Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Gediminas Tower
During the reign of the first rulers from the Gediminid dynasty the Vilnius
Higher Castle was of great significance not only as a political centre of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but also as a constituent element of the defensive
complex of the capital (together with the Lower and Crooked Castles) that
withstood an intensified attack of the Teutonic Order during the second half of
the 14th century. When a fire destroyed the wooden castle, a brick castle was
constructed during the reign of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas at the
beginning of the 15th century. The remains of the brick castle have survived
until the present day.
Eventually, as the situation in the state changed, the castle lost its purpose
and subsequent fires and wars, after which it was not repaired, devastated
the castle. During 1610-1613, a prison functioned in the basement of the
castle, whereas the Higher Castle was last used as a defensive fortress
during the war in 1655-1661. The Muscovite army was temporarily settled in
the castle. Afterwards, the castle was completely desolated and was slowly
disintegrating and declining.
The defensive functions of the castle were brought to light in the 19th century,
when a fortress was established in the territory of Vilnius castles following the
order of the Tsar of Russia in 1831. The ruins of the Higher Castle were also
taken care of, i.e. the remains of the southern and northern towers of the
Higher Castle as well as its western and northern walls were demolished, the
masonry was conserved, and a sloping Castle Hill was reinforced. In 1838, a
wooden two-storey structure of optical telegraph was erected on top of the
western tower. When the fortress was removed from the territory of Vilnius
castles, a new road was built on the slope of the Castle Hill in 1896, the
slopes were planted with trees, and a caf was opened in the western tower.
During the interwar period, the conservation works were carried on.
When Lithuania restored its state in 1918, the flag of Lithuania was first
hoisted on the Gediminas Castle Hill on January 1, 1919. Unfortunately, this
was not for long. Vilnius region was occupied by the Polish and only on
October 29, 1939 the tricolour of Lithuania was hoisted again on the castle
tower. During the World War II the western tower of the castle was damaged
badly.
After the war, although Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, the tower
was rebuilt and, in 1960, when the territory of the hill was arranged and the
fragments of the castle buildings were conserved, the Castle Museum was
opened in the western tower. From 1968, the museum became the
subdivision of the National Museum of Lithuania (at that time, the Museum of
History and Ethnography). When the Lithuanian National Revival began, the
flag of Lithuania was once again hoisted on the castle tower on October 7,
1988, whereas in 1995, when the castle tower was renovated, a renewed
exposition opened its doors to visitors. A picturesque panorama of the capital
of an independent Lithuania opens up from the scenic overlook installed on
the top of the tower. The castle tower together with the flag of the Lithuanian
state became the symbol of national struggles for independence and
statehood.
The tower houses an exposition of archeologic findings from the hill and the
surrounding areas. It is also an excellent vantage point, from where the
panorama of Vilnius' Old Town can be admired.
Gediminas' Tower is an important state and historic symbol of the city of
Vilnius and of Lithuania itself. It was depicted on the former national currency,
the litas, and is mentioned in numerous Lithuanian patriotic poems and folk
songs. The Flag of Lithuania was re-hoisted atop the tower on October 7,
1988, during the independence movement that was finalized by the Act of the
Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania on March 11, 1990. A
reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Lithuania was completed in 2009, and is
located near the base of the hill upon which Gediminas' Tower stands.
There is a museum in the Gediminas Tower. In the museum there are models
of Vilnius castles from the 14th to the 17th centuries, armament, and
iconographic material of the Old Vilnius.
Upper Castle
The Castle Complex was attacked by the Teutonic Order in 1365, 1375,
1377, 1383, 1390, 1392, 1394 and 1402, but was never completely taken.
The most damaging assaults were led by the Teutonic Order marshals
Engelhard Rabe von Wildstein and Konrad von Wallenrode in 1390 during the
Lithuanian Civil War (13891392) between Vytautas the Great and his cousin
Jogaila. Many noblemen from Western Europe participated in this military
campaign, including Henry, Duke of Hereford, the future king Henry IV of
England, with 300 knights, and the Livonian Knights, commanded by their
Grand Master. At times during the civil war, Vytautas supported the Orders'
attacks on the castles, having struck an alliance with them in his quest for the
title of Grand Duke of Lithuania.
At the time of the 1390 attack, the Complex consisted of three sections - the
Upper, Lower and Crooked Castles. The Teutonic Knights managed to take
and destroy the Crooked Castle, situated on Bleak Hill (Lithuanian: Plikasis
kalnas), but failed to capture the others. During the 1394 attack, the Vilnius
Castles were besieged for over three weeks, and one of its defense towers
was damaged and fell into the Neris River.
