Grutas Park
In southern Lithuania on the Belarusian border and just outside the health resort Druskininkai is Grutas park. The park opened in 2001 and contains lots of communist statues and monuments displayed along a two kilometer long path. The sculptures were dismantled in connection with the fall of Communism and placed in various warehouses around Lithuania. But an entreprenuer thought it would be a good idea to include them in a leisure park. Among the statues and monuments, there are exhibits that give the visitor an insight into the Soviet dictatorship and occupation. In addition to the park with statues and monuments, there is also a small zoo and a copy of a Soviet amusement park with carousels and other entertainment.
Current status: Museum (2006).
Address: Grutas 66441, Druskininkai.
Get there: Car.
Follow up in books: Kort, Michael: The Soviet Colossus: History And Aftermath (2006).
The focus is not on the crimes of Communism but rather on how Communism romanticized itself through a political system. It’s not that the park is pro-communism or so it’s probably just a way to capitalize from communism. Which in a way is ironicallly knowing that Communism saw Capitalism as worse system ever and the root to all misery.