Panorama of Green Vilnius
The urban landscape of the city of Vilnius is situated in a ravine and is enriched by the riverbeds of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, hills, large forests and parks surrounding it. Hardly any capital city of Europe can boast of such “luxury” where greenery occupies more than 40 per cent of the area of the city.
Sereikiškės Park
Sereikiškės Park is situated in the very centre of Vilnius, between Gediminas Hill, the Vilnia River and the Bernardine monastery. This was and still is a favourite place for the residents of Vilnius to go for a walk. In the 19th century the park consisted of Bernardine and Botanical Gardens, and until the middle of the 20th century exhibition pavilions, a summer theatre, clubs, a cinema theatre and fountains functioned there. In the soviet times it was called a Youth Garden; today the park retained its original name Sereikiškės.
Kalnų Park
Kalnų Park consists of several hills bearing the names of Three Crosses, Table, Gediminas’ Grave and the Bekesh. The history of the Three Crosses goes back to the times of Algirdas. According to a legend, pagans killed seven Franciscan missionaries in Vilnius. The monks were buried on the hill. In memory of these monks a chapel was erected, and in the 17th century three wooden crosses depicted in early drawings of the city were built. In 1869 they collapsed, and the tsarist authorities forbade their restoration. In 1916, architect Antanas Vivulskis (Antoni Wiwulski) built concrete crosses. The Hill of Gediminas’ Grave is a favourite place of members of the religious communities of the Balts who gather at the altar situated there to celebrate old calendar festivals. The Bekesh Hill is named after the Hungarian Caspar Bekesh (1520-79), a military leader in the service of Stephen Batory, who was buried there: as an Arian he could not rest in a Catholic cemetery. A platform has been erected in Kalnų Park where various concerts and festivals take place in summer.
Vingis Park
The name of Vingis Park is related to the curve of the Neris River that encircles the green part of the city of Vilnius. Its beauty was appreciated by all residents and guests of Vilnius – in the 16th century the estate of Nicholas Radziwiłł the Black was built there; later the Jesuits, and finally Tsar of Russia Alexander I settled there. Vingis Park has always been and still is a beloved entertainment place of Vilnius citizens – in the second half of the 20th century the narrow-gauge railway that was taken care of by children functioned there, and in 1960 an Arena with a platform for song festivals was erected there; it became a site of concerts and festivals.
Vilnius Calvary
Near the Vilnius Jeruzalė suburb, in a picturesque place on a hilly terrain, between the old road to Verkiai and the Neris curve, Vilnius Calvary, named after the Stations of the Cross, is located. In the 18th century the ensemble of the Calvary Church, the monastery and 35 wooden Stations of the Cross, imitating the Road of Christ’s Passions in Jerusalem, were built. It is mentioned that the creator of the Calvary road was Bishop Jerzy Białłozor, who sent envoys to Jerusalem to bring soil and scatter it on the road of Vilnius Calvary. In 1962-1963, most of the chapels were blown up by order of the Soviet authorities. Rebuilding of chapels began in 1990, and by 2002 the entire ensemble of Stations of Cross was restored and consecrated.
Verkiai Regional Park
Verkiai is the land that belonged to the Lithuanian Grand Dukes until 1387, when Grand Duke Jogaila, on the occasion of his conversion to Christianity, granted it to the new diocese of Vilnius to be used by the bishops for a summer residence. Recently archaeologists have discovered findings testifying to the fact that a big town was there in the Middle Ages. In the 18th century Vilnius Bishop Ignacy Massalski built a huge Palace in Neo-Classical style. Today, when walking in Verkiai Park one can admire not only the ensemble of the Palace, unique vegetation of the park but also wonderful sights of nature.
The Green Lakes
Further up the road from Verkiai is a chain of Green Lakes the green colour of which is explained by a high carbonate content in underground water. A series of north-south ravines was formed here by glaciers about 18,000 years ago. The largest Lake Balsys (or Crusaders Lake) is notable for its picturesque setting. Its steep and wooded shores rise to 40 metres above the water level its deepest point is almost the same depth. A remarkable view opens from the observation deck built on the shore of this Lake. Visiting lakes is a favourite form of relaxation, especially during the summer season.
Pavilniai Regional Park
In the eastern part of the city of Vilnius, encircled by the curves of the Vilnia, Pavilnys Regional Park containing more than one natural and engineering monument of impressive beauty is located. Pučkoriai lies at the end of the small road that runs upstream by the Vilnia. There used to be a foundry here, which gave a name to the place. Also, there is a fine view of the Pavilnys from the 65-meter-high and 260-meter-long Pučkoriai escarpments, which is one of the largest ones in Lithuania. There is also famous Belmontas there with the old dam and mills, which house a restaurant today. There are lots of monuments related to the former economic (complexes of the manufacture of paper, mills) and military (the forgery, the remnants of the defensive installations) activity.
Vilnia River
The Vilnia (referred to as the Vilnelė by locals) is the left tributary of the Neris River, which flows into it near Vilnius. Though much smaller, Vilnia played a more significant role in the history of the city than did the Neris (former name Vilija). It is the narrow Vilnia that drove many mills built on its banks, and defended the castles of Vilnius. Its green banks attract many people who come there to have a rest there, lovers of canoe sport. Inns and cafes are being established in the old mills, and living on the banks of the Vilnia River is becoming a sign of an ever-increasing prestige.
Park of Europe
In 1991 the
Park of Europe of contemporary art was established seeking to give a meaning to the geographical centre of the European continent, established by the French National Geographical Institute in 1989. More than 90 sculptures are exhibited in the open air museum of the Europe Park located 20 kilometres away from Vilnius. Their authors are artists from all over the world. Among them there are such distinguished sculptors as D. Oppenheim, M. Abakanowicz, S. Le Witt.
