Orvidai Homestead-Museum Museum

The Orvidai Homestead-Museum is located near Salantai, on the right side of the road Salantai-Plungė (KK169) (there are information signs).
The site was started more than 40 years ago by a family ofstone cutters – a father and son – Kazimieras and Vilius Orvidai (1905–1989; 1952–1992). During the land improvement works, they brought interesting-looking stones scheduled for crushing and centuries-old trees from the surrounding fields to their homestead and used them to create religious monuments. The works created by the Orvidai themselves at their farm homestead, as well as works by other artists displayed there did not conform to Soviet ideological and artistic canons: the works made of stone, wood, metal and old agricultural tools intertwined the symbolism of different religions (Catholic, Pagan, Buddhist). The homestead was also well known to those who did not fit into the reality of Soviet life. The place became a site of refuge and gathering for those who thought differently. The Soviet power repeatedly planned to destroy this environment, however, people managed to preserve it. The Orvidai homestead became very popular during the Lithuanian revival.
An IS-2 tank welcomes visitors at the Orvidai Homestead-Museum. This tank was developed by the Soviet Union during World War II as a response to the German Tiger I. The name IS is an acronym for the Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin. This tank was formerly located in Salantai as part of the Memorial dedicated to the World War II Soviet burial. In 1991, it was relocated to the Orvidai homestead and became an exhibit.