All the charm of old Europe combined with magnificent picturesque landscapes, narrow streets and walls breathing with history… This is Vilnius. Lithuania is rightly proud of its capital, which is also an important industrial and cultural center. For many centuries this city was multinational. Traces of different cultures are bizarrely intertwined in it.
Yes, and in other respects it is interesting. Probably the largest "old city" in Europe (360 hectares, three times the size of Krakow) is Vilnius. Lithuania is doing its best to make its capital a center of creativity and intercultural dialogue.
Her artists are known throughout the Old Continent and around the world. In 2009, Vilnius - Lithuania, along with other states fought for this right - won the title of European Capital of Culture. After all, the historical heritage is harmoniously combined with modernity. Residents of Vilnius, according to tourists, are hospitable and cheerful people.
According to the legend, the city was built by the local ruler according to the prophetic dream of Gediminas. Although in fact this legend deviates from the truth, because he only made Vilnius the capital of his possessions. And the estate already existed in the eleventh century on Castle Hill. In the fourteenth century the city was declared the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After the death of Gediminas, the lands were divided among his sons. Unrest and civil strife continued until the Battle of Grunwald, in which the Teutonic Knights were defeated by the Union of Lithuanian and Polish.
Since then, the continuous development of the city has continued. After the Great Northern War, during the partition of Poland, Vilnius was annexed to Russia and became the center of the province. That is why the city is closely connected with Russian culture. Lithuania, as an independent state, declared Vilnius its capital again in 1990.
Only the richness of old architecture can compete with the beauty and vibrancy of the local wildlife. One of the largest concentrations of historical sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List is also Vilnius.
Lithuania, whose photos represent primarily its capital, takes care of the preservation and restoration of cultural monuments. Start your tour from the street leading to Gediminas Castle. The city of Vilnius (Lithuania) offers tourists a beautiful panorama - from the Hill of Three Crosses you can see all the beauty of the capital.
Vilnius is the only European capital located at the crossroads of two ancient civilizations - Latin and