuanian folklore and old stories, watch huge works of art take shape from wood, and, at the same time, have fun searching for sculptures that move and play music.
You certainly should not think that this is a place only for art lovers. The interactive elements completely transform the experience of visiting a sculpture park, so our whole family found it interesting.
One of the places worth adding to your Druskininkai Itinerary
There is certainly no shortage of things to do with children in Druskininkai. However, if you want to take a short break from the resort’s traditional attractions, we recommend visiting Naujasodė as well. A. Česnulis sculpture and recreation park is about 5 km from Druskininkai, so it is very easy to add it to your travel plans.
For us, this was one of the most unexpected discoveries in the Druskininkai area. We went to a sculpture park, but found much more – a huge space created by an artist where nature, Lithuanian stories, humour, sounds, movement and countless unexpected details come together.
If you have already visited Druskininkai several times and feel that you have seen all the most interesting places, Česnulis Park is definitely worth adding to your list.
