Vilnius

Gediminas Tower

It is possible to climb to the top of the hill on foot or by taking a funicular.

The best place for great view and an idea of the layout of the city, the Gediminas' Tower (Lithuanian: Gedimino pilies boktas) is the remaining part of the Upper Castle in Vilnius, Lithuania.The Castle Hill surrounded by rivers was a convenient location to build a castle and establish a bigger settlement. Archaeological investigations have revealed that there had already been a settlement on the Castle Hill in the Neolithic. In the 9th century, the hill was reinforced with wooden and stone fences, whereas in the 11th-13th centuries a wooden castle had already been erected. The early history of the castle is closely related to the history of the development of the city.During the reign of Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, Vilnius was already known as the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Vilnius Castle was mentioned for the first time in the 1323 treaty between Gediminas and the Teutonic Order. Often the Higher Castle is referred to as the Gediminas Castle. During the reign of the first rulers from the Gediminid dynasty the Vilnius Higher Castle was of great significance not only as a political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but also as a constituent element of the defensive complex of the capital (together with the Lower and Crooked Castles) that withstood an intensified attack of the Teutonic Order during the second half of the 14th century. When a fire destroyed the wooden castle, a brick castle was constructed during the reign of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas at the beginning of the 15th century. The remains of the brick castle have survived until the present day.Eventually, as the situation in the state changed, the castle lost its purpose and subsequent fires and wars, after which it was not repaired, devastated the castle. During 1610-1613, a prison functioned in the basement of the castle, whereas the Higher Castle was last used as a defensive fortress during the war in 1655-1661. The Muscovite army was temporarily settled in the castle. Afterwards, the castle was completely desolated and was slowly disintegrating and declining.The defensive functions of the castle were brought to light in the 19th century, when a fortress was established in the territory of Vilnius castles following the order of the Tsar of Russia in 1831. The ruins of the Higher Castle were also taken care of, i.e. the remains of the southern and northern towers of the Higher Castle as well as its western and northern walls were demolished, the masonry was conserved, and a sloping Castle Hill was reinforced. In 1838, a wooden two-storey structure of optical telegraph was erected on top of the western tower. When the fortress was removed from the territory of Vilnius castles, a new road was built on the slope of the Castle Hill in 1896, the slopes were planted with trees, and a caf was opened in the western tower. During the interwar period, the conservation works were carried on.When Lithuania restored its state in 1918, the flag of Lithuania was first hoisted on the Gediminas Castle Hill on January 1, 1919. Unfortunately, this was not for long. Vilnius region was occupied by the Polish and only on October 29, 1939 the tricolour of Lithuania was hoisted again on the castle tower. During the World War II the western tower of the castle was damaged badly.After the war, although Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union, the tower was rebuilt and, in 1960, when the territory of the hill was arranged and the fragments of the castle buildings were conserved, the Castle Museum was opened in the western tower. From 1968, the museum became the subdivision of the National Museum of Lithuania (at that time, the Museum of History and Ethnography). When the Lithuanian National Revival began, the flag of Lithuania was once again hoisted on the castle tower on October 7, 1988, whereas in 1995, when the castle tower was renovated, a renewed exposition opened its doors to visitors. A picturesque panorama of the capital of an independent Lithuania opens up from the scenic overlook installed on the top of the tower. The castle tower together with the flag of the Lithuanian state became the symbol of national struggles for independence and statehood.The tower houses an exposition of archeologic findings from the hill and the surrounding areas. It is also an excellent vantage point, from where the panorama of Vilnius' Old Town can be admired.Gediminas' Tower is an important state and historic symbol of the city of Vilnius and of Lithuania itself. It was depicted on the former national currency, the litas, and is mentioned in numerous Lithuanian patriotic poems and folk songs. The Flag of Lithuania was re-hoisted atop the tower on October 7, 1988, during the independence movement that was finalized by the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania on March 11, 1990. A reconstruction of the Royal Palace of Lithuania was completed in 2009, and is located near the base of the hill upon which Gediminas' Tower stands.There is a museum in the Gediminas Tower. In the museum there are models of Vilnius castles from the 14th to the 17th centuries, armament, and iconographic material of the Old Vilnius.

Vilnius Castle Complex

The Vilnius Castle Complex (Lithuanian: Vilniaus pili kompleksas or Vilniaus pilys), is a group of cultural, and historic structures on the left bank of the Neris River, near its confluence with the Vilnia River, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The buildings, which evolved between the 10th and 18th centuries, were one of Lithuania's major defensive structures.The complex consisted of three castles: the Upper, the Lower, and the Crooked (Lithuanian: Kreivoji pilis). The Crooked Castle was burned down by the Teutonic Knights in 1390 and was never rebuilt. The Vilnius Castles were attacked several times by the Teutonic Order after 1390, but they did not succeed in taking the entire complex. Its complete capture occurred for the first time during the 1655 Battle of Vilnius. Soon afterwards, the severely damaged castles lost their importance, and many buildings were abandoned. During the Tsarist annexation, several historic buildings were demolished; many more were damaged during the fortress construction in the 19th century.Today, the remaining Gediminas Tower is a major symbol of the city of Vilnius and of the nation itself. Annually, on 1 January, the Lithuanian tricolor is hoisted on Gediminas Tower to commemorate Flag Day. The complex is part of the National Museum of Lithuania, one of the largest museums in the country.

Upper Castle

One part of the castle complex, which was built on a hilltop, is known as the Upper Castle. The hill on which it is built is known as Gediminas Hill, about 40 meters (44 yards) in height and around 160 meters (170 yards) in length.Archaeological data shows that the site has been occupied since Neolithic times. The hill was strengthened with defensive wooden walls that were fortified with stone in the 9th century. Around the 10th century a wooden castle was built, and since about the 13th century the hilltop has been surrounded by stone walls with towers. During the rule of Gediminas Vilnius was designated the capital city; in 1323, the castle was improved and expanded.Pagan Lithuania waged war with the Christian Orders for more than two centuries. The Orders were seeking to conquer Lithuania, stating that their motivation was the conversion of pagan Lithuanians to Catholicism. As Vilnius evolved into one of the most important cities in the state, it became a primary military target.The Castle Complex was attacked by the Teutonic Order in 1365, 1375, 1377, 1383, 1390, 1392, 1394 and 1402, but was never completely taken. The most damaging assaults were led by the Teutonic Order marshals Engelhard Rabe von Wildstein and Konrad von Wallenrode in 1390 during the Lithuanian Civil War (13891392) between Vytautas the Great and his cousin Jogaila. Many noblemen from Western Europe participated in this military campaign, including Henry, Duke of Hereford, the future king Henry IV of England, with 300 knights, and the Livonian Knights, commanded by their Grand Master. At times during the civil war, Vytautas supported the Orders' attacks on the castles, having struck an alliance with them in his quest for the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania.At the time of the 1390 attack, the Complex consisted of three sections - the Upper, Lower and Crooked Castles. The Teutonic Knights managed to take and destroy the Crooked Castle, situated on Bleak Hill (Lithuanian: Plikasis kalnas), but failed to capture the others. During the 1394 attack, the Vilnius Castles were besieged for over three weeks, and one of its defense towers was damaged and fell into the Neris River.The civil war between Vytautas and Jogaila was resolved by the 1392 Astrava Agreement and Vytautas assumed the title of Grand Duke. During his reign the Upper Castle underwent its most notable redevelopment. After a major fire in 1419, Vytautas initiated a reconstruction of the Upper Castle, along with the fortification of other buildings in the complex. The present-day remains of the Upper Castle date from this era.[2] Vytautas had spent about four years with the Teutonic Order during the civil war. He had the opportunity to study the architecture of the castles of the Teutonic Order and adopt some of their elements in his residence in Vilnius.The Upper Castle was reconstructed in Gothic style with glazed green tiling on its roof. The Upper Castle keep hall, on the second floor, was the largest hall (10 x 30 m) within the complex; it was a little smaller than the hall of the Grand Master's Palace (15 x 30 m) in Marienburg, and much larger than the hall at the Duke's Palace in Trakai Island Castle (10 x 21 m). Reconstruction of the castle ended in 1422. The state had made plans to host the coronation of the proclaimed king Vytautas the Great in the castle, which were disrupted by his untimely death.After the 16th century, the Upper Castle was not maintained, and it suffered from neglect. Until the early 17th century, a prison for noblemen was located in the Upper Castle. It was used as a fortress for the last time during the invasion of the Russians in 1655, when for the first time in Lithuanian history, a foreign army captured the entire complex.[3] Six years later, the Polish-Lithuanian army managed to recapture Vilnius and the castles. Afterwards the Upper Castle stood abandoned and was not reconstructed.The complex suffered major damage during the World Wars. At this time, only the western tower, known as Gediminas Tower, remains standing. It is a symbol of Vilnius and of Lithuania. Only a few remnants of the castle's keep and other towers survived.

