Museum of Folk Art in Vetka

Vetka is a cozy town in the east of Belarusian Polesia, located on the picturesque bank of the Sozh River. Historically, it is known as a center of Russian Old Believers, founded in 1685 by settlers from central Russia. Today, one of the main attractions of the town is the Vetka Museum of Folk Art – a unique center for studying and preserving traditional culture. The museum's exhibitions tell about Orthodox and Old Believer culture, folk crafts, icon painting, and decorative-applied art. This place is included in the routes of many tours around Belarus, and you can book a tour with a visit to the museum.

History of Creation

The museum was founded on November 30, 1978, thanks to the enthusiasm of Fyodor Shklyarov – a local artist, collector, and descendant of Old Believers. In 1987, the permanent exhibition was placed in a historic building – the house of merchant Groshikov, which is an architectural monument of the 19th century. In 1992, the museum received additional premises in the former district committee building, where its storerooms were located. At the beginning of the 21st century, a reconstruction was carried out, which allowed expanding the exhibition halls and modernizing the exposition. Today, the Vetka Museum of Folk Art is not only an exhibition center but also an important place for studying local traditions and crafts.

Museum Exhibitions

The museum covers an area of more than 400 m² and includes 11 halls, where over 10,000 exhibits are displayed. Among them are unique Old Believer and Orthodox icons, handwritten and early printed books, rare archaeological finds. Particularly interesting are collections of iconographic sketches from the 17th-20th centuries, artifacts decorated with gold embroidery, beads, and pearls, as well as examples of gilded wood carving. Visitors can see cast icons, crosses, chased book covers, and other masterpieces of decorative-applied art. The museum's exhibitions immerse guests in the atmosphere of ancient Belarusian life, revealing the cultural features of Vetka and its inhabitants.

Excursions with a Visit to the Museum

The Vetka Museum of Folk Art is a popular destination for tours around Belarus. You can visit it as part of a tour from Minsk, which introduces tourists to the history of Old Believers, folk traditions, and unique artifacts. Thematic tours are also organized, during which guests learn about ancient crafts, icon painting, and rare artistic techniques. You can book a tour with a visit to the museum on our website. The program often includes visits to other attractions in the region, making the trip especially fascinating.