Grutas Park(Unofficially known as Stalin World)80 miles southwest of Lithuania's capital, Vilnius

Unofficially known as Stalin World, in Grutas Park in the south of Lithuania monuments of Lenin, Marx and Stalin scatter the land, set amid beautiful wooded countryside.

Grutas Park was established to preserve the history of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic era, and as well as the sculpture garden's collection of 86 statues there are darker touches, such as guard towers and fragments of concentration camps.  

Stalin World features statues and other relics of the Russian occupation of the country that, according to the park, lays bare 'the naked Soviet ideology which suppressed and hurt the spirit of our nation for many decades'.

After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, dozens of Soviet statues were torn down from their plinths in towns and cities across the country, and dumped out of sight. 

Local entrepreneur Viliumas Malinauskas petitioned the Lithuanian authorities to grant him possession of these sculptures so that he could build a privately-financed museum. 

His aim was a controversial one but, despite fierce opposition from some, Park Grutas opened near the small town of Druskininkai in 2001.

An original idea of transporting tourists around the 20 hectare park on Gulag-style trains was later dropped, but the open-air museum is still eerily reminiscent of Siberian labour camps.

Grutas Park even holds an annual event on May 1 – a 'Soviet' celebration, when actors dress up in official communist ceremonial garments, and take on the role of political leaders from the time, including Lenin and Stalin. 

And there is more to the park than just the 2km-long sculpture trail - there is also a kids' playground - Luna Park, a mini zoo, a gift shop, and a cafe, all based on the Soviet era, with the cafe even serving traditional food from the time. 

This statue of Lenin is one of 86 former Soviet relics in the sculpture collection at Grutas Park, in Druskininkai, Lithuania

These busts of Engels, Marx, Lenin, and Stalin stand in front of some of the beautiful green fir trees that populate Grutas Park

As well as the sculpture garden's collection of statues there are darker touches, such as guard towers and fragments of concentration camps

Grutas Park also holds an annual event on May 1 – a 'Soviet' celebration, when actors dress up in Soviet official ceremonial garments, and take on the role of political leaders from the time

People play roles such as pioneers, partisans, secretaries of the central committee, and actors even impersonate Lenin, Stalin, and other characters of the Soviet period

The park also contains a kids' playground, a mini zoo, and a cafe, all based on the Soviet era, with the cafe even serving traditional food from the time

Tourists are regularly seen touring the statues in Park Grutas - known colloquially as 'Stalin World' - in the south of Lithuania