The Višakio Rūda Valdas Arbašauskas Household Museum is a living story of Suvalkija’s past, located at the picturesque confluence of the Judrė and Višakio streams. The artistic touch of Valdas has created a homestead that exudes a creative aura and authentic atmosphere, where each exhibit – from old household tools to farm implements – tells its own story. Here, visitors can see locally donated furniture, religious symbols, and even the original sculpture of the Virgin Mary from the Višakio Rūda spring.
Every year, the museum revives the ancient process of bog iron smelting: participants search for bog iron pieces – brown limonite stones – in the Judrė valley and fields. The museum then sets up an authentic „rudnia“ (a special furnace for extracting iron), layering wood charcoal, bog iron, and heating it until the iron begins to flow. The molten “lava” and the process of iron extraction not only provide a spectacular sight but also an experiential one. Visitors can touch history themselves – creating unique jewelry from the extracted iron that connects the past with the present.
The museum is open to students, adults, and families who wish to experience the spirit of ancient crafts. Near the museum stands the largest wooden church in Suvalkija, and during the St. Bartholomew’s feast, the event is accompanied by an artisan fair and traditional timpano drumming, creating a unique cultural atmosphere. Višakio Rūda stands as not just a museum, but as a living ethnographic village where history resonates with every step.
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