Vilnius Old Town – UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Republic of Lithuania joined UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1991. In 1992 Lithuania joined the UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and in 2004 it joined the UNESCO Convention “On Protection of Non-material Cultural Heritage”. The inclusion of Vilnius historic centre in the World Heritage List is the result of the joint activity of different institutions and specialists on heritage protection that lasted for several years. The main document submitted to the World Heritage Committee was the nomination case of Vilnius historic centre. The then Director of the World Heritage Centre Bernd von Droste informed by letter Ugnė Karvelis, the Lithuanian Ambassador to UNESCO. The World Heritage List was started to be compiled in 1972; at the present time it consists of 878 cultural and natural heritage objects (676 objects of cultural heritage, 174 objects of natural heritage and 25 objects are mixed values) in 145 countries.

Vilnius Old Town is a listed monument and protected by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. The List indicates that Vilnius Old Town consists of the territory of three castles, the historic nucleus (between the former defensive walls) and historic suburbs. The plan of the Old Town is a radial circular plan. Main and secondary streets constitute 112 blocks, 49 of which are in the historic nucleus. There are 10 squares and several larger spaces at crossings and in front of some buildings. The housing area of the Old Town consists of apartment houses and buildings for public purposes of different categories, 20 Catholic churches, 4 Orthodox churches, one Lutheran, one Evangelical Reformed and Jewish houses of worship, 21 complexes of monasteries, 20 estates and large public buildings, and many historic buildings.

One of the most striking examples of Vilnius, as the cultural centre of regional importance is Vilnius School of Baroque. This school is a variety of late baroque of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania that formed in the mid 18th century. The architect of the German origin, Lutheran Evangelist Jonas Kristupas Glaubicas (Johan Christoph Glaubitz, mentioned in 1737 (Silesia), died in Vilnius in 1767), the outstanding proponent of this school, deserves a place in the history of European Baroque. Vilnius School of Baroque influenced architecture of late baroque in the then territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Ludza Catholic Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pasienė Catholic Church of the Holy Cross in the present-day Republic of Latvia (Latgala), and the Church of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Carmelite monastery in Glubokoje (Republic of Belarus, Vitebsk district), Polock Basilian Orthodox Church of St Sophia in Vitebsk district and others are none the less impressive architectural masterpieces, which as if echo silhouettes of Vilnius baroque architecture – the Church of St Catherine of the Benedictine monastery or Vilnius Church of the Ascension, better known as the Missionaries’ Church – are attributed to that school.

Heritage investigators agree that Vilnius cannot boast of a consistent and harmonious historical development. Archaeological layers and findings hide many aspects of Vilnius’ development – this is an especially important and sometimes even the only source of getting to know the city’s past. Due to unfavourable historical circumstances that formed, Vilnius architecture developed sooner by leaps than consistently changing the “attire” of the style. It is really pleasant to recognise the details of the city that “have overcome” time in Vilnius views recorded by the unknown chroniclers of the past – the perspectives of Pilies Street or the current Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania or Vilnius University. Specialists on heritage protection Gediminas Jucys and Vladas Niunka in theirvirtual walk in Vilnius– not only in the present-day Old Town but also in its past – bring out what attracted attention of the recorders of the past views, what has been lost, what has been preserved or acquired.

When taking a bird’s-eye view of the city, the whole of the city “cleared” of different details that distract one’s attention is fully revealed. The authentic pattern of the city uncovers – the city’s streets “treaded” sporadically, according to the old paths, the naturally formed triangular market square, rising church spires, jurisdics of Vilnius nobility with their once luxurious residences, merchants’ houses and small houses of ordinary city dwellers “framed” by Vilnius green hills and forests, which seem to be marching into the city from beyond the time.

There is no doubt that the “Vilnius Old Town Revitalisation Strategy” prepared in 1995 is an exceptional document of heritage protection not only on a regional but also on a European scale. The World Bank, which finances this kind of activity quite rarely, funded the preparation of the document. Vilnius, the first World Heritage object in the Baltic States, has been given the unique opportunity to become an example of urban heritage management to the historic centres of the cities of Eastern and Central Europe. The main principle established in the Strategy was an integrated heritage protection and balanced sustainable urban development ensuring “transposition” of heritage from the past, its adequate preservation and use in the present and handing it over to future generations. As one of the preconditions for the implementation of the Strategy, Vilnius Old Town Revitalisation Agency was established following the example of Edinburgh (Scotland).