Lower Castle

The Castle Complex has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Prior to the 13th century, its structures were built from wood. In the 1314th centuries defensive walls, towers and gateways were built from stone; these were reorganized and expanded several times. The only freestanding structures that remain intact are those at the Lower Castle.The two principal buildings of the Lower Castle are the Royal Palace and Vilnius Cathedral.Royal PalaceThe Royal Palace in the Lower Castle evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the Palace was the political, administrative and cultural center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.In the 13th and 14th centuries there were stone structures within the palace site; some archeologists believe that a wooden palace stood there as well. The stone Royal Palace was built in the 15th century, apparently after the major fire in 1419. The existing stone buildings and defensive structures of the Lower Castle, which blocked the construction, were demolished. The Royal Palace was built in Gothic style. The Keep of the Upper Castle, as well as the Royal Palace, were meant to host the coronation of Vytautas the Great. The Gothic palace had three wings; research suggests that it was a two-story building with a basement.The Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander, who later became King of Poland, moved his residence to the Royal Palace, where he met with ambassadors. He ordered the renovation of the palace. After his marriage to a daughter of Moscow's Grand Duke Ivan III, the royal couple lived and died in the palace.Sigismund I the Old, after his ascension to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, conducted his affairs in the Royal Palace as well as in Vilnius Cathedral. During the rule of Sigismund I the palace was greatly expanded, to meet new needs of the Grand Duke another wing was added, as well as a third floor; the gardens were also extended. By contemporary accounts the palace was worth 100,000 ducats. The palace reconstruction plan was probably prepared by Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve, who also designed several other projects in the Kingdom of Poland. In this palace Sigismund the Old welcomed an emissary from the Holy Roman Empire, who introduced Sigismund to Bona Sforza, his second wife, in 1517.Sigismund's son Sigismund II Augustus was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the Royal Palace. Augustus carried on with palace development and lived there with his first wife Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. She was buried in Vilnius Cathedral. Sigismund II's second wife, Barbara Radziwill, also lived in the palace. According to contemporary accounts of the Holy See's emissary, the Royal Palace at that time contained more treasures than the Vatican. Sigismund II also assembled one of the largest collection of books in Europe.The palace was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. The plan was prepared by several Italian architects, including Giovanni Cini da Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi, and others. The palace was visited by Ippolito Aldobrandini, who later became Pope Clement VIII. Another major development took place during the reign of the Vasa family. The Royal Palace was refurbished in early Baroque style during the rule of Sigismund III Vasa. Matteo Castello, Giacopo Tencalla, and other artists participated in the 17th-century renovation.During the rule of Vasas, several notable ceremonies took place in the palace, including the wedding of Duke John, who later became King John III of Sweden, and Sigismund Augustus' sister Catherine. The first opera in Lithuania was staged in the palace in 1634. Marco Scacchi and Virgilio Puccitelli were the opera's impresarios.[citation needed]After the Russian invasion in 1655, the state began weakening, with negative effects on the Royal Palace. The palace was greatly damaged by war, and its treasures were plundered. After the recapture of the city of Vilnius in 1660-1661, the palace was no longer a suitable state residence, and stood abandoned for about 150 years. In the late 18th century, after the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, several families lived in parts of the ruined palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into Tsarist Russia, Tsarist officials ordered the demolition of the remaining sections of the Royal Palace. The Palace was almost completely demolished by the early 19th century. The site had been sold in 1799 to a merchant from Kremenchug.The Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) passed a law in 2000 resolving that the Royal Palace be rebuilt for ceremonies commemorating the millennium since the first mention of the name of Lithuania in 2009.

Palace of The Grand Dukes

The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Didiosios Kunigaiktysts valdov rmai Vilniaus emutinje pilyje, Polish: Zamek Dolny w Wilnie) is a palace in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was originally constructed in the 15th century for the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the future Kings of Poland. The palace, located in the lower castle of Vilnius, evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the palace was the political, administrative and cultural centre of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was demolished in 1801. Work on a new palace started in 2002 on the site of the original building, and it was opened on 6 July 2009.In the 13th and 14th centuries there were stone structures within the palace site; some archaeologists believe that a wooden palace stood there as well. The stone palace was built in the 15th century, apparently after a major fire in 1419. The existing stone buildings and defensive structures of the lower castle, which blocked the construction, were demolished. The palace was built in Gothic style. The keep of the upper castle, as well as the palace, were meant to host the coronation of Vytautas the Great. The Gothic palace had three wings; research suggests that it was a two-story building with a basement. Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellon, who later became King of Poland, moved his residence to the palace, where he met with ambassadors. He ordered the renovation of it. After his marriage to a daughter of Moscow's Grand Duke Ivan III, the royal couple lived and died in there.Sigismund I the Old, after his ascension to the grand ducal throne, conducted his affairs in the palace as well as in Vilnius Cathedral. During the rule of Sigismund I the palace was greatly expanded to meet the new needs of the grand duke. Another wing was added, as well as a third floor, and the gardens were extended. By contemporary accounts the palace was worth 100,000 ducats. The palace reconstruction plan was probably prepared by the Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve, who also designed several other projects in the Kingdom of Poland. In this palace Sigismund the Old welcomed an emissary from the Holy Roman Empire, who introduced Sigismund to Bona Sforza, his second wife, in 1517.Sigismund's son Sigismund II Augustus was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the palace. Sigismund II carried on with the development work and lived there with his first wife Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. She was laid to rest in Vilnius Cathedral. Sigismund II's second wife, Barbara Radziwill, also lived in the palace. According to contemporary accounts of the Holy See's emissary, the palace at that time contained more treasures than the Vatican. Sigismund II also assembled one of the largest collection of books and tapestries in Europe.The palace was remodelled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. The plan was prepared by several Italian architects, including Giovanni Cini da Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi, and others. The palace was visited by Ippolito Aldobrandini, who later became Pope Clement VIII. Another major development took place during the reign of the House of Vasa. The palace was refurbished in the early Baroque style during the rule of Sigismund III Vasa. Matteo Castello, Giacopo Tencalla, and other artists participated in the 17th-century renovation.During the Vasa rule, several notable ceremonies took place, including the wedding of Duke John, who later became King John III of Sweden, and Sigismund Augustus' sister Catherine. The first opera in Lithuania was staged in the palace in 1634. Marco Scacchi and Virgilio Puccitelli were the opera's impresarios.After the Russian invasion in 1655, the state began to weaken, and that also affected the castle. In August 1655, Vilnius was captured by the Muscovite army. The Polish army recaptured the city six years later, by which time the palace had been destroyed by fire. The palace was greatly damaged and its treasures were plundered. After the recapture of the city of Vilnius in 16601661, the palace was no longer a suitable state residence, and stood abandoned for about 150 years. In the late 18th century, after the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, several families lived in parts of the ruined palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into Tsarist Russia, officials ordered the demolition of the remaining sections of the palace. The structure was almost completely demolished in 1801, the bricks and stones were sold, and the site was bowered.Only a small portion of the walls up to the second floor survived, that were sold to the Jewish merchant Abraham Schlossberg around 1800, who incorporated them into his house. After the November Uprising of 1831, the czarist government expelled Schlossberg and took over the building, as it was building a fortress beside it.After Lithuania regained its independence following World War I in 1918, the castle became the headquarters of the army. It soon was captured by the Polish troops following the Polish annexation of Vilnius (Wilno). During World War II, it was the office of the German Wehrmacht, and after World War II it was used by Soviet security structures and later transformed into a Pioneers Palace.

