Vilnius Old Town

This is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Eastern Europe.  Today tourists can spend time wandering down the cobbled streets, looking at the traditional handmade souvenirs for sale by vendors along the walks or explore the wide variety of quaint little shops.  Despite wars, occupations and destruction, the architectural ensemble of Vilnius remains unique.  Nearly all styles of European architecture from Gothic to Classicism are present in Vilnius. The Baroque domes and towers of Vilnius coexist with an irregular medieval city plan. Vilnius Old Town - the historical core of the capital, surrounded by woods, hills and valleys - emerged in the confluence of the River Neris and its tributary the River Vilnia. The city originated at the very point where both rivers joined. Large Baltic settlements could be found in this area as early as the 5th and 6th centuries.

The fire of 1471 devastated the rapidly growing city of Vilnius; it burned down many sacred buildings. However, the Medieval street plan of the city and the triangular market square next to the Town Hall have survived till the present. This area of the city was surrounded by a fortified brick wall to protect the city from possible Tartar attacks.

Vilnius University was founded in 1579 by Jesuits. The University of Vilnius promoted and strengthened Baroque culture in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and contributed to the establishment of Vilnius as the most important cultural center of the region.

The Russian administration ordered the distruction of several buildings which symbolized the Lithuanian independent statehood. These were the Lower Castle, the Defence Wall with its gates which surrounded almost the whole city (only Aušros Gate has survived). Numerous Catholic churches were transformed into Orthodox churches and many monasteries were turned into army bases and prisons.  Lithuania regained its independence in 1990. In 1994 Vilnius Old Town was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List that includes the most significant natural and cultural monuments.

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Vilnius Cathedral

Situated just off of Cathedral Square in Vilnius’ old town is the main Roman Catholic cathedral, considered Lithuania's spiritual and political center. It is thought that in pagan times this was the location of an altar or temple to the pagan god “Perkūnas” or “god of thunder”. King Mindaugas built the original cathedral in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity. After his death in 1263, it again became a place of pagan worship. The coronation ceremonies of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania from Vytautas to Žygimantas Augustas took place there. Due to fires, wars, and unstable ground, the Cathedral was rebuilt more than once. As a result, gothic, renaissance, and baroque styles are reflected in its architectural history.

 

Gediminas Castle

The history of this ancient castle is closely connected with the formation of the city.  About 1230 A.D. the castle was built by Gediminas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania.  He had a prophetical dream that he understood as the gods direction for him to build a city that would become great and invincible.  After finishing construction he proclaimed Vilnius the capital of Lithuania and moved the government from Trakai to the new town named after the Vilnia River.  In the 14th and 15th centuries the castle was build over again using only brick.  This is the castle that is visible today.  The castle walls were 3 meters thick and it had three defence towers. Today there is an observation point at the top of the tower, from where the panorama of Vilnius can be admired.

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Trakai Castle

The ancient capital of Lithuania is located 30 km from Vilnius. The main landmark of the town is thefamous insular Trakai Castle.  It is the only insular castle in Eastern Europe. The construction of the castle was started in the second half of the 14th century and completed by Grand Duke Vytautas at the beginning of the 15th century.When the capital was moved to Vilnius, Trakai lost its leading role in the political life of the country but retained its importance as the residence of the Dukes and a significant administrative, political and economical center of Lithuania. By the end of the 16th century, the town had gradually lost its former political importance. It was finally outgrown by Vilnius. Soon the town became a kind of a place of exile for disagreeable noblemen and the castle became a political prison.

The castle is surrounded by defensive walls with massive towers and a fore-castle, which is separated from the walls by a water canal. To enter the castle, you have to cross an ancient draw-bridge. The Gothic Palace is situated in the very center of the castle. The staterooms of the palace are decorated with stained-glass and mural paintings, representing the scenes of the life of Grand Duke and his family. The interior of the palace was abundantly adorned with profiled bricks, stained glass and decorative tiles.

 

Kaunas

The current site of Kaunas City and the old town at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers has long had inhabitants. One of the main first settlements that grew up to become the present day Kaunas old town, was first mentioned by the chroniclers in 1361. Toward the end of the 14th century, in order to defend Kaunas from Crusaders' attacks, a brick castle was built as an integral part of the town's defence. Remains of this castle can be visited today.  The city was devastated by the Second World War and suffered further over the next forty years of soviet occupation as many buildings and signs of Lithuanian independence were demolished or removed. One of the first public protests against the Soviet rule was in 1972, when Romas Kalanta set himself on fire in the square in front of the Musical Theatre of Kaunas.

Since independence, Kaunas has certainly made the most of the opportunities available through closer links to western countries and companies. With Lithuania having one of the fastest economic growth rates of the new EU member states, Kaunas has been one of the powerhouses of industry that has helped produce such an impressive economic climate in the country today.  Hundreds of years of cultural heritage is preserved in the historical and architectural monuments, museums, theatres, art galleries and churches of Kaunas.

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Ninth Fort

The Ninth Fort is a stronghold in the northwest section of the city of Kaunas built in 1902 - 1913.  It was an integral part of the Kaunas fortress system during the occupation of the Tsarist Russia, served as a branch of the Lithuanian prison during in-between-war period, and was a death camp during Nazi occupation.

When the city was controlled by the Soviets, the stronghold was used as a prison and way-station to house political prisoners on their way to the gulags of Siberia.  After the Nazis occupied the area, they used the fort as their place of execution for Jews, captured Soviets, and others.  Over 50,000 people were executed there including over 30,000 Jews and over 10,000 foreigners. The Ninth Fort museum contains collections of historical artifacts related both to Soviet and Nazi genocides, as well as materials related to the earlier history of Kaunas and Ninth Fort.

 

Plokštinės Missile Silo

A missile silo is an underground vertical cylindrical container for the storage and launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles. They typically have the missile some distance under the surface, protected by a large "blast door" on top. The first soviet nuclear medium range liquid propeled missiles launch complex "Dvina" with 4 underground silos was built in 1962 close to Plateliai lake in the Plokštinė forest. It was armed with R-12U missiles in January, 1964. There were no launch tests performed due to extreme secrecy and danger to the neighboring population. In 1978 after the CIA  learned the location of the base, it was disarmed and abandoned.  Today this once secret missle base is a military museum.

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Seaside Resort of Palanga

Palanga is a charming seacoast town located on the Baltic sea.  In 2003 this resort town celebrated it‘s 750th anniversary.  Surrounded by pine forests and stretched out along white sandy beaches this town boasts of being one of the most popular resort and tourist centers in Lithuania.  Here you will be able to enjoy the Baltic Sea, browse through antique shops and souvenir stores, explore nature trails or relax with a cup of tea in one of the many small cafes.

 

The Palanga Amber Museum

Located in the former estate of Count Feliksas Tiškevičius, the Palanga Amber Museum contains an exhibit of about 4,500 pieces of amber. The museum has a wealth of amber pieces with trapped insects or plants and examples of fossilized tree resin brought from all over the world. Visitors are familiarized with both the formation of amber and the usage of amber throughout history.

 

The estate of  Count Feliksas Tiškevičius (1865-1932), is an elegant palace designed by German architect Franc Schwechten (1841-1924), that was built in 1897. The Count Tiškevičius family resided in the palace until 1941.  The palace is surrounded by the famous Palanga Botanical Gardens, designed by the landscape architect Eduard Francois Andre (1840-1911).

 

 

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