Recently the residents of Vilnius have been active in expressing their opinion on the issues of Vilnius heritage. High-rise modern buildings on the right bank of the Neris and other places in the Old Town protective zone, the development of historical open spaces and green plantations give rise to the greatest number of discussions. This development is encouraged by some people and is considered to be a feature of a modern city, whereas another opinion is that it irreversibly changes the silhouette and panoramas of the preserved historic centre of Vilnius and destroys the city’s identity. The silhouette of Vilnius seen from Tauras Hill today differs greatly from Vilnius panorama recorded five decades ago. Buildings on the right bank of the Neris are in sharp contrast to old architecture of Vilnius when observed from both the observation point in Subačius Street and from the Žaliasis Bridge. Construction of the new Rulers’ Palace, as well as projects of the “underground” development of Vilnius, which, by the way, directly influence the condition of archaeological heritage of the city, met sharp criticism too.

Vilnius historic centre is the first but not the only World Heritage object in Lithuania. In 2000 Kuršių nerija (the Curonian Spit) (joint nomination with the Russian Federation, in 2004 Kernavė archaeological site, in 2005 F.G.W. Struvė geodetic arc (joint nomination of ten states) were entered on the World Heritage List. The preliminary list contained Trakai Historic National Park. In 2001 UNESCO started to compile the Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpiece List, which included Lithuanian cross-crafting and cross symbolics, as well as the tradition and symbolics of Song Festivals (joint Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian nomination). By the way, Lithuania is the only one of the three Baltic States to be represented by the greatest number of values on the World Heritage List.

Riga historic centre was entered on the World Heritage List in 1997 according to the i and ii exceptional universal value criteria. The first criterion requires that the value entered on the List should represent a unique heritage of human creative work. Riga, having preserved the medieval structure of the city, can take pride in the heritage of wooden architecture of the 19th century and the unique architectural heritage of the Art Nouveau/Jugendstil trend.

Tallinn historic centre was entered on the World Heritage List in 1997. Like Vilnius historic centre, Tallinn Old Town satisfied the ii and iv exceptional universal value criteria (the city had an impact on the culture of the region and is among the most characteristic examples illustrating the most significant stages of the development of culture, society, art, science, technology or industry). The Old Town has been recognised to be a unique, perfectly preserved medieval example of the heritage of a trade city of Northern Europe

Krakòw historic centre was entered on the World Heritage List in 1978 according to the iv exceptional universal value criteria (it is among the most characteristic examples illustrating the most significant stages of the development of culture, society, art, science, technology or industry). Historical capital of Poland with its Royal Vavel Palace, Jagiellonian University, Gothic churches and the surviving medieval structure of the town is without doubt one of the most beautiful European cities.

Torun historic centre – the medieval city – was entered on the World Heritage List in 1997. Like Vilnius historic centre, the old town of Torun fulfilled the ii and iv exceptional universal value criteria (the city had an impact on culture of the region and is one of the most characteristic examples illustrating the most significant stages of the development of culture, society, art, science, technology or industry). Torun has been recognised as a valuable example of a small medieval trade town with perfectly preserved structure and buildings of the town.

The old town of Zamość was entered on the World Heritage List in 1992 according to the iv exceptional universal value criteria (the city had an impact on culture of the region and is one of the most characteristic examples illustrating the most significant stages of the development of culture, society, art, science, technology or industry). The town was founded in the 16th century by the magnate, Chancellor of Poland Hetman Jan Zamoiski (1542-1605). This is the only renaissance town of the “ideal plan” designed by the Italian architect Bernando Morando that has survived in Europe.

Lvov historic centre was entered on the World Heritage List in 1998 according to the ii and v exceptional universal value criteria (the impact of the city on culture of the region and exceptionality of the heritage of different ethnic, religious, cultural traditions have been recognised) Lvov’s heritage is a unique example of the intertwined architectural and cultural traditions of Eastern Europe, Italy and Germany, that of a multicultural city.

North Venice – this is what this city that was started to be built in 1703 by Peter the Great (1672-1725) is called. Architectural heritage of Saint Petersburg includes many-sided heritage of baroque and neo-classicism. Saint Petersburg became the World Heritage object in 1990 according to the i (unique heritage of human creative work), ii (the impact on culture of the region recognised), iv (is among the most characteristic examples illustrating the most significant stages of the development of culture, society, art, science, technology or industry) and vi (is related to the tradition that have the world impact) exceptional universal value criteria.