Heart of Vilnius – the Area of the Vilnius Cathedral and the Castles
The space that grew up around the confluence of the Neris and the Vilnia rivers is the heart of Vilnius wherein like in a miniature the history of not only Vilnius but that of Lithuania is reflected. The witnesses of that history are the main temple of Lithuania – Vilnius Cathedral and Gediminas Tower, a symbol of Vilnius from which the most beautiful views of Vilnius and its old town may be observed. The Three Crosses Monument (design by Antanas Vivulskis, 1916) marks the oldest hills of Vilnius across the Vilnia River.
Vilnius University as a Representative of Lithuania
Vilnius University ensemble, which occupies the entire quarter of the Old Town, represents Lithuania at the Mini-Europe Park in Brussels since 2006. Six of the thirteen courtyards of the University were replicated to the detail as well as other architectural marvels of the ensemble. The model also introduces the visitors to one of the most beautiful parts of the ensemble – the Church of St. John designed by the outstanding architect of Vilnius baroque Johan Christoph Glaubitz.
Axis of the Vilnius Old Town: Pilies and Didžioji Streets
Pilies and Didzioji streets make the oldest and the most significant axis of the Old Town connecting Vilnius Castles and the Town Hall. It is also an ancient borderline that divided two parts of the town - civitas ruthenica or the town of the Greek Orthodox to the left, and a Catholic town within the bishop’s jurisdiction and the Vilnius University on the right. Today Pilies and Didzioji streets are the most attractive in the Old Town with the variety of historical buildings.
In the Vicinity of St. Anne’s Church
From the Cathedral Square via Pilies street and Bernardinai backstreet one can find the area where Gothic and Renaissance styles reign. The red brick Gothic ensemble of the St Anne’s and Francis of Assisi (Bernardine) churches as well as the Renaissance Church of St. Archangel Michael. There is also a former Gothic Russian Orthodox church in the vicinity. The Bernardine church is the largest and undoubtedly impressive one; however, a small and elegant St. Anne’s church is the real masterpiece of the red brick Gothic that attracts every visitor.
Užupis, the Oldest Suburb of Vilnius
The oldest suburb of Vilnius is situated beyond the Vilnia river, and its name Uzupis, means literally “beyond the river”. It was mentioned already in the 15th-16th century. In this small district that has only a couple of streets there are no baroque buildings, but it is only in Uzupis that the most beautiful panoramas of the old Vilnius may be discovered. It is only in Uzupis that you can feel the real spirit of a joke – already at the bridges you are informed that you are entering the independent Republic of Uzupis. Picturesque Uzupis is sometimes compared to the Montmartre of Paris.
The Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square symbolises self-government of Vilnius since the Middle Ages. The Town Hall, renovated in Neo-Classical style at the end of the 18th century, connects the two main spaces of the old town – those of the Cathedral and the Town Hall. On the right there is the first baroque Church of St. Casimir, built in 1604. It was devoted to Prince Casimir, the Saint Patron of Vilnius.
In the vicinity of the Gate of Dawn (Aušros vartų / Ostra Brama)
From the Town Hall Square the Aušros Vartų Street leads towards the only surviving gate of the former City Wall – the Gate of Dawn (Aušros vartai / Ostra Brama). The most significant site here is the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn with a miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy. It is one of the most important centres of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Central Europe. On the same street one can find three Christian religions side by side: the Catholic Church of St. Theresa and Carmelite monastery, the Orthodox church of the Holy Spirit, and the Uniate Church of the Holy Trinity and the Basilian monastery.
Through the Vokiečių Street
German merchants settled the area already in the 14th century and that is the meaning of the street - German (Vokiečių). It is one of the oldest streets in Vilnius, however it is also one of the most disfigured one – only one side of the street is extant whereas the other is “the scar” made in 1950s when the entire street front was bulldozed in order to create a broad Stalinist Boulevard. The Great Vilnius Synagogue was also bulldozed. Its interior was decorated by the famous baroque architect J.K.Glaubitz, as well as the interior of the survived Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit, and interior of the Lutheran Church of his own community. He also designed a masterpiece of late Vilnius baroque – the Church of St. Catharine. The work of genius has linked different religions.
The Old New Town
The New town of Vilnius started to be developed in the 19th century on the west hills of the city. From here one can observe the most beautiful panorama of Vilnius. The new town was planned near the railway (1860) according to the grid plan. The period is concurrent with the incorporation of Lithuania into Russian Empire which is testified by the Russian Orthodox Romanov Church (1913).
Gediminas Avenue
The construction of the avenue was started in 1836, and now it represents the entire history of Vilnius of the 19th and 20th century. Just look and the change of the names of the Avenue: George Avenue in the period of Russian Empire (19th c.); Adam Mickiewicz Avenue in the period of Polish occupation (1919-1939); Stalin, and later Lenin Avenue during the Soviet period, and finally – Gediminas Avenue since 1989. The “singing revolution” was started there, at the beginning of the avenue and culminated with the declaration of independence in 1990 in the Parliament, at end of the Avenue. On its way to freedom, the KGB building at Lukiskiu Square, a symbol of occupations had to be passed.
Looking at the Contemporary Vilnius
The New centre of Vilnius on the right bank of the Neris River has been planned in the socialist 1970s. The first high-rise hotel was built there. However, only after the 1990s it became a real paradise for the high-rise building “culture” that represents the new economy and shapes a new business centre of the city.