The civil war between Vytautas and Jogaila was resolved by the 1392 Astrava
Agreement and Vytautas assumed the title of Grand Duke. During his reign
the Upper Castle underwent its most notable redevelopment. After a major
fire in 1419, Vytautas initiated a reconstruction of the Upper Castle, along
with the fortification of other buildings in the complex. The present-day
remains of the Upper Castle date from this era.[2] Vytautas had spent about
four years with the Teutonic Order during the civil war. He had the opportunity
to study the architecture of the castles of the Teutonic Order and adopt some
of their elements in his residence in Vilnius.
The Upper Castle was reconstructed in Gothic style with glazed green tiling
on its roof. The Upper Castle keep hall, on the second floor, was the largest
hall (10 x 30 m) within the complex; it was a little smaller than the hall of the
Grand Master's Palace (15 x 30 m) in Marienburg, and much larger than the
hall at the Duke's Palace in Trakai Island Castle (10 x 21 m). Reconstruction
of the castle ended in 1422. The state had made plans to host the coronation
of the proclaimed king Vytautas the Great in the castle, which were disrupted
by his untimely death.
After the 16th century, the Upper Castle was not maintained, and it suffered
from neglect. Until the early 17th century, a prison for noblemen was located
in the Upper Castle. It was used as a fortress for the last time during the
invasion of the Russians in 1655, when for the first time in Lithuanian history,
a foreign army captured the entire complex.[3] Six years later, the PolishLithuanian army managed to recapture Vilnius and the castles. Afterwards
the Upper Castle stood abandoned and was not reconstructed.
The complex suffered major damage during the World Wars. At this time, only
the western tower, known as Gediminas Tower, remains standing. It is a
symbol of Vilnius and of Lithuania. Only a few remnants of the castle's keep
and other towers survived.
Lower Castle
The Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander, who later became King of Poland,
moved his residence to the Royal Palace, where he met with ambassadors.
He ordered the renovation of the palace. After his marriage to a daughter of
Moscow's Grand Duke Ivan III, the royal couple lived and died in the palace.
Sigismund I the Old, after his ascension to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,
conducted his affairs in the Royal Palace as well as in Vilnius Cathedral.
During the rule of Sigismund I the palace was greatly expanded, to meet new
needs of the Grand Duke another wing was added, as well as a third floor;
the gardens were also extended. By contemporary accounts the palace was
worth 100,000 ducats. The palace reconstruction plan was probably prepared
by Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve, who also designed
several other projects in the Kingdom of Poland. In this palace Sigismund the
Old welcomed an emissary from the Holy Roman Empire, who introduced
Sigismund to Bona Sforza, his second wife, in 1517.
Sigismund's son Sigismund II Augustus was crowned Grand Duke of
Lithuania in the Royal Palace. Augustus carried on with palace development
and lived there with his first wife Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of the
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. She was buried in Vilnius Cathedral.
Sigismund II's second wife, Barbara Radziwill, also lived in the palace.
According to contemporary accounts of the Holy See's emissary, the Royal
Palace at that time contained more treasures than the Vatican. Sigismund II
also assembled one of the largest collection of books in Europe.
The palace was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. The
plan was prepared by several Italian architects, including Giovanni Cini da
Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi, and others. The palace was visited by
Ippolito Aldobrandini, who later became Pope Clement VIII. Another major
development took place during the reign of the Vasa family. The Royal Palace
was refurbished in early Baroque style during the rule of Sigismund III Vasa.
Matteo Castello, Giacopo Tencalla, and other artists participated in the 17thcentury renovation.
During the rule of Vasas, several notable ceremonies took place in the
palace, including the wedding of Duke John, who later became King John III
of Sweden, and Sigismund Augustus' sister Catherine. The first opera in
Lithuania was staged in the palace in 1634. Marco Scacchi and Virgilio
Puccitelli were the opera's impresarios.[citation needed]
After the Russian invasion in 1655, the state began weakening, with negative
effects on the Royal Palace. The palace was greatly damaged by war, and its
treasures were plundered. After the recapture of the city of Vilnius in 16601661, the palace was no longer a suitable state residence, and stood
abandoned for about 150 years. In the late 18th century, after the fall of the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, several families lived in parts of the ruined
palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into
Tsarist Russia, Tsarist officials ordered the demolition of the remaining
sections of the Royal Palace. The Palace was almost completely demolished
by the early 19th century. The site had been sold in 1799 to a merchant from
Kremenchug.
The Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) passed a law in 2000 resolving that the
Royal Palace be rebuilt for ceremonies commemorating the millennium since
the first mention of the name of Lithuania in 2009.
palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into
Tsarist Russia, officials ordered the demolition of the remaining sections of
the palace. The structure was almost completely demolished in 1801, the
bricks and stones were sold, and the site was bowered.