Cathedral Basilica

The Cathedral of Vilnius (Lithuanian: Vilniaus v. Stanislovo ir v. Vladislovo arkikatedra bazilika, Polish: Bazylika archikatedralna w. Stanisawa Biskupa i w. Wadysawa) is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania. It is situated in Vilnius Old Town, just off of Cathedral Square. Dedicated to Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus, the church is the heart of Catholic spiritual life in Lithuania.The coronations of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania took place within its confines. Inside its crypts and catacombs are buried many famous people from Lithuanian and Polish history including Vytautas (1430), his wife Anna (1418), his brother Sigismund (ygimantas) (1440), his cousin vitrigaila (1452), Saint Casimir (1484), Alexander Jagiellon (1506), and two wives of Sigismund II Augustus: Elisabeth of Habsburg (1545) and Barbara Radziwi (1551). The heart of the Polish-Lithuanian king Wadysaw IV Vasa was buried there upon his death, although the rest of his body is buried at the Wawel Cathedral in Krakw.Inside, there are more than forty works of art dating from the 16th through 19th centuries, including frescoes and paintings of various sizes. During the restoration of the Cathedral, the altars of a presumed pagan temple and the original floor, laid during the reign of King Mindaugas, were uncovered. In addition, the remains of the cathedral built in 1387 were also located. A fresco dating from the end of the 14th century, the oldest known fresco in Lithuania, was found on the wall of one of the cathedral's underground chapels.During the Soviet regime initially the cathedral was converted into a warehouse. Masses were celebrated again starting in 1985, although the cathedral was still officially called "The Gallery of Images" at that time. In 1989, its status as a cathedral was restored.It is believed that in pre-Christian times, the Baltic pagan god Perknas was worshiped at the site of the cathedral. It has also been postulated that the Lithuanian King Mindaugas ordered the construction of the original cathedral in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity and appointment of a bishop to Lithuania. Remains of the archaic quadratic church with three naves and massive buttresses have been discovered underneath the current structure in the late 20th century.[1] After Mindaugas's death in 1263, the first cathedral again became a place of pagan worship.In 1387, the year in which Lithuania was officially converted to Christianity, construction began on a second Gothic Cathedral with five chapels. This second cathedral, however, burnt down in 1419. During preparations for his 1429 coronation as King of Lithuania, Vytautas built a significantly larger Gothic Cathedral in its place. Although the coronation never took place, the walls and pillars of this third Cathedral have survived to this day. The third Cathedral had three naves and four circular towers at its corners, and Flemish traveler Guillebert de Lannoy noticed its similarity to Frauenburg Cathedral. In 1522, the Cathedral was renovated, and a bell tower was built on top of the Lower Castle defensive tower. After another fire in 1530, it was rebuilt again and between 1534 - 1557 more chapels and the crypts were added. The Cathedral acquired architectural features associated with the Renaissance.In 1529, the Crown Prince and future King of Poland, Sigismund II Augustus, was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the Cathedral. After yet another fire in 1610, the Cathedral was rebuilt again, and the two front towers were added. The Cathedral was damaged again in 1655 when Vilnius fell to Russian troops in the Russo-Polish War of 16541667. It was renovated and redecorated several more times.Between 1623 - 1636, at the initiative of Sigismund III Vasa and later completed by his son Wladyslaw IV Vasa, the Baroque style Saint Casimir chapel by royal architect Constantino Tencalla was built of Swedish sandstone. Its interior was reconstructed in 1691-1692 and decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo Palloni, the altar and stuccowork by Pietro Perti. This chapel contains sculpted statutes of Jagiellon kings and an epitaph with Wladyslaw IV Vasa's heart. More than anything in the Cathedral this chapel symbolizes the glory of Polish-Lithuanian union and common history.In 1769 the southern tower, built during the reconstruction of 1666 collapsed, destroying the vaults of the neighbouring chapel and killing 6 people. After the damage, Bishop of Vilnius Ignacy Jakub Massalski ordered the reconstruction of the Cathedral. The works started in 1779 and were completed in 1783, and the interior was completed in 1801. The Cathedral was reconstructed to its present appearance according to the design of Laurynas Guceviius in the Neoclassical style; the church acquired a strict quadrangular shape common to local public buildings. The main facade was adorned with sculptures of the Four Evangelists by Italian sculptor Tommaso Righi. Some scholars point to the architectural resemblance of the cathedral to the works of Andrea Palladio or see the influence of Guceviius's tutor Claude Nicolas Ledoux. The influence of Palladian architecture is evident in side facades of the building. The lack of 'purity' of the Classical architecture, due to incorporation of Baroque style sculptures and other elements, was later criticized by academical architects, notably Karol Podczaszyski.Between 1786 and 1792 three sculptures by Kazimierz Jelski were placed on roof of the Cathedral - Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on the north, and Saint Helena in the centre. These sculptures were removed in 1950 and restored in 1997. Presumably the sculpture of St. Casimir originally symbolized Lithuania, that of St. Stanislaus symbolized Poland, and that of St. Helena symbolized Russia's dominance.n 2002 work officially began to rebuild the Royal Palace of Lithuania behind the Cathedral. The newly erected palace building will considerably alter the context of the Cathedral.The Cathedral and the belfry were thoroughly renovated from 2006 to 2008. The facades were covered with fresh multicolor paintwork, greatly enhancing the external appearance of the buildings. It was the first renovation since the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990.

Gates of Dawn

The Gate of Dawn (Lithuanian: Auros Vartai, Polish: Ostra Brama, Belarusian: ) is a city gate of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and one of the most important religious, historical and cultural monuments.It was built between 1503 and 1522 as a part of defensive fortifications for the city of Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It has also been known as the Medininkai Gate, as it led to the village Medininkai south of Vilnius as well as Atra broma, which derivative for the Lithuanian language word atra meaning sharp. Of the nine city gates, only the Gate of Dawn remains, while the others were destroyed by the order of the government at the end of the 18th century.In the 16th century city gates often contained religious artifacts intended to guard the city from attacks and to bless travelers. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers. For centuries the picture has been one of the symbols of the city and an object of veneration for both Roman Catholic and Orthodox inhabitants. Thousands of votive offerings adorn the walls and many pilgrims from neighboring countries come to pray in front of the beloved painting. Masses are held in Lithuanian and Polish languages.After World War II the cult of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn prevailed in Lithuanian and Polish communities worldwide and is continued in many shrines to the Virgin Mary in Europe, and the Americas. The largest of the churches devoted to Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn is St. Mary's Church in Gdask, Poland.

Church of St. Anne

St. Anne's Church (Lithuanian: v. Onos banyia) is a Roman Catholic church in Vilnius' Old Town, on the right bank of the Vilnia River. It is a prominent example of both Flamboyant Gothic and Brick Gothic styles. St. Anne's is a prominent landmark in the Old Town of Vilnius that enabled the district to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.The first church at this site, constructed of wood, was built for Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania, the first wife of Vytautas the Great. Originally intended for the use of Catholic Germans and other visiting Catholics, it was destroyed by a fire in 1419. The present brick church was constructed on the initiative of Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander[2] in 14951500; the exterior of the church has remained almost unchanged since then. A reconstruction of the church, funded by Mikoaj "the Black" Radziwi and Jerzy Radziwi, was carried out following severe fire damage, in 1582. Abraomas Kulvietis preached in the church between 1538 and 1541. In 1747, the church underwent a repair under supervision of Johann Christoph Glaubitz. In 1762, side arches of the main portal were hidden in order to strengthen the support for the facade.According to a well-known legend, Emperor Napoleon, after seeing the church during the Franco-Russian War in 1812, expressed a wish to carry the church home with him to Paris 'in the palm of his hand'. The church was renovated in 19021909 when the side arches were uncovered and the walls were strengthened with iron and again in 19601970 when the towers in bad shape were restored. On August 23, 1987 the Lithuanian Freedom League held a rally in a square near the church and the monument of Adam Mickiewicz to protest the ongoing Soviet occupation, which was broken up by the militia.[3] Most recent reconstruction followed in 2009: the roofing was replaced, facade elements were reinforced and long-missing side spires were rebuilt.

Vilnius University

Vilnius University is one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe. It was founded at a time when the reformation movement was active in Lithuania and Jesuit monks were invited to help fight the mood of reformation. Jesuit monks were quick to take over education. In 1569, they established a college and in 1579 the University of Vilnius was born.The complexes of Vilnius University were formed over several centuries and, as a result, consist of the buildings built in Gothic, Baroque and Classical styles. The medieval architecture of the premises contrasts with the vibrant student atmosphere. Thirteen internal courtyards, arcades and galleries inject even more colour into the buildings. The courtyards are named after famous graduates and professors of the university; commemorative plaques in their honour can be seen in the Grand Courtyard.At present, there are 12 faculties and about 23,000 students at Vilnius University. The old building of the university is occupied by University administration and three faculties: history, philology and philosophy. There is also a library that was established in 1570. It contains over five million publications and old manuscripts. One of the two known originals of the first Lithuanian book The Catechism by Martynas Mavydas is kept here.

Uupis

Uupis is sometimes compared to Monmartre in Paris or Christiania in Copenhagen.Uupis is a republic of artists. It has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop, two churches, one of the oldest graveyards in Vilnius (Bernardine Cemetery), seven bridges, and a guardian (the bronze angel of Uupis).The constitution of the Republic of Uupis is displayed on a fence at the beginning of Paupio Street.This is one of the oldest districts in Vilnius and is mentioned in historic documents as early as the 16th century.In earlier times, vanes of numerous mills could be seen turning here. It was the poorest suburb of the city and was inhabited mostly by craftsmen. At some point in its history, a red-light district was located nearby. In Soviet times, Uupis was badly neglected and had the notoriety of being the most dangerous district of Vilnius. In time, artists came to settle in the cheap accommodation in Uupis; moreover, the Art Academy was situated right across the bridge. Alternative fashion festivals, concerts, exhibitions, poetry evenings, performances, and original Uupis festivities are now organised here. At the present time Uupis is one of the most prestigious and expensive districts in Vilnius.The name Uupis means place beyond the river. The Vilnia River, often called Vilnel, is an integral part of Uupis. It is therefore quite natural that one of the symbols of Uupis is a bronze mermaid, also known as the Uupis Mermaid, created by sculptor Romas Viliauskas. The mermaid occupies a special niche on the embankment of the Vilnia. It is said that it is the mermaid who attracts people from all over the world to Uupis. Those who surrender to her charm remain in Uupis forever.Angel of UupisA sculpture of an angel was placed in the central square of Uupis in 2002. The bronze angel, also created by sculptor Romas Viliauskas, has become the symbol of Uupis.

