Guided tour in Prison (English language)

Service Description

It has never been so easy to escape to a prison. A historical Lukiškės prison complex used for imprisoning people for 115 years is finally welcoming you to explore life behind bars. Through the years this place was used by different regimes to lock up undesirable elements of the society. From political prisoners, like former Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin, to the most cruel people in Lithuania - these walls saw it all. With the help from the former prison guards and inmates, we prepared a unique tour to experience life behind bars in a recently closed prison. Because no documentary or books can convey the feeling of being locked in a tiny cell… Join a 1,5 - 2 hour guided experience in English to delve deeper in Lukiškės prison history, daily life of the inmates and the transformation of a prison to the only cultural hub in Lithuania as such. During this visit you will walk a mile in a former inmate’s shoes - from temporary holding cell, to interrogation room and finally - the cell where criminals sentenced to life spent their time. However, there was hope even in the shadow of barbed wire. See the praying angels and the former Russian Orthodox church, where inmates could hope for redemption. If not in this life - maybe in the next one. And you don’t need to commit any crimes to see it all! Just grab your ticket online (by the end of the tour you will have learnt that cash is not allowed in prisons). The major part of the complex is included in the cultural heritage list of Lithuania. It was built in 1904 as one of the most modern and expensive prison buildings in the Russian Empire. Throughout a century of its operation, it was used for convicts and political prisoners opposed by various political authorities, including Tsarist Russian, Nazi German, and the Soviets. The prison survived both World Wars and the Nazi and Soviet occupation and held many political prisoners of Lithuanian, Belarussian, Polish, Jewish, and other backgrounds. Lukiškės Prison ceased to function as an imprisonment facility in 2019 and opened the doors to the public and the artists as a cultural hub Lukiškės Prison 2.0. Available to the public, the facility has become an open space for culture, artistic expression, and community. Tour duration: 1,5 - 2 hours