The Museum 'LYCHNOSTATIS' is an autonomous private Foundation, operating since June 1992.

The Cretan Open-air Museum 'LYCHNOSTATIS ' aims to promote the understanding and awareness of the Cretan folk cultural heritage. Its collections relate to the following themes :

• Cretan Folk Tradition and Ethnology [life-style in the pre-industrial Crete ( 19th - 20th century ), traditional occupations and customs , living legends , ethnological information e.t.c.]
• Cretan Nature and Environment [vegetation (herbs, fruit-trees, cactis) , mineral wealth and environmental administrative process ]
• Cretan Folk Culture [self - taught artists who promote the folk cultural heritage with their artistic work]
  

Located in one of the principal tourist areas in Crete, the museum is, apart from a valuable tourist asset, an exemplary self - motivated conduct on tradition, culture and environment of the island.

The museum comprises the following buildings and locations :

• Traditional Dwellings ( a farmer's house and a middle-class house),
• Chapel,
• Windmill,
• Olive oil - press,
• Wine-press,
• Distillery for 'tsikoudia' ( alcoholic beverage 'raki' ),
• Threshing-floor,
• Shepherd's shelter,
• Ceramic workshop,
• Weaving and plant-dying workshop,
• Bee's and wax workshop,
• Shoe-making workshop,
• Carpentry,
• Herbarium,
• Garden with Cretan fruit - trees,
• Herb - garden,
• Flora and cactus-garden,
• Mineral and stone exhibition,
• Cretan folk artists' gallery,
• Auditorium [100 seats] for audio-visual shows , seminars , e.t.c.,
• Open-air theatre [250 seats] for cultural and artistic events,
• Temporary exhibitions' hall,
• Library stocked with books and periodicals on Cretan folk culture,
• Cafe (where typical beverages and sweets are served),
• Museum-shop

Extra Services:

• Audio Guide (2€/ per person)
• Audio-Visual Show (1€/ per person, Duration: 7 minutes)