Vilnius Picture Gallery

The Gallery is established in a beautiful and spacious estate of the noblemen Chodkiewicz noted for impressive interiors of late Classicism. The permanent exposition of this Gallery offers a visitor the opportunity to become thoroughly and consistently acquainted with the development of Lithuanian art from the 16th to the beginning of the 20th century. It houses a collection of works by artists of Vilnius Art School. Different exhibitions, evenings of culture, concerts of classical music are organised at the Gallery.

The Bastion of Vilnius City Wall

This is part of the Vilnius Defensive Wall, often called barbican. The Bastion is a Renaissance-style fortification characterised by its original construction. It consists of a tower installed in the city defence wall, underground gun ports and a connecting corridor, which turns into a 48-metre long tunnel. The Bastion was built in the first half of the 17th century by the German military engineer, Friedrich Getkant. The Bastion was severely damaged during the wars with Moscow in the middle of the 17th century. During World Wars I and II, German military arsenals were located in the building. You can enjoy a picturesque view of the Old Town from the Bastion terrace.

It's temporarely closed for repairs

Three Crosses

Three Crosses (Lithuanian: Trys kryiai) is a prominent monument in Vilnius, Lithuania, on the Hill of Three Crosses, originally known as the Bleak Hill (Lithuanian: Plikasis kalnas), in Kalnai Park. According to a legend, seven Franciscan friars were beheaded on top of this hill. Wooden crosses were built in the location since the early 17th century. It soon became a symbol of the city and an integral part of the city's skyline. As wood rots, the crosses needed to be periodically replaced.In 1916, a concrete monument was designed by PolishLithuanian architect and sculptor Antoni Wiwulski. It was torn down in 1950 by order of the Soviet authorities. A new monument designed by Henrikas ilgalis was erected in its place in 1989. The monument was depicted on 50 litas banknote. A spectacular panorama of the Vilnius Old Town can be observed from a small observation deck at the base of the crosses.Regardless of whether the legend about the Franciscan martyrs is true or not, their cult spread from the early 16th century. The original wooden Three Crosses were built on the Bleak Hill, the place where seven friars were beheaded, sometime before 1649. That is the year when the crosses were depicted in a panegyric to Bishop Jerzy Tyszkiewicz. Around the same time Tyszkiewicz began a case to canonize the fourteen friars. There is some evidence that the crosses were built before 1636 as, according to Jan Nepomucen Fijaek, the crosses were also depicted on two silver portraits of St. Casimir that were made in 1636 and hung in Vilnius Cathedral. However, the portraits did not survive and Fijaek's claim cannot be verified.The wooden crosses collapsed in 1869 and Tsarist authorities did not allow to rebuilt them. The new monument from reinforced concrete designed by Antoni Wiwulski was erected in August 1916, while Vilnius was occupied by the Germans during World War I. The monument was demolished by Soviet authorities on May 30, 1950. Residents of Vilnius wanted them restored. During the Lithuanian independence movement, the monument was rebuilt on the old foundations according to the project of sculptor Henrikas ilgalis. The monument was unveiled on 14 June 1989. The rebuilt crosses now are 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) higher than those of 1916. Broken pieces of the old monument can be seen several meters below the rebuilt monument.

Television Tower

The Television Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Eastern Europe. It is 326,5 metres high.A photographic exhibition devoted to fourteen unarmed civilians who were killed during the tragic events of 13 January 1991 is mounted on the ground floor. Crosses and monuments near the entrance perpetuate one of the countrys biggest fights for independence.The tower is open to visitors: a lift takes them in 45 seconds up to an observation platform. This is a circular room (at the height of 165 metres), which revolves slowly, taking about one hour to complete one revolution.There is a caf, and viewers can appreciate a spectacular view of Vilnius and even of the panorama of the surrounding countryside within the radius of 50 kilometres.

=Church of St Peter and St Paul

St. Peter and St. Paul's Church (Lithuanian: v. apatal Petro ir Povilo banyia, Polish: Koci w. Piotra i Pawa na Antokolu) is a Roman Catholic church located in the Antakalnis neighbourhood of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the centerpiece of a former monastery complex of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. Its interior has masterful compositions of some 2,000 stucco figures by Giovanni Pietro Perti and ornamentation by Giovanni Maria Galli and is unique in Europe. The church is considered a masterpiece of Lithuanian Baroque.The foundation of the first church in this location is unknown. While digging the foundations for the present-day church, workers found a sculpture of an unknown knight. That inspired a legend that the first wooden church was founded by Petras Gotautas, a legendary ancestor of the Gotautai family, well before the official conversion of Lithuania to Christianity by Jogaila in 1387.More likely, the church was founded by Wojciech Tabor, Bishop of Vilnius (14921507). The wooden church burned down in 1594 but was rebuilt in 160916. In 1625, Bishop Eustachy Woowicz invited Canons Regular of the Lateran. Their new monastery was officially opened in November 1638.Bishop of Samogitia Jerzy Tyszkiewicz gifted a painting of Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (Lithuanian: v. Mergel Marija Maloningoji) to the church and the monastery. The painting was brought by Tyszkiewicz from Faenza, Italy around 164147, and depicts Our Lady of Graces, patron of Faenza. Even though it was not canonically crowned, it was covered in silver riza and attracted votive offerings.During the wars with Russia in 165561, the monastery was burned down and the church was destroyed. The construction of the new church was commissioned by the Great Lithuanian Hetman and Voivode of Vilnius Micha Kazimierz Pac. It is said that Pac was inspired to rebuilt the church after a 1662 incident when he hid in its ruins and thus narrowly escaped death from mutinous soldiers who later killed Wincenty Korwin Gosiewski, Field Hetman of Lithuania, and Kazimierz eromski. Before this project, Pac, having made only a couple relatively minor donations to Bernardines in Vilnius and Jesuits in Druskininkai, was not known as a patron of the church or the arts. Pac, who never married, envisioned that the church would become a mausoleum for the Pac family. The construction works started on 29 June 1668 (the day of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) under the supervision of Jan Zaor from Krakw and finished in 1676 by Giovanni Battista Frediani. Pac brought Italian masters Giovanni Pietro Perti and Giovanni Maria Galli for interior decoration. The works were interrupted by the founder's death in 1682. According to his last wishes, Pac was buried beneath the doorstep of the main entrance with the Latin inscription Hic Jacet Pecator (here lies a sinner) on his tombstone. At the end of the 18th century, lightning hit the church, knocked down a sculpture which fell and fractured the tombstone; the incident inspired many rumors about Pac and his sins. The tombstone is now displayed on the right wall of the main entrance.The church was finished by Pac's brother, Bishop of Samogitia Kazimierz Pac, and was consecrated in 1701, while the final decoration works were completed only in 1704. The construction of the church revitalized Antakalnis and attracted other nobles: Sapiehas who built Sapieha Palace and Suszkos who built Slushko Palace. The interior of the church changed relatively little since that time. The major change was the loss of the main altar. The wooden altar was moved to the Catholic church in Daugai in 1766. The altar is now dominated by the Farewell of St. Peter and St. Paul, a large painting by Franciszek Smuglewicz, installed there in 1805. The interior was restored by Giovanni Beretti and Nicolae Piano from Milan in 180104. At the same time, a new pulpit imitating the ship of Saint Peter was installed. In 1864, as reprisal for the failed January Uprising, Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky closed the monastery and converted its buildings into military barracks. There were plans to turn the church into an Eastern Orthodox church, but they never materialized. In 190105, the interior was restored again. The church acquired the boat-shaped chandelier and the new pipe organ with two manuals and 23 organ stops. The dome was damaged during World War II bombings, but was rebuilt true to its original design. When in 1956 Vilnius Cathedral was converted into an art museum by Soviet authorities, the silver sarcophagus with sacred relics of Saint Casimir was moved to the St. Peter and St. Paul's Church. The sarcophagus was returned to its place in 1989. Despite religious persecutions in the Soviet Union, extensive interior restoration was carried out in 197687.