Only a small portion of the walls up to the second floor survived, that were
sold to the Jewish merchant Abraham Schlossberg around 1800, who
incorporated them into his house. After the November Uprising of 1831, the
czarist government expelled Schlossberg and took over the building, as it was
building a fortress beside it.
After Lithuania regained its independence following World War I in 1918, the
castle became the headquarters of the army. It soon was captured by the
Polish troops following the Polish annexation of Vilnius (Wilno). During World
War II, it was the office of the German Wehrmacht, and after World War II it
was used by Soviet security structures and later transformed into a Pioneers
Palace.
Cathedral Basilica
It is believed that in pre-Christian times, the Baltic pagan god Perknas was
worshiped at the site of the cathedral. It has also been postulated that the
Lithuanian King Mindaugas ordered the construction of the original cathedral
in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity and appointment of a bishop to
Lithuania. Remains of the archaic quadratic church with three naves and
massive buttresses have been discovered underneath the current structure in
the late 20th century.[1] After Mindaugas's death in 1263, the first cathedral
again became a place of pagan worship.
In 1387, the year in which Lithuania was officially converted to Christianity,
construction began on a second Gothic Cathedral with five chapels. This
second cathedral, however, burnt down in 1419. During preparations for his
1429 coronation as King of Lithuania, Vytautas built a significantly larger
Gothic Cathedral in its place. Although the coronation never took place, the
walls and pillars of this third Cathedral have survived to this day. The third
Cathedral had three naves and four circular towers at its corners, and
Flemish traveler Guillebert de Lannoy noticed its similarity to Frauenburg
Cathedral. In 1522, the Cathedral was renovated, and a bell tower was built
on top of the Lower Castle defensive tower. After another fire in 1530, it was
rebuilt again and between 1534 - 1557 more chapels and the crypts were
added. The Cathedral acquired architectural features associated with the
Renaissance.
In 1529, the Crown Prince and future King of Poland, Sigismund II Augustus,
was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the Cathedral. After yet another fire
in 1610, the Cathedral was rebuilt again, and the two front towers were
added. The Cathedral was damaged again in 1655 when Vilnius fell to
Russian troops in the Russo-Polish War of 16541667. It was renovated and
redecorated several more times.
Between 1623 - 1636, at the initiative of Sigismund III Vasa and later
completed by his son Wladyslaw IV Vasa, the Baroque style Saint Casimir
chapel by royal architect Constantino Tencalla was built of Swedish
sandstone. Its interior was reconstructed in 1691-1692 and decorated with
frescoes by Michelangelo Palloni, the altar and stuccowork by Pietro Perti.
This chapel contains sculpted statutes of Jagiellon kings and an epitaph with
Wladyslaw IV Vasa's heart. More than anything in the Cathedral this chapel
symbolizes the glory of Polish-Lithuanian union and common history.
In 1769 the southern tower, built during the reconstruction of 1666 collapsed,
destroying the vaults of the neighbouring chapel and killing 6 people. After
the damage, Bishop of Vilnius Ignacy Jakub Massalski ordered the
reconstruction of the Cathedral. The works started in 1779 and were
completed in 1783, and the interior was completed in 1801. The Cathedral
was reconstructed to its present appearance according to the design of
Laurynas Guceviius in the Neoclassical style; the church acquired a strict
quadrangular shape common to local public buildings. The main facade was
adorned with sculptures of the Four Evangelists by Italian sculptor Tommaso
Righi. Some scholars point to the architectural resemblance of the cathedral
to the works of Andrea Palladio or see the influence of Guceviius's tutor
Claude Nicolas Ledoux. The influence of Palladian architecture is evident in
side facades of the building. The lack of 'purity' of the Classical architecture,
due to incorporation of Baroque style sculptures and other elements, was
later criticized by academical architects, notably Karol Podczaszyski.
Between 1786 and 1792 three sculptures by Kazimierz Jelski were placed on
roof of the Cathedral - Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on
the north, and Saint Helena in the centre. These sculptures were removed in
1950 and restored in 1997. Presumably the sculpture of St. Casimir originally
symbolized Lithuania, that of St. Stanislaus symbolized Poland, and that of
St. Helena symbolized Russia's dominance.
n 2002 work officially began to rebuild the Royal Palace of Lithuania behind
the Cathedral. The newly erected palace building will considerably alter the
context of the Cathedral.
The Cathedral and the belfry were thoroughly renovated from 2006 to 2008.
The facades were covered with fresh multicolor paintwork, greatly enhancing
the external appearance of the buildings. It was the first renovation since the
restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990.
Gates of Dawn
The Gate of Dawn (Lithuanian: Auros Vartai, Polish: Ostra Brama, Belarusian: )
is a city gate of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and one of the most important religious,
historical and cultural monuments.
