This Varėna railway station became for Čiurlionis a gateway to the wider world—and a path back home. In the artist’s worldview, cosmopolitan thinking and the desire to discover new worlds were perfectly balanced with a deep love for his native land, as well as a profound appreciation and cultivation of Lithuanian nature and traditions.

Imagine those times—there were no journeys by aeroplane, and one could not reach foreign countries by car or bus. The train was the main means of long-distance travel. Let us recall that feeling just before departure—the excitement of new impressions, of the unknown, of the yearning to discover and to learn. That is precisely what Čiurlionis experienced each time he travelled from here to distant lands. This place is filled with the artist’s hopes, visions, desires, expectations, and that very sense of excitement. Try to feel it!

Varėna Railway Station (1915–1917) © myvimu.com

In 1862, when the railway was built, a wooden station was constructed; this brick one appeared much later. From the outside, it is subtly graceful, while the interior remains simple. Let us have a look around—let’s step out onto the platform. From here, between about 1889 and 1911, Čiurlionis travelled many times in the directions of Warsaw, Saint Petersburg, and Vilnius: to pursue his music studies in Warsaw, to meet artists in Saint Petersburg and present his works, and to Vilnius, where he began his active cultural life and met Sofija.

However, this station also marks a return—a sense of safety. It symbolises Čiurlionis’ constant turning back to his roots, to his native environment. Upon stepping off the train and taking a carriage, he would travel eagerly towards his parents’ home in Druskininkai.

In the small square beside the station, one can see a wooden sculpture “Čiurlionis” by the sculptor A. Kazlauskas, erected in 1975 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of M. K. Čiurlionis’ birth.

A. Kazlauskas’ sculpture © ciurlioniokelias.lt

Near the station, there is yet another feature characteristic of this region: mushrooms. As we know, Dzūkija is famous for them, and undoubtedly the Čiurlionis family enjoyed them on their table every year. Locals reveal that even today, during the season, you can almost always buy mushrooms from Varėna’s gatherers right here by the station. Take home a taste of the forest treasures from Čiurlionis’ homeland.

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Prepared based on sources:

ciurlionis.eu, ciurlioniokelias.lt

Varėna Railway Station

Varėna Railway Station

Location