Small Ghetto

These streets were included in the medieval Jewish quarter, which was west of Didioji Street, and reached as far as Dominikon and Vokiei Streets. During World War II the so-call Small Jewish Ghetto operated there for a short time (Stikli, Gaono, Antokolskio, yd Streets), where about 11-12 thousand people lived, mostly intellectuals, unskilled workers and people unable to work. The Small Ghetto survived until the year 1941.The Great Synagogue was built in yd Street (did not survive) which housed about 35 thousand praying people and was protected by 18 Torah rolls. Next to it there was the Gaon House of Worship, a famous library of Stranas and other buildings of the Synagogue courtyard for religious purposes. The Soviet occupation destroyed all that completely.Today a kindergarten stands in place of the Great Synagogue, next to it a monument to Gaon is built, in the place where his house used to stand. Narrow and winding streets with transverse arcades have retained their original appearance; some ancient architecture has survived or been restored: first of all houses in Stikli and Gaon Streets.The Big Ghetto of Vilnius existed from 6 September 1941 to 23 September 1943 (Lydos, Rdnink, Msini, Amenos, emaitijos, Dysnos, iauli,Ligonins Streets). There were around 29,000 Jews in the Big Ghetto; most of them were killed in Paneriai. Rdninink St. 18 marks the place of the main entrance into the Big Ghetto; this is indicated in a memorial plaque bearing the plan of the ghetto. The quarter between Amenos, Dysnos and Msini Streets is the first quarter of historical Vilnius to be under reconstruction. At present, the Jewish Culture and Information Centre is operating here. Between 1921 and 1951, the present emaitijos Street was named after M. Strashun. The books collected by Matityahu Strashun laid the basis for the largest Judaism library in Europe, which was established in Vilnius in 1892. The library itself was destroyed together with the Great Synagogue. Following the restoration of Lithuanias independence, the day of elimination of the Big Ghetto of Vilnius (23 September) was declared the Day of the Jewish Genocide in Lithuania.The only thing left to remind the old synagogue is a memorial for Gaonas built there. The Small ghetto was closed in 21st of October, 1941.

Town Hall

The town hall in Vilnius was mentioned for the first time in 1432. Initially it was a Gothic style building, and has since been reconstructed many times. The current Vilnius Town Hall was rebuilt in neoclassical style according to the design by Laurynas Guceviius in 1799. It has remained unchanged since then. Its Gothic cellars have been preserved and may be visited.Nowadays it is used for representational purposes as well as during the visits of foreign state officials and rulers, including George Walker Bush and Queen Elizabeth II.The Town Hall Square (Lithuanian: Rotus aikt) at the end of the Pilies Street is a traditional centre of trade and events in Vilnius. Major annual fairs, such as Kaziukas Fair, are held in this square, the main Christmas tree is decorated here, various concerts and other attractions are organised as well as celebrations of the important dates of the state.As far back as the early fifteenth century, the square was bordered by small shops. With the expansion of the city and the development of trade the number of small shops was increasing. Most of them were selling salt, iron and meat products. It is known that all of these shops could not have been sold, donated or transferred freely as everything was strictly regulated. Trading on the Town Hall Square was restricted by regulations such as the prohibition for the Jewish butchers to build their butchers shops both on the urban market and on Vokiei (German) Street. It was also prohibited to buy up products on the roadsides and sell them later in the city at a higher price. It was a measure to avoid the season of high prices, especially if there was a shortage of some product such as grain in deficit times. Any violations were punished with monetary fines, flogging, imprisonment and confiscation of merchandise. Confiscated goods were donated to various refuges and hospitals.Following the example many established cities Vilnius was granted the Magdeburg Rights. Those rights granted a right for merchants on the routes through Vilnius to stop in the capital and to sell their goods in a market. In 1503, due to the number of foreign traders the city built a special guest house for them to stay, on the site of the present day National Philharmonic. They had rooms for merchants and their retinues and premises to store their goods as well as room for horses, carts and sledges. Strict regulations were also imposed on traders and guilds regarding the construction of their market places and participation in the citys events.However, fighting with resellers was often a real challenge: powerful owners of jurisdictions would not always obey the orders of the rulers. Scottish and Jewish tradesmen in the seventeenth century were forbidden to trade in golden, silver, silk and semi-silk fringes and edgings, but this prohibition was not applied to the said articles produced in manufactures of Naples and Frankfurt.Many attractions and events were organised in the square such as the performances of bears, travelling acrobats, comedians, and various troupes. The mysteries, or semi-religious performances, were also popular.The Town Hall Square was the place where various celebrations were announced such as meetings with important guests and foreign rulers and family festivals of local noblemen.

Presidential Palace

The Presidential Palace (Lithuanian: Prezidentra), located in Vilnius Old Town, is the official office and eventual official residence of the President of Lithuania. The palace dates back to the 14th century and during its history it has undergone various reconstructions, supervised by prominent architects, including Laurynas Guceviius and Vasily Stasov. In 1997 the palace became the official seat of the President of Lithuania.The Palace traces its history back to the 14th century, when Jogaila, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, issued an edict donating land in the city to the Vilnius Diocese, for this reason the palace is sometimes referred to as the Bishops' Palace.] Construction of the Palace took place in the late 14th century under the auspices of the first Bishop of Vilnius Andrzej Jastrzbiec, and over succeeding generations, the building was gradually enlarged and renovated. During the Renaissance, the Palace was once again renovated, and parks and gardens surrounding the building were expanded.As the 18th century unfolded, a number of dramatic events in the Palace's history took place: the last Bishop of Vilnius lived in the Palace, Lithuania was annexed by the Russian Empire, and the building itself was badly damaged by two major fires in 1737 and 1748. The Palace was reconstructed in 1750 under the supervision of the architect Laurynas Guceviius. After its reconstruction, the Palace was used as a residence for emperors, kings and noblemen. During 1796, Tsar Paul I lived at the Palace. During the course of the 19th century, the Palace served as a residence for several Imperial Russian governors, such as Mikhail Muravyov, nicknamed "The Hangman". It was also visited by the future King of France, Louis XVIII in 1804.In 1812, both the Russian Tsar Alexander I and the French Emperor Napoleon used the Palace as their residence. During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, he organized military operations and Lithuanian army units from this Palace, including five regiments of infantry, four cavalry regiments, and the National Guard of Vilnius. He received Lithuanian noblemen, newly appointed officials of the administration, and other dignitaries in this Palace as well. After Napoleon's defeat in 1812, the Palace was used for ceremonial proposes; it was here that then-general Mikhail Kutuzov was awarded Russia's highest military award - the Order of St. George. During 1824-1834, the Palace was reconstructed by the prominent St. Petersburg architect Vasily Stasov in the Empire style, under supervision of Karol Podczaszyski. Stasov's reconstruction of the Palace has remained to this day.After Lithuania regained its independence in 1918, the Palace housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ELTA news agency until it ended up in Poland in 1920. It was restored in the 1930s by Stefan Narbski. After the Second World War, the Palace served as the Military Officers' Centre; later it housed various Lithuanian artists. The Palace was gradually adapted for use as a presidential office, and since 1997 it has served as the official office of the President of Lithuania. Currently, adaptations are underway to expand the palace's functions to also serve as the president's official residence. A flag displaying the coat of arms of the President is hoisted when the President is present in the Palace or in the city.

Pilies Street

Pilies Street (literally, "Castle Street"; Lithuanian: Pilies gatv) is one of the main streets in the Old Town of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It is rather a short street, running from Cathedral Square to the Town Hall Square.Out of several locations across Vilnius used by market traders to sell the wares of folk artists, Pilies Street is the most popular. It has a natural advantage over the Town Hall Square as the street is generally busy and less likely to be interrupted by the political or cultural events commonly held at the Town Hall.Many people visit the street to buy gifts at Christmas or before going abroad to visit friends. The market is also popular with souvenir hunters. Souvenir shops offer amberware and amber jewelry as well as linen clothes. The street is also known for the Kaziukas Fair, when folk artists from all four corners of Lithuania gather here to display and sell their latest merchandise.The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University was established in one of the courtyards at the end of the 18th century. Church processions also went along Pilies Street. The broadest parts of the street were occupied by markets: the so-called Great Market near the Town Hall and the fish market next to St. Paraskevas Church (Pyatnickaya).The street is distinguished for its architectural variety: Pilies 12 and 14 are Gothic, Pilies 4 is a Renaissance building of an episcopate college; and the pediment of the Church St. John is Baroque.Speaking of festivals, if something is being celebrated in Vilnius, Pilies Street is usually an excellent vantage point most processions will make their way through here at some point. This is true whatever the festival be it Christmas, Easter, the day of Restoration of Independence, or just a spontaneous celebration following a major win for the Lithuanian basketball team.The headquarters of Vilnius University are located between Pilies Street and University Street, (Lithuanian: Universiteto gatv). The House of the Signatories where the Declaration of Independence was signed on February 16, 1918 is also located on this street.

National Museum of Lithuania

The National Museum of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus), established in 1952, is a state-sponsored historical museum that encompasses several significant structures and a wide collection of written materials and artifacts. It also organizes archeological digs in Lithuania.The Museum of Antiquities in Vilnius, founded by Eustachy Tyszkiewicz in 1855, was the forerunner of today's museum. At its inception, the museum focused on the culture and history of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy.Made up mostly of Polish private collections, it was quite popular and received many visitors. After the January Uprising of 1863, the Russian Empire moved much of the collection to Moscow; the remaining collections were re-organized and were incorporated into the Vilnius Public Libray. From 1866 to 1914, the museum and the library operated together. In 1915, when the Eastern Front of World War I approached Vilnius, more of the exhibits was taken to Russia.After Lithuanian independence was established in 1918, the Museum of History and Ethnography was founded, based on the collections in the Museum of Antiquities and the Lithuanian Scientific Society. Its director was Jonas Basanaviius, one of the signatories to the Act of Independence of Lithuania. After 1919, Vilnius became a part of Poland, and the organization was incorporated into Vilnius University.In 1941, the Academy of Sciences acquired the collections of all the museums in Vilnius. The museum again became a separate entity in 1952 under the direction of the historian Vincas ilnas. In 1967, the museum established itself at the Vilnius Castle Complex's New Arsenal.The museum hosted a major exposition in 1968. During the 1970s and 1980s historic materials from across the country were gathered. In 1992, after Lithuania re-established its independence, it was renamed the National Museum of Lithuania. It is now part of the Ministry of Culture.