It was built between 1503 and 1522 as a part of defensive fortifications for the city of
Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It has also been known as the
Medininkai Gate, as it led to the village Medininkai south of Vilnius as well as Atra
broma, which derivative for the Lithuanian language word atra meaning sharp. Of the
nine city gates, only the Gate of Dawn remains, while the others were destroyed by the
order of the government at the end of the 18th century.
In the 16th century city gates often contained religious artifacts intended to guard the city
from attacks and to bless travelers. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of
The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers. For centuries
the picture has been one of the symbols of the city and an object of veneration for both
Roman Catholic and Orthodox inhabitants. Thousands of votive offerings adorn the walls
and many pilgrims from neighboring countries come to pray in front of the beloved
painting. Masses are held in Lithuanian and Polish languages.
After World War II the cult of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn prevailed in Lithuanian and
Polish communities worldwide and is continued in many shrines to the Virgin Mary in
Europe, and the Americas. The largest of the churches devoted to Our Lady of the Gate
of Dawn is St. Mary's Church in Gdask, Poland.
Vilnius University
Uupis
This is one of the oldest districts in Vilnius and is mentioned in historic documents
as early as the 16th century.
In earlier times, vanes of numerous mills could be seen turning here. It was the
poorest suburb of the city and was inhabited mostly by craftsmen. At some point in
its history, a red-light district was located nearby. In Soviet times, Uupis was badly
neglected and had the notoriety of being the most dangerous district of Vilnius. In
time, artists came to settle in the cheap accommodation in Uupis; moreover, the
Art Academy was situated right across the bridge. Alternative fashion festivals,
concerts, exhibitions, poetry evenings, performances, and original Uupis
festivities are now organised here. At the present time Uupis is one of the most
prestigious and expensive districts in Vilnius.
The name Uupis means place beyond the river. The Vilnia River, often called
Vilnel, is an integral part of Uupis. It is therefore quite natural that one of the
symbols of Uupis is a bronze mermaid, also known as the Uupis Mermaid,
created by sculptor Romas Viliauskas. The mermaid occupies a special niche on
the embankment of the Vilnia. It is said that it is the mermaid who attracts people
from all over the world to Uupis. Those who surrender to her charm remain in
Uupis forever.
Angel of Uupis
A sculpture of an angel was placed in the central square of Uupis in 2002. The
bronze angel, also created by sculptor Romas Viliauskas, has become the symbol
of Uupis.
Three Crosses
The wooden crosses collapsed in 1869 and Tsarist authorities did not allow to
rebuilt them. The new monument from reinforced concrete designed by
Antoni Wiwulski was erected in August 1916, while Vilnius was occupied by
the Germans during World War I. The monument was demolished by Soviet
authorities on May 30, 1950. Residents of Vilnius wanted them restored.
During the Lithuanian independence movement, the monument was rebuilt
on the old foundations according to the project of sculptor Henrikas ilgalis.
The monument was unveiled on 14 June 1989. The rebuilt crosses now are
1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) higher than those of 1916. Broken pieces of the old
monument can be seen several meters below the rebuilt monument.
Television Tower
The Television Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Eastern Europe. It is
326,5 metres high.
A photographic exhibition devoted to fourteen unarmed civilians who were
killed during the tragic events of 13 January 1991 is mounted on the ground
floor. Crosses and monuments near the entrance perpetuate one of the
countrys biggest fights for independence.
The tower is open to visitors: a lift takes them in 45 seconds up to an
observation platform. This is a circular room (at the height of 165 metres),
which revolves slowly, taking about one hour to complete one revolution.
There is a caf, and viewers can appreciate a spectacular view of Vilnius and
even of the panorama of the surrounding countryside within the radius of 50
kilometres.
Small Ghetto
The Great Synagogue was built in yd Street (did not survive) which housed
about 35 thousand praying people and was protected by 18 Torah rolls. Next
to it there was the Gaon House of Worship, a famous library of Stranas and
other buildings of the Synagogue courtyard for religious purposes. The Soviet
occupation destroyed all that completely.
Today a kindergarten stands in place of the Great Synagogue, next to it a
monument to Gaon is built, in the place where his house used to stand.
Narrow and winding streets with transverse arcades have retained their
original appearance; some ancient architecture has survived or been
restored: first of all houses in Stikli and Gaon Streets.
The Big Ghetto of Vilnius existed from 6 September 1941 to 23 September
1943 (Lydos, Rdnink, Msini, Amenos, emaitijos, Dysnos,
iauli,Ligonins Streets). There were around 29,000 Jews in the Big Ghetto;
most of them were killed in Paneriai. Rdninink St. 18 marks the place of the
main entrance into the Big Ghetto; this is indicated in a memorial plaque
bearing the plan of the ghetto. The quarter between Amenos, Dysnos and
Msini Streets is the first quarter of historical Vilnius to be under
reconstruction. At present, the Jewish Culture and Information Centre is
operating here. Between 1921 and 1951, the present emaitijos Street was
named after M. Strashun. The books collected by Matityahu Strashun laid the
work. The Small Ghetto survived until basis for the largest Judaism library in Europe, which was established in
the year 1941.
Vilnius in 1892. The library itself was destroyed together with the Great
Synagogue. Following the restoration of Lithuanias independence, the day of
elimination of the Big Ghetto of Vilnius (23 September) was declared the Day
of the Jewish Genocide in Lithuania.
The only thing left to remind the old synagogue is a memorial for Gaonas
built there. The Small ghetto was closed in 21st of October, 1941.
Town Hall
Major annual fairs, such as Kaziukas Fair, are held in this square, the main
Christmas tree is decorated here, various concerts and other attractions are
organised as well as celebrations of the important dates of the state.
As far back as the early fifteenth century, the square was bordered by small
shops. With the expansion of the city and the development of trade the
number of small shops was increasing. Most of them were selling salt, iron
and meat products. It is known that all of these shops could not have been
sold, donated or transferred freely as everything was strictly regulated.
Trading on the Town Hall Square was restricted by regulations such as the
prohibition for the Jewish butchers to build their butchers shops both on the
urban market and on Vokiei (German) Street. It was also prohibited to buy
up products on the roadsides and sell them later in the city at a higher price.
It was a measure to avoid the season of high prices, especially if there was a
shortage of some product such as grain in deficit times. Any violations were
punished with monetary fines, flogging, imprisonment and confiscation of
merchandise. Confiscated goods were donated to various refuges and
hospitals.
Following the example many established cities Vilnius was granted the
Magdeburg Rights. Those rights granted a right for merchants on the routes
through Vilnius to stop in the capital and to sell their goods in a market. In
1503, due to the number of foreign traders the city built a special guest house
for them to stay, on the site of the present day National Philharmonic. They
had rooms for merchants and their retinues and premises to store their goods
as well as room for horses, carts and sledges. Strict regulations were also
imposed on traders and guilds regarding the construction of their market
places and participation in the citys events.
However, fighting with resellers was often a real challenge: powerful owners
of jurisdictions would not always obey the orders of the rulers. Scottish and
Jewish tradesmen in the seventeenth century were forbidden to trade in
golden, silver, silk and semi-silk fringes and edgings, but this prohibition was
not applied to the said articles produced in manufactures of Naples and
Frankfurt.
Many attractions and events were organised in the square such as the
Presidential Palace
The Presidential Palace (Lithuanian: Prezidentra), located in Vilnius Old Town, is the official office and eventual official
residence of the President of Lithuania. The palace dates back to the 14th century and during its history it has
undergone various reconstructions, supervised by prominent architects, including Laurynas Guceviius and Vasily
Stasov. In 1997 the palace became the official seat of the President of Lithuania.
The Palace traces its history back to the 14th century, when Jogaila, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, issued an edict
donating land in the city to the Vilnius Diocese, for this reason the palace is sometimes referred to as the Bishops'
Palace.] Construction of the Palace took place in the late 14th century under the auspices of the first Bishop of Vilnius
Andrzej Jastrzbiec, and over succeeding generations, the building was gradually enlarged and renovated. During the
Renaissance, the Palace was once again renovated, and parks and gardens surrounding the building were expanded.
As the 18th century unfolded, a number of dramatic events in the Palace's history took place: the last Bishop of Vilnius
lived in the Palace, Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire, and the building itself was badly damaged by two
major fires in 1737 and 1748. The Palace was reconstructed in 1750 under the supervision of the architect Laurynas
Guceviius. After its reconstruction, the Palace was used as a residence for emperors, kings and noblemen. During
1796, Tsar Paul I lived at the Palace. During the course of the 19th century, the Palace served as a residence for
several Imperial Russian governors, such as Mikhail Muravyov, nicknamed "The Hangman". It was also visited by the
future King of France, Louis XVIII in 1804.
In 1812, both the Russian Tsar Alexander I and the French Emperor Napoleon used the Palace as their residence.
During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, he organized military operations and Lithuanian army units from this Palace,
including five regiments of infantry, four cavalry regiments, and the National Guard of Vilnius. He received Lithuanian
noblemen, newly appointed officials of the administration, and other dignitaries in this Palace as well. After Napoleon's
defeat in 1812, the Palace was used for ceremonial proposes; it was here that then-general Mikhail Kutuzov was
awarded Russia's highest military award - the Order of St. George. During 1824-1834, the Palace was reconstructed by
the prominent St. Petersburg architect Vasily Stasov in the Empire style, under supervision of Karol Podczaszyski.
