Vilnius

VILNIUS
The capital of LITHUANIA
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Some facts:
 Vilnius - is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city,
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with a population of 539,939 (806,308 together with
Vilnius County) as of 2014.
Vilnius is located in the southeast part of Lithuania and is
the second biggest city of the Baltic states.
Vilnius is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of
the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital
of Vilnius County.
The first known written record of Vilnius as the Lithuanian
capital is known from Gediminas' letters in 1323.
Vilnius is known for its Old Town of beautiful
architecture, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in
1994.
In the year 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of
Culture (together with the Austrian city of Linz).
 The name of the city originated from
the Vilnia River. The name of the river
derives from the Lithuanian
language word vilnis ("a surge") or
vilnyti ("to surge").
 According to legend, the Great Duke of
Lithuania Gediminas dreamt of an iron
wolf howling on a hilltop and consulted
a pagan priest for its interpretation. He
was told: "What is destined for the ruler
and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the
Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city
which will be established by you on this
site. This city will be the capital of the
Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of
their rulers, and the glory of their deeds
shall echo throughout the world".
Gediminas tower
The location offered
practical advantages: it
lay within the Lithuanian
heartland at the
confluence of two
navigable rivers,
surrounded by forests
and wetlands that were
difficult to penetrate. The
duchy had been subject
to intrusions by
the Teutonic Knights.
Some views of VILNIUS
THE OLD TOWN OF VILNIUS (LITHUANIAN:
VILNIAUS SENAMIESTIS), ONE OF THE LARGEST
SURVIVING MEDIEVAL OLD TOWNS IN
NORTHERN EUROPE, HAS AN AREA OF 3.59
SQUARE KILOMETRES (887 ACRES).
It encompasses 74 quarters, with 70 streets and lanes numbering 1487
buildings with a total floor area of 1,497,000 square meters
It is a place where some of Europe's greatest architectural styles gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical - stand side by side and
complement each other
Pilies Street is the Old Town's main artery and the hub of cafe and
street market life
The main street of Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue, is partially located in
the Old Town. The central squares in the Old Town are the Cathedral
Square and the Town Hall Square
One of the most elaborate architectural complexes is the Vilnius
University Architectural Ensemble, which occupies a large part of the
Old Town and has 13 courtyards. It was selected to represent Lithuania
in the Mini-Europe Park in Brussels
In 1994 the Vilnius Old Town was included in the UNESCO World
Heritage List (No. 541) in recognition of its universal value and
originality.
Cathedral
DUE TO ITS ARCHITECTURE, IT
REMINDS OF ANCIENT GREEK TEMPLES.
THE FIRST CATHEDRAL WAS BUILT IN
THE BEGINNING OF 13TH CENTURY BY
THE LITHUANIAN KING MINDAUGAS.
IN 1387, LITHUANIA OFFICIALLY
ADOPTED CHRISTIANITY, AND A NEW
CATHEDRAL WAS BUILT ON THE SAME
PLACE, WHICH SURVIVED UNTIL THE
FIRE OF 1419. THROUGHOUT THE
FOLLOWING CENTURIES, QUITE OFTEN
THE CATHEDRAL SUFFERED FROM
FIRES AND FLOODS, AND WAS REBUILT
SEVERAL TIMES. IN THE MURKY
DUNGEONS OF THE CATHEDRAL THERE
ARE BURIAL PLACES OF LITHUANIAN
PRINCES AND BOYARS, AS WELL AS THE
REMAINS OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE
OLD CHURCH.
Hill of Three Crosses
HILL OF THREE CROSSES (LITHUANIAN: TRIJŲ
KRYŽIŲ KALNAS) IS A MONUMENT
IN VILNIUS, LITHUANIA. IN THE 13 CENTURY
THE SO-CALLED CROOKED CASTLE WAS
TOWERING FROM THE BANK OF VILNA RIVER.
IN 1390 IT WAS BURNT DOWN BY THE
CRUSADERS. IN 1916 THE OLD WOODEN
CROSSES WERE REPLACED BY NEW ONES MADE
OF CONCRETE, WHICH WERE DESIGNED BY
ARCHITECT A. VIVULSKIS. DURING POST-WAR
YEARS, THE THREE CROSSES, AS WELL AS MANY
OTHER RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS, WERE BLOWN
UP AND BURIED. IN 1989 THEY WERE
RESTORED.
THE CROSSES ARE A GREAT SYMBOL OF BOTH
LITHUANIAN MOURNING AND HOPE. AN
EXCELLENT VIEW OF OLD TOWN IS ALSO TO BE
FOUND AT THIS SPOT.
The Hill of three crosses from the bird’s fly
THE VILNIUS TV TOWER IS A 326.5 M TOWER IN
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA. IT IS THE TALLEST STRUCTURE
IN LITHUANIA, AND IS OCCUPIED BY THE SC
LITHUANIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION CENTRE.
THE OBSERVATION DECK 165 M FROM THE
GROUND HOUSES THE CAFE "PAUKŠČIŲ
TAKAS" (ENGLISH: MILKY WAY), OFFERS A
PICTURESQUE VIEW OF THE CITY, AND
SPORTS A ROTATING PLATFORM THAT
REVOLVES ONCE EVERY 45 MINUTES.
The TV Tower at New Year’s night and in the winter.
THE CAFÉ ‘MILKY WAY’
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY IS THE OLDEST UNIVERSITY
IN THE BALTIC STATES AND ONE OF THE OLDEST
IN NORTHERN EUROPE. THE UNIVERSITY WAS
FOUNDED IN 1579. IT IS THE LARGEST UNIVERSITY
IN LITHUANIA