Amber Museum Gallery

The Museum was founded in 1988. The exhibits on display at the Amber Museum-Gallery tell visitors about the morphology of amber. It is revealed in the exhibits of various sizes, forms and colour. The unique collection of inclusions and the reconstruction of Juodkran treasure are on display here. Visitors can also see the ceramics baking shop of the end of the 15th century found in the basement of the Museum, authentic earthenware. Exhibitions of the works of artists working with amber are constantly held at the Gallery. One can also buy amber jewellery of modern and classical design here.

Museum of Genocide Victims

The Museum of Genocide Victims (Lithuanian: Genocido auk muziejus) in Vilnius, Lithuania was established in 1992 by order of the Minister of Culture and Education and the President of the Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Deportees. In 1997 it was transferred to the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania. The museum is located in the former KGB headquarters across from the Lukiks Square, therefore it is informally referred to as the KGB Museum.In addition to housing the museum, the building now serves as a courthouse and as the repository of the Lithuanian Special Archives.The museum is dedicated to collecting and exhibiting documents relating to the 50-year occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian resistance, and the victims of the arrests, deportations, and executions that took place during this period.The Lithuanian law uses the following definition of genocide:Article 1. Actions by which it was meant to physically eliminate all or part of inhabitants belonging to some national, ethnic, racial or religious group....During the 19th century, Lithuania was part of the Russian Empire. The building, completed in 1890, originally housed the court of the Vilna Governorate. The German Empire used it during its World War I occupation of the country. After independence was declared, it served as a conscription center for the newly formed Lithuanian army and as the Vilnius commander's headquarters. During the Lithuanian Wars of Independence, the city was briefly taken by the Bolsheviks, and the building housed commissariats and a revolutionary tribunal. Following eligowski's Mutiny of 1920, Vilnius and its surroundings were incorporated into Poland, and the building housed the courts of justice for the Wilno Voivodship.Lithuania was invaded by the Soviet Union in 1940, and following an ultimatum, became a Soviet Socialist Republic. Mass arrests and deportations followed, and the building's basement became a prison. In 1941 Nazi Germany invaded the country; the building then housed the Gestapo headquarters. Inscriptions on the cell walls from this era remain. The Soviets retook the country in 1944, and from then until independence was re-established in 1991, the building was used by the KGB, housing offices, a prison, and an interrogation center. Over 1,000 prisoners were executed in the basement between 1944 and the early 1960s, about one third for resisting the occupation. Most bodies were buried in the Tuskulnai Manor, which underwent reconstruction and is selected to host the second Museum of Genocide Victims.

Gediminas Avenue

- Government Palace- Parliament- Constitutional Court- National Drama Theatre- Bank of Lithuania - Lithuanian Academy of Music & Theatre- Martynas Mavydas National Library- vrynas Bridge- Vilnius Castle ComplexGediminas Avenue (Lithuanian: Gedimino prospektas) is the main street of Vilnius, where most of the governmental institutions of Lithuania are concentrated, including the government, parliament, Constitutional Court and ministries. It is also the place of cultural institutions such as Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Bank of Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Martynas Mavydas National Library. Nowadays it is also a popular shopping and dining street. It is partially a pedestrian street in the evenings when the traffic is prohibited.Named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, the street terminates at the vrynas Bridge over the Neris River near Seimas Palace on one end and at the Cathedral Square and Vilnius Castle Complex on the other, passing the Lukiks Square. It connects the Old Town with vrynas.The street, built in 1836, was initially known as St. George Avenue, Mickiewicz Street (Polish: ulica Mickiewicza), when Vilnius was under Polish rule (19221939) and Adolf Hitler Street during the Nazi Germany occupation. At the beginning of the Soviet occupation in 1940 it was called Stalin Avenue, later renamed Lenin Avenue. The avenue carries its present name from 1939 to 1940 and since 1989.A portion of the avenue from the Vilnius Cathedral to Vincas Kudirka Square was thoroughly reconstructed before the celebration of 750th anniversary of Mindaugas' coronation in 2003. The reconstructions included building an underground parking facility the first such in Lithuania - under the Municipality Square and renovation of all kinds of pipelines and communication cables under the street. Over 100 new trees were planted. During the excavations a few archaeological findings were found and are now on display in the parking garage. The reconstruction continues to other sections of the avenue and was completed in 2009.

Church of St. Francis and Bernard

The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard (also known as Bernardine Church) is a Roman Catholic church in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is located next to St. Anne's Church. Dedicated to Saints Francis of Assisi and Bernardino of Siena, it is an important example of local Gothic architecture.After their arrival in Vilnius, Bernardine monks built a wooden church in the second half of the 15th century, and at the end of the same century - a brick one. In the early 16th century it was reconstructed, apparently with the participation of a master from Gdansk (Danzig) Michael Enkinger. In the beginning of the 16th century the church was incorporated into the construction of Vilnius defensive wall, so there are shooting openings in its walls. Afterwards it was renewed many times, particularly after the 1655-61 war with Moscow, when the Cossacks ravaged the church killing the monks and citizens who had taken shelter there. In the times of the Soviet occupation it was closed down and handed over to the Art institute. In 1994, the brethren of St. Francis returned to the church. According to the legend, the Bernardine monks used to tell such good sermons that crowds would come to listen. That is why the church is so large.

Constitutional Court of Lithuania

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania (in Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucinis Teismas) is a special court established by the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 1992; it began the activities after the adoption of the Law on Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania on February 3, 1993. Since its inception, the Court has been located in the city of Vilnius, Gediminas Avenue.The main task of the court is judicial review. It may therefore declare the acts of the Seimas unconstitutional and thus render them ineffective. As such, it is somewhat similar to the Supreme Court of the United States. However, it differs from it and other supreme courts in that it is not part of the regular judicial system, but more a unique judicial branch. Most importantly, it does not serve as a regular court of appeals from lower courts or as a sort of superappellate court on any violation of national laws.Its jurisdiction is focused on constitutional issues, the integrity of the Constitution. Moreover, it adjudicates on the conformance of the acts of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to the laws, compliance with the Constitution of international agreements, as well as their ratification, and takes a final decision on voting infringements.

National Drama Theatre

Lithuanian National Drama Theatre (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalinis dramos teatras), located on Gediminas Avenue in Vilnius, is one of the biggest theatres in Lithuania. Since its establishment in 1940, it has staged over 200 performances. The theatre's current repertoire mixes classical and modern theatre (Sophocles, William Shakespeare, Federico Garca Lorca, Bernard-Marie Kolts, Samuel Beckett, Ronald Harwood, B. Strauss, Fyodor Dostoyevsky) with material by contemporary Lithuanian playwrights (Sigitas Parulskis, Herkus Kunius and others).The theatre was granted the right its current name in 1998, having previously been known as the "Academical" theatre. In 2001 the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre became a member of the European Theatre Convention.

Bank of Lithuania

The Bank of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Bankas) is the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania is a member of the European System of Central Banks. The chairman of the bank is Vitas Vasiliauskas. Until 2015, the Bank of Lithuania was responsible for issuing the former Lithuanian currency, the litas.According to the Bank's official website, the Bank of Lithuania performs these primary functions:- Maintaining price stability.- Formulating and implementing the monetary policy.- Acting as an agent of the State Treasury.

Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre

The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a state-supported conservatory that trains students in music, theatre, and multimedia arts.Composer Juozas Naujalis founded a music school in 1919 in Kaunas. This school was reorganised into the Kaunas Conservatory in 1933. In 1949 the Kaunas Conservatory and the Vilnius Conservatory, founded in 1945, were merged into the Lithuanian State Conservatory.The State Conservatory was renamed the Music Academy of Lithuania (LMA) in 1992, and in 2004 it became the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (LMTA).As of January 2005 there were 1,167 students at the Academy, taught by a staff of 274. Its rector in 2007, Professor Eduardas Gabnys, has served in that capacity since 2005. The Academy's headquarters are located on Gediminas Avenue.The Academy awards the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Music, BA in Theatre, BA in Multimedia Arts, Master of Arts in Music, MA in Theatre, MA in Multimedia Arts, Ph.D. in Humanities for students of musicology, ethnomusicology, theatre theory and history, and a 2-year postgraduate Art Licentiate degree for music performers, composers and directors.The Academy strives to "develop international cooperation and integration into the European and global academic community, to support and facilitate student and teacher exchange, and to ensure high-quality standards in higher education in the arts."Its students and professors perform in over 400 concerts per year, participatiing in national and international orchestras, international concerts, performances, competitions, and festivals. Competitions and international events sponsored by the Academy include the International Jascha Heifetz Violin Competition, and an international competition for singers and pianists-accompanists, among others. It co-sponsors the International M. K. iurlionis Piano and Organ Competition and hosts national auditions for participation in the European Union Youth Orchestra, the International Choir and Orchestra Academy in Stuttgart, the International Holland Music Sessions, and numerous other scholarship auditions.