Stasov's reconstruction of the Palace has remained to this day.
After Lithuania regained its independence in 1918, the Palace housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ELTA news
agency until it ended up in Poland in 1920. It was restored in the 1930s by Stefan Narbski. After the Second World
War, the Palace served as the Military Officers' Centre; later it housed various Lithuanian artists. The Palace was
gradually adapted for use as a presidential office, and since 1997 it has served as the official office of the President of
Lithuania. Currently, adaptations are underway to expand the palace's functions to also serve as the president's official
residence. A flag displaying the coat of arms of the President is hoisted when the President is present in the Palace or
in the city.
Pilies Street
It has a natural advantage over the Town Hall Square as the street is
generally busy and less likely to be interrupted by the political or cultural
events commonly held at the Town Hall.
Many people visit the street to buy gifts at Christmas or before going abroad
to visit friends. The market is also popular with souvenir hunters. Souvenir
shops offer amberware and amber jewelry as well as linen clothes. The street
is also known for the Kaziukas Fair, when folk artists from all four corners of
Lithuania gather here to display and sell their latest merchandise.
The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University was established in one of the
courtyards at the end of the 18th century. Church processions also went
along Pilies Street. The broadest parts of the street were occupied by
markets: the so-called Great Market near the Town Hall and the fish market
next to St. Paraskevas Church (Pyatnickaya).
The street is distinguished for its architectural variety: Pilies 12 and 14 are
Gothic, Pilies 4 is a Renaissance building of an episcopate college; and the
pediment of the Church St. John is Baroque.
Speaking of festivals, if something is being celebrated in Vilnius, Pilies Street
is usually an excellent vantage point most processions will make their way
through here at some point. This is true whatever the festival be it
Christmas, Easter, the day of Restoration of Independence, or just a
spontaneous celebration following a major win for the Lithuanian basketball
team.
The headquarters of Vilnius University are located between Pilies Street and
University Street, (Lithuanian: Universiteto gatv). The House of the
Signatories where the Declaration of Independence was signed on February
16, 1918 is also located on this street.
Gediminas Avenue
Gediminas Avenue (Lithuanian: Gedimino prospektas) is the main street of
Vilnius, where most of the governmental institutions of Lithuania are
concentrated, including the government, parliament, Constitutional Court
and ministries. It is also the place of cultural institutions such as Lithuanian
National Drama Theatre, Bank of Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of
Music and Theatre and Martynas Mavydas National Library. Nowadays it
is also a popular shopping and dining street. It is partially a pedestrian street
in the evenings when the traffic is prohibited.
Named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, the street terminates at
the vrynas Bridge over the Neris River near Seimas Palace on one end
and at the Cathedral Square and Vilnius Castle Complex on the other,
- Government Palace
passing the Lukiks Square. It connects the Old Town with vrynas.
- Parliament
The street, built in 1836, was initially known as St. George Avenue,
- Constitutional Court
Mickiewicz Street (Polish: ulica Mickiewicza), when Vilnius was under Polish
- National Drama Theatre
rule (19221939) and Adolf Hitler Street during the Nazi Germany
- Bank of Lithuania
occupation. At the beginning of the Soviet occupation in 1940 it was called
- Lithuanian Academy of Music &
Stalin Avenue, later renamed Lenin Avenue. The avenue carries its present
Theatre
name from 1939 to 1940 and since 1989.
- Martynas Mavydas National Library
A portion of the avenue from the Vilnius Cathedral to Vincas Kudirka Square
- vrynas Bridge
was thoroughly reconstructed before the celebration of 750th anniversary of
- Vilnius Castle Complex
Mindaugas' coronation in 2003. The reconstructions included building an
underground parking facility the first such in Lithuania - under the
Municipality Square and renovation of all kinds of pipelines and
communication cables under the street. Over 100 new trees were planted.
During the excavations a few archaeological findings were found and are now
on display in the parking garage. The reconstruction continues to other
sections of the avenue and was completed in 2009.
Bank of Lithuania
The Bank of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Bankas) is the central bank of
the Republic of Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania is a member of the
European System of Central Banks. The chairman of the bank is Vitas
Vasiliauskas. Until 2015, the Bank of Lithuania was responsible for issuing
the former Lithuanian currency, the litas.
According to the Bank's official website, the Bank of Lithuania performs these
primary functions:
- Maintaining price stability.
- Formulating and implementing the monetary policy.
- Acting as an agent of the State Treasury.
Gediminas Avenue.
The Academy awards the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Music, BA in
Theatre, BA in Multimedia Arts, Master of Arts in Music, MA in Theatre, MA in
Multimedia Arts, Ph.D. in Humanities for students of musicology,
ethnomusicology, theatre theory and history, and a 2-year postgraduate Art
Licentiate degree for music performers, composers and directors.
The Academy strives to "develop international cooperation and integration
into the European and global academic community, to support and facilitate
student and teacher exchange, and to ensure high-quality standards in higher
education in the arts."
Its students and professors perform in over 400 concerts per year,
participatiing in national and international orchestras, international concerts,
performances, competitions, and festivals. Competitions and international
events sponsored by the Academy include the International Jascha Heifetz
Violin Competition, and an international competition for singers and pianistsaccompanists, among others. It co-sponsors the International M. K. iurlionis
Piano and Organ Competition and hosts national auditions for participation in
the European Union Youth Orchestra, the International Choir and Orchestra
Academy in Stuttgart, the International Holland Music Sessions, and
numerous other scholarship auditions.
vrynas Bridge
It is a hundred year old bridge over Neris, which survived both World Wars.
The Bridge was built in 1906 and name Nikolay Bridge at the time. It was
designed by the engineer V. Malinovskiy, and the Russian scientist N.
Beleliubskiy approved the project.
The Bridge obtained its current name from the hunting reservation, which
was arranged in the nearby woods during the rule of the Duke Radvila.
The initial version of the bridge was a wooden construction built in the end of
the 19th century. During Vilniuss expansion Zverynas was annexed to the
city with several conditions. One of them was a new iron bridge, because the
old one could not withstand the floods, and heavier vehicles could not pass it.
V. Malinovskiy provided a sketch project of the bridge, which offered a
construction of the arched system with the driving part on the top. The project
was approved and the works were started in 1905. The arched constructions
were brought from Warsaw and the bridge was finished in the autumn of
1906. The Bridge is 103.7 meters long, 11.35 meters wide and 11 meters
high. Renovation works were carried in 2006.
Green Bridge
The constructions were funded from the taxes collected from the passers-by.
The first bridge was a wooden one, on the wooden piers, covered with the
sliver roof, and had small shops located at each hand. At the time it had
several names: Stone, The Great, Vilnia bridge.
Unfortunately in 1655 the Hozjusz bridge burned down, and was rebuilt only
in 1674 following the project of the architect J.B. Ferdiani. The bridge was
again wooden, with arches, and was often in need of repairs because of the
spring floods. The bridge got his current name in the second part of the 18th
century, when it was painted in green.
The Bridge burned several times in the end of the 18th beginning of the
19th centuries. The rebuild projects were prepared by the architect of the
classicist buildings: Martynas Knakfusas, Laurynas Stuoka Gucevicius.
The first wooden bridge was built in 1894, but it was blown up during the
World War II. The Bridge with its current look was built in 1952. It has four
small sculpture groups on all sides (Science Youth authors Juozas
Mikenas and Juozas Kedainis; In the Peace Guard author Bronius
Pundzius; Agriculture authors Bernardas Pucas and Petras Vaivada;
Industry and Construction authors Napoleonas Petrulis and Bronius
there. In 1991 the church was returned to its parishioners. On his visit to
Lithuania in 1993, Pope John Paul II held a meeting with intellectuals here.
The church is dedicated to both St John the Baptist and St John the
Evangelist.
Open Kitchen
OPEN KITCHEN is all about street food. Its a food market, held in Tymo
market every Friday from May to September. Many different restaurants and
cafes in one place an ideal place for business lunch or friend gatherings.
Because food tastes better outside!
Many different restaurants offering their food in one place - who wouldn't like
it?!? You can come here for lunch or for afterwork snacks and beer.
t's like a small food festival happening every Friday in the middle of the city. If
you are a food lover - you should come because you can try different dishes
from different restaurants and cafes in one place. Also additional activities
like foosball, live music, exhibitions.
Bernardinai Garden
Alumnatas Courtyard
Verkiai Palace
donated
this
Episcopate.
place
to
Belmontas Palace
- Joana Carinovas Inn is a terrace with enough room for about 120 guests. It
is a real kingdom of men: walls are decorated with guns, horns, bear furs,
and other male accessories. There is a Seklycia (an ancient Lithuanian livingroom) on the second floor. This is also a museum. Walls are decorated with
everyday household items, keys, and locks. Sports fans are also very
welcome here. Basketball matches are shown here, and up to 150 people
can be accommodated here.
- Charles de Vims Mill banquet hall. Up to the World War II the mill
belonged to the Leoniskiai estate. There are some documents, proving that
the mills building permission was granted in 1536. De Vim (who was a
Frenchman) rented these lands and built a millhouse here. Currently the
building is a banquet hall with two balconies: one of them may be occupied
by the musicians, the other by the guests. The wall of the hall are decorated
with placards and old photographs.
- Banquet hall Ratonda is a round conference and banquet hall covered with
a dome, and which accommodates up to 120 guests. The buildings of this
type are known since the Antiquity. The Belmontas Ratonda has twelve
stained-glass windows decorated with the signs of the Zodiac and an
impressive chandelier. This is the place for those who seek exclusiveness.
- Restaurant Vila Gloria. The Frenchman Charles de Vims auxiliary
watermills building stood here in 1838 1842. Currently it is a restaurant hall
accommodating up to 80 guests, which perfectly suits the weddings. River
Vilnele with its 7 bridges is very close to the hall the bride needs to be
taken over the bridge!
- Banquet hall Belvederis (from Italian beautiful sight) is a buildings
tower and an additional storey. One has a possibility for a beautiful
sightseeing tour. Old brick walls are preserved here, the interior is splendid,
and the menu luxurious.
- Summer Outdoor Caf Belmontas Waterfalls is an open air caf,
accommodating up to 600 guests. One can not only enjoy delicious foods
here, but listen to the sound of the brawling waterfalls.
- The Red Hall is dedicated to the small family celebrations with enough room
for 30 people.
The interior of the Belmontass halls is enlivened with antiquities and
ethnographic items, representing the everyday life of the Lithuanian
countryside and city in the beginning of the 19th century. Apart from eating,
the visitors can also get acquainted to the various exhibitions starting with
the folk everyday items through to the hunting trophies, and the antique
works of the applied arts and authorial works of art.
the complex.
- Glass Hall is a cozy space to admire
Belmontass prospect and enjoy tasty
food. The hall is the smallest in the
ensemble accommodating only 20
guests.
People who seek for more active ways of spending their free time, Belmontas
organizes festivals, concerts, games, fairs, get-togethers, and discothques.
The tours are organized in the Vilnius surroundings; those who want to try
something new an entertainment park, established in the Pavilniai Regional
Park, is for their service. The Park offers a comfortable approach road, 3D
layout of the routes, impressive landscape, and the longest fly on a steel
rope, the longest Black route, and a possibility to combine the extreme events
with the eating in Belmontas Centre.
The whole territory occupies 2 hectares and can serve up to 1500 guests at a
time. A comfortable parking zone with 300 places is also established at the
entrance to the Centre.
Lukiskes Squares
The design of the Square was started in the middle of the 18th century. In the
beginning of the 19th century this was the place where the units of the
Russian army organized their trainings. During the rebellion in 1863 1864
the governor-general of Vilnius Muravyov used the Square for the public
executions.
The Square became an important part of the cultural life in 1900 this was
the place for Kaziukas and St George fairs.
After Lithuania regained independence in 1991, the monument to Lenin was
exposed in the Square, and the monument to the exiles in Sakha (Yakutia)
was unveiled in 2006.
The origin of the Squares title is not clear until the 15th century; however,
there is a theory that Lukiskes was the place near the river a fishing spot or
a meadow. In 1441 Casimir Jagiellon granted privilege to Vilnius city, and this
is undoubtedly the first mentioning of Lukiskes.
K. Katalynas implemented reconnaissance researches in 1992 and 2004.
The results confirmed that the territory was empty in the 16th century, the
cultural layer is ruined, and the findings are dated back to the 16th century.
The St. Apostles Philip and James Church was started in 1690 (finished in
1727) and still stands next to the Square.
The architectural view of the city was again changed in the beginning of the
19th century by the constructions of the prison buildings complex a single
rectangular building surrounded by the fence with towers.
There was a Tatar Mosque next to the Square, which was demolished in
1968, and the plot was put up with the new buildings.
There were many discussions about the purpose of the Square when in 1991
the Lenins statue was removed. In 2007 the competition was organized
regarding the Square reconstruction project. Already in 1999 it was decided
that the Square needs to correspond to the representational and memorial
functions.
Currently the Square is serving as a leisure place and the meeting point, art
exhibitions are being organized. In 2012 during the Days of the Capital City
the sculpture of John Lennon, musician of the legendary band The Beatles,
was placed instead of Lenins. The whole world celebrates the 50th
anniversary of the band in 2012.
White Bridge
Stand in the middle of this bridge for an incredible 360 degree view. On one
side there are skyscrapers and on the other there's a university, green fields
and the Old Town.
This bridge offers a spectacular vista if you're coming from the direction of the
Old Town. Fun fact: in 1999 a famous Lithuanian pilot flew his plane under
this bridge as well as most other bridges on the Neris River.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Lithuania/Vilniaus_Apskritis/Vilnius444288/TravelGuide-Vilnius.html
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