10 Views of the Lost Vilnius
Walking in the contemporary Vilnius centre one hardly understands that most of the spaces were reshaped there after the World War II. Vilnius was bombed in 1944, but later was considerably changed following the Soviet urban standards in 1950s. However one is able to see the historical city views as the two photographers – Jan Bułhak and Sofija Urbonavičiūtė-Subačiuvienė wandered the streets of Vilnius and made pictures in 1944. One should start the trip at the crossing of Gediminas Avenue and Vilniaus Street, continuing up the Vilniaus Street. Today it is a busy street full of shops and traffic. It was also a busy street in 1944, however, more enclosed. This is testified by the neighbouring streets of Palangos and Klaipedos. Vilniaus Street runs into historical Vokiečių Street, however, one can see a broad boulevard instead of the narrow and enclosed street. Only a lime alley marks the original border of the bulldozed street. Vokiečių Street leads to the main road of the old town – Aušros vartų and Didžioji Streets. Both are full of historical signs telling the story of the lost Vilnius. It would be interesting to use ones imagination in the K. Sirvydo Square which is actually made in the place of the bulldozed entire quarter. This quarter was surrounded by the three historical streets of interest – Švarco, Šv. Jono and Gaono. They tell the story of the lost quarter and its buildings like a house of Wawrzyniec Guciewicz, the famous architect of Vilnius. One should end this short trip giving a glance at the Gaono Street, which invites one to wander further through the labyrinth of the lost Vilnius.
- Gedimino Avenue
- Vilniaus Street
- Palangos Street
- Klaipėdos Street
- Vokiečių Street
- Aušros vartų Street
- Didžioji Street
- Švarco Backstreet
- Šv. Jono Street
- Gaono Street