Martynas Mavydas National Library

Martynas Mavydas National Library of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos nacionalin Martyno Mavydo biblioteka) is a national cultural institution which collects, organizes and preserves Lithuania's written cultural heritage content, develops the collection of Lithuanian and foreign documents relevant to research, educational and cultural needs of Lithuania, and provides library information services to the public.Martynas Mavydas National Library goals are accumulation and preservation of the Lithuanian documentary cultural heritage for the future generations and ensuring its access, active participation in the knowledge society creation process, development of its activities and services using modern information technologies with the purpose to assist the learning and development processes of Lithuanian people, providing methodological support for Lithuanian libraries, carrying out research in library science, bibliography, information science and bibliology, evolving library science theory and practice and strengthening the dynamics of integration into the global library science processes.The library was founded in Kaunas in 1919. In 1963, the Library moved to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. In 1988 the Library was named after Martynas Mavydas, the author of the first Lithuanian book (published in 1547), and in 1989 the Library is officially designated as Martynas Mavydas National Library of Lithuania. It is the main Lithuanian research library open to the public, and also performing the functions of a parliamentary library.

vrynas Bridge

It is a hundred year old bridge over Neris, which survived both World Wars. The Bridge was built in 1906 and name Nikolay Bridge at the time. It was designed by the engineer V. Malinovskiy, and the Russian scientist N. Beleliubskiy approved the project.The Bridge obtained its current name from the hunting reservation, which was arranged in the nearby woods during the rule of the Duke Radvila.The initial version of the bridge was a wooden construction built in the end of the 19th century. During Vilniuss expansion Zverynas was annexed to the city with several conditions. One of them was a new iron bridge, because the old one could not withstand the floods, and heavier vehicles could not pass it.V. Malinovskiy provided a sketch project of the bridge, which offered a construction of the arched system with the driving part on the top. The project was approved and the works were started in 1905. The arched constructions were brought from Warsaw and the bridge was finished in the autumn of 1906. The Bridge is 103.7 meters long, 11.35 meters wide and 11 meters high. Renovation works were carried in 2006.

Seimas Palace - Parliament

Seimas Palace (Lithuanian: Seimo rmai) is the seat of the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament. It is located in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.Work began on the construction of the first wing of the palace in 1976. The construction was supervised by architects Algimantas Nasvytis and Vytautas Nasvytis. In 1980, 9717.37 square meters of the palace were completed. Later the building was expanded due to growing needs. The final phase of the palace complex consists of three wings, with the main, or first wing, housing the Parliament Hall, where legislation is passed. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania's independence was re-established in the old Parliamen Hall, where the re-establishment declaration from the Soviet Union) was adopted. In 2006 work started on building a new Parliament Hall. On September 10, 2007, the new Parliament Hall was officially opened. It cost fifty million Litas. The old Parliament Hall will be used for celebratory sessions of the Seimas.

Green Bridge

The Green Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Vilnius. The constructions were started in 1536, when Zygimantas the Old granted privilege which allowed the castle supervisor Ulryk Hozjusz to build a wooden bridge next to the road to Ukmerge.The constructions were funded from the taxes collected from the passers-by.The first bridge was a wooden one, on the wooden piers, covered with the sliver roof, and had small shops located at each hand. At the time it had several names: Stone, The Great, Vilnia bridge.Unfortunately in 1655 the Hozjusz bridge burned down, and was rebuilt only in 1674 following the project of the architect J.B. Ferdiani. The bridge was again wooden, with arches, and was often in need of repairs because of the spring floods. The bridge got his current name in the second part of the 18th century, when it was painted in green.The Bridge burned several times in the end of the 18th beginning of the 19th centuries. The rebuild projects were prepared by the architect of the classicist buildings: Martynas Knakfusas, Laurynas Stuoka Gucevicius.The first wooden bridge was built in 1894, but it was blown up during the World War II. The Bridge with its current look was built in 1952. It has four small sculpture groups on all sides (Science Youth authors Juozas Mikenas and Juozas Kedainis; In the Peace Guard author Bronius Pundzius; Agriculture authors Bernardas Pucas and Petras Vaivada; Industry and Construction authors Napoleonas Petrulis and Bronius Vysniauskas). This Bridge was designed by the then Leningrad Design Institute, and built by the Russian army and the engineering subunit.

Russian Orthodox church of St. Nicolas

For many years people weren't able to visit the tower of this church. Recently it was renovated and adjusted for tourists. Many locals now consider it the best place to enjoy views of the Old Town.St. Nicholas Church is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Vilnius, Lithuania.According to a popular legend, the first wooden Orthodox chapel located on the place of today's St. Nicholas church was built around 1340. Seven years later, the Vilnius martyrs were supposedly buried there. However, in 1350, Uliana of Tver, the second wife of prince Algirdas, ordered to build a new brick church. In 1514 this church was again replaced with a larger one. It remained Orthodox up to 1609, when, like most of Vilnius Orthodox churches, it was given to the Uniates on a personal order of the king Sigismund III Vasa.Around 1740 the church was completely destroyed by fire and rebuilt in Baroque style. In 1839 the Russian local government closed the Uniate parish and given the building back to the Orthodox. After the failed Polish January Uprising, it was completely rebuilt in Neo-Byzantine style on the personal initiative of general-governor of Vilnius Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov-Vilensky. The renewed church was to be another sign of Russian domination in the city, becoming the fifth Orthodox church in the Old Town of Vilnius. Muraviev ordered also the construction of St. Michael the Archangel chapel which was to commemorate his victory over the Polish uprising. In 1866 the whole church was reconsecrated. The general-governor's role in the reconstruction of the church was described on a marble plaque on the western wall of the church.After World War II the church was closed, but in 1947 the Stalinist government agreed to reopen it as a parish church. The general renovation of the building took place before 1956.

Church of St. Johns

The Church of St. Johns, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist (Lithuanian: Vilniaus v. Jono Kriktytojo ir v.Jono apatalo ir evangelisto banyia) is located at the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania and dominates the university (Vilnius University) ensemble. Since the times of the Jesuit Academy professors and students used to pray here, and Vilnius theologians gave sermons. It was a place for performances and disputes, where theses were defended and kings greeted.The church was built in 13881426, reconstructed in the 16th and 17th centuries. The tower, separate from the church itself, was built in the 16th century. After the fire in 1737, from 17381748, architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz completely reconstructed the church in style of late Baroque. During the 1827-28 reconstruction, architect Karol Podczaszynski destroyed the bulk of the sumptuous Baroque interior - nearly 3000 carts with splinters of altars, sculptures and stucco works were taken to a dump; chapels suffered the least. In the Soviet times the church was closed down and severely damaged. During Hitler's occupation, the Reverend Alfonsas Lipninas, who was later imprisoned by the Nazis in the Stutthof camp and perished, delivered rebellious sermons in the church. In 1979 a university museum was founded there. In 1991 the church was returned to its parishioners. On his visit to Lithuania in 1993, Pope John Paul II held a meeting with intellectuals here. The church is dedicated to both St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.

Open Kitchen

OPEN KITCHEN is all about street food. Its a food market, held in Tymo market every Friday from May to September. Many different restaurants and cafes in one place an ideal place for business lunch or friend gatherings. Because food tastes better outside!Many different restaurants offering their food in one place - who wouldn't like it?!? You can come here for lunch or for afterwork snacks and beer.t's like a small food festival happening every Friday in the middle of the city. If you are a food lover - you should come because you can try different dishes from different restaurants and cafes in one place. Also additional activities like foosball, live music, exhibitions.

Bernardinai Garden

New renovated Bernardine Gardens (former Sereikiks Park) is the calm oasis in the heart of the town to run away from the daily routine and bustle of the city. River Vilnel, fountains, old trees, some botanical gardens elements, safe places for childrens - what more You can imagine for short break in the middle of the town.Bernardinai Garden (previously known as Sereikiks Park) is a public park in the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is located on the right bank of the Vilnia River between the Gediminas Tower and Bernardine Monastery and it covers over 9 hectares. . Most of its territory is parkland, divided in the monastery exposition, the botanic exposition and other recreational territory including a children's amusement park. It hosts a variety of festivals and exhibitions, including an amateur chess championship of Ostap Bender.History of Bernardinai GardenUntil the 14th century, in the territory of Bernardinai garden there was a Lithuanian pagan saint oaks wood. After Christianity the oaks were cut down and in 1469, when Lithuanian Grand Duke Kazimieras invited the Bernardine monks to Vilnius, the park was created. The monks rearranged the territory, set up a botanic exposition and did a lot of oher things.In 1864 the Russian tsar government closed Bernardinai garden, but about twenty years later the townspeople recovered this garden. It was reconstructed according to A. V. Strauss and J. Jasinskis project. But during the World War II Bernardinai garden was destroyed. In the Soviet Union times it was reconstructed for the second time and named Jaunimo sodas( The Youth Garden).In 2013 Bernardinai garden was reconstructed for the third time. Reconstruction works were done by Vilnius city parks and partly funded by the European Union.

