The “Kultūros virenė” building has historically been called the White or Burning House. It is one of several buildings belonging to Kuliai St. for the building complex of Bishop Stanislaus Church. This ensemble of buildings is included in the register of immovable cultural values of the Department of Cultural Heritage.
The architect of the building is priest Antanas Rimkevičius, who was brought from Varnii to Kulius, in 1780. designed the house according to Jesuit building traditions.
At that time, the church servants lived in the building, the master’s workshop was on the west side, and the spinning mill was on the east side. A parsonage kitchen was installed in the center of the house, and spacious cellars suitable for storing products were dug underground. Due to the diverse purpose of the cellars and the extraordinary thickness of the walls, the building has long been arousing the imagination of locals and visitors alike.
No combustible materials were used in the construction of this building: tile roof, vaulted roofs of rafters, brick and stone masonry. Above the entrance to the house, the Latin inscription “Haec domus ardere nescia” – “this house knows no burning” – speaks of the uniqueness of the building.
In the days of the collective farm, the building housed a canteen, and until then the building kept changing its purpose – there was also a dairy, an electric substation, and warehouses.
After Lithuania regained its independence, the building stood unused for a long time. The potential of the abandoned house was seen by the enterprising members of the Kuliai town community and the artists organizing the “Sofia” festival here. They suggested that the community jointly apply for the EEA and Norwegian financial mechanisms program “Culture”. The initiative was supported and financially contributed by the municipality of Plungė district from the very beginning.
The new name of the building “Kultūros virene” was chosen during the gathering of the Kuli community, during a creative workshop. The stove is a unique architectural element of the building – a large firebox installed in the house with a wide brick hood, transitioning to a narrowing chimney. This authentic element of the house preserved in “Kultūros virene” is one of the largest in Žemaitia. Virenė is not only an exclusive element of architectural heritage, but also a symbol of comfort, togetherness, home. It perfectly reflects the hospitality and hospitality characteristic of the Kulas, not only the nurturing of traditions, but also openness to experiments.