Alumnatas Courtyard

Alumnatas is one of the most beautiful courtyards in the ensemble of Vilnius University and the most impressive architecture monument in Vilnius city. The chapel was built in the middle of the 17th century in the backend of the Alumnatas courtyard, which is surrounded by the by the palace of the Italian Renaissance style. The street facade was ornamented with the frescos that portrayed 47 popes. These were painted over in the middle of the 19th century. Pope Gregory XIII established a papal seminary for training priests here in 1582. The practical activities of this seminary were mainly turned to the orthodox and protestant regions. The seminary was closed in 1798 and became a property of Vilnius University (est. 1622).The Courtyard was last renovated in 1984. Currently a cozy cafe occupies the yard, and a beautiful view opens to the southern facade of the Presidential Palace and its representative courtyard.

Our Lady of the Sign Church

Located on the banks of the Neris River, it's hard not to notice this church when strolling down one of the main Old Town streets Gediminas Ave. One shouldn't be satisfied with simply seeing the outside, one must see the inside also.Our Lady of the Sign Church is an Orthodox church in the vrynas district of Vilnius, built in 1903.The idea of building a new Orthodox church in Vilnius came from Orthodox Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit, which also organised a collection of funds in the whole Russian Empire. The church, constructed in the most popular Neo-Byzantine style, was consecrated in 1903 by Iuvenaliy, the Orthodox archbishop of Vilnius. He also opened a school for poor children and a library which were to be run by the church's clergy. In order to commemorate the day, he granted to the newly established parish a copy of Our Lady of Kursk icon.Unlike many other Orthodox churches in Vilnius, the church was not closed during World War I, nor during World War II. The Soviet government agreed to register it as a parish church in 1948. Before 1956, the church was robbed a few times, losing part of the icons from the original iconostasis which had to be replaced by a far humbler one. The church was fully restored inside and outside in 2009.

Verkiai Palace

Until the end of the 14th century this place was a property of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. There was a wooden manor even in the 13th century. In 1387 Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila, on occasion of accepting Christianity, donated this place to Vilnius' Episcopate. Verkiai served as the permanent summer residence of Vilnius bishops until the end of the 18th century.Verkiai Palace became widely known after bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski took over it in 1780. He hired two famous architects, Marcin Knackfus and Laurynas Guceviius, to rebuild the palace in the Neoclassical style. The general plan and maintenance buildings were designed by Marcin Knackfus. The main palace building, the stables and several other buildings were designed by Guceviius. The building was called "the Versailles of Vilnius". The palace had a little theatre, large library, and a small gun museum and was surrounded by a park.The palace was severely damaged during the Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Eventually, the central building of the palace was pulled down on the order of a new owner, prince Ludwig Wittgenstein, who bought Verkiai in 1839. He also ordered restructuring the other buildings and the east wing office house assumed the role of the palace since the 1840s. It is attested that the first known photographs in present-day Lithuania were taken there in 1839, when Karol Podczaszyski made a daguerreotype of the palace which was intended to be rebuilt.The images have not survived.After World War II, the remaining palace buildings were used as educational institutions and an art museum. Since 1960 the ensemble belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany. Verkiai Palace complex is an important cultural and historical landmark in Verkiai Regional Park.

Belmontas Palace

Belmontas Palace is the ensemble of the French millhouse Belmont located to the east from the city center in the Pavilniai Regional Park. The Palace reconstruction idea was based on the respect for the preservation of our history.All authentic buildings were reconstructed with great care for details, and their current purpose was fully adjusted to the old plan of the mill buildings. The main attention was drawn to the system of the millhouse hydro-technics when the territory management works were implemented. The largest waterwheel in Lithuania was constructed in the area of the ensemble.A kilometer long walkway of the unique beauty with the rest places, observation decks, arbors, amphitheater, and small fountains was established in the territory of the ensemble. An impressive night lighting system creates a vision of the secret night.Belmontas Entertainment and Recreation Centre is established in the mill ensemble palace. The Centre consists of the different purpose halls established in the various buildings of the complex.- Glass Hall is a cozy space to admire Belmontass prospect and enjoy tasty food. The hall is the smallest in the ensemble accommodating only 20 guests.- Joana Carinovas Inn is a terrace with enough room for about 120 guests. It is a real kingdom of men: walls are decorated with guns, horns, bear furs, and other male accessories. There is a Seklycia (an ancient Lithuanian living-room) on the second floor. This is also a museum. Walls are decorated with everyday household items, keys, and locks. Sports fans are also very welcome here. Basketball matches are shown here, and up to 150 people can be accommodated here.- Charles de Vims Mill banquet hall. Up to the World War II the mill belonged to the Leoniskiai estate. There are some documents, proving that the mills building permission was granted in 1536. De Vim (who was a Frenchman) rented these lands and built a millhouse here. Currently the building is a banquet hall with two balconies: one of them may be occupied by the musicians, the other by the guests. The wall of the hall are decorated with placards and old photographs.- Banquet hall Ratonda is a round conference and banquet hall covered with a dome, and which accommodates up to 120 guests. The buildings of this type are known since the Antiquity. The Belmontas Ratonda has twelve stained-glass windows decorated with the signs of the Zodiac and an impressive chandelier. This is the place for those who seek exclusiveness.- Restaurant Vila Gloria. The Frenchman Charles de Vims auxiliary watermills building stood here in 1838 1842. Currently it is a restaurant hall accommodating up to 80 guests, which perfectly suits the weddings. River Vilnele with its 7 bridges is very close to the hall the bride needs to be taken over the bridge!- Banquet hall Belvederis (from Italian beautiful sight) is a buildings tower and an additional storey. One has a possibility for a beautiful sightseeing tour. Old brick walls are preserved here, the interior is splendid, and the menu luxurious.- Summer Outdoor Caf Belmontas Waterfalls is an open air caf, accommodating up to 600 guests. One can not only enjoy delicious foods here, but listen to the sound of the brawling waterfalls.- The Red Hall is dedicated to the small family celebrations with enough room for 30 people.The interior of the Belmontass halls is enlivened with antiquities and ethnographic items, representing the everyday life of the Lithuanian countryside and city in the beginning of the 19th century. Apart from eating, the visitors can also get acquainted to the various exhibitions starting with the folk everyday items through to the hunting trophies, and the antique works of the applied arts and authorial works of art.People who seek for more active ways of spending their free time, Belmontas organizes festivals, concerts, games, fairs, get-togethers, and discothques. The tours are organized in the Vilnius surroundings; those who want to try something new an entertainment park, established in the Pavilniai Regional Park, is for their service. The Park offers a comfortable approach road, 3D layout of the routes, impressive landscape, and the longest fly on a steel rope, the longest Black route, and a possibility to combine the extreme events with the eating in Belmontas Centre.The whole territory occupies 2 hectares and can serve up to 1500 guests at a time. A comfortable parking zone with 300 places is also established at the entrance to the Centre.

Lukiskes Squares

The Square is a part of the City in Vilnius center which was formed in the 19th century, and is surrounded by Gediminas Avenue, J.T. Vaizganto, and Vasario 16-osios Streets. In the end of the 19th century the Square turned into the marketplace, later in 1920 a memorial stone was laid here to honor the participants of the 1863 rebellion against czar authorities.During the Polish occupation in 1920, the Square was named after J. Pilsudskis, later it was Lenins Square.The design of the Square was started in the middle of the 18th century. In the beginning of the 19th century this was the place where the units of the Russian army organized their trainings. During the rebellion in 1863 1864 the governor-general of Vilnius Muravyov used the Square for the public executions.The Square became an important part of the cultural life in 1900 this was the place for Kaziukas and St George fairs.After Lithuania regained independence in 1991, the monument to Lenin was exposed in the Square, and the monument to the exiles in Sakha (Yakutia) was unveiled in 2006.The origin of the Squares title is not clear until the 15th century; however, there is a theory that Lukiskes was the place near the river a fishing spot or a meadow. In 1441 Casimir Jagiellon granted privilege to Vilnius city, and this is undoubtedly the first mentioning of Lukiskes.K. Katalynas implemented reconnaissance researches in 1992 and 2004. The results confirmed that the territory was empty in the 16th century, the cultural layer is ruined, and the findings are dated back to the 16th century.The St. Apostles Philip and James Church was started in 1690 (finished in 1727) and still stands next to the Square.The architectural view of the city was again changed in the beginning of the 19th century by the constructions of the prison buildings complex a single rectangular building surrounded by the fence with towers.There was a Tatar Mosque next to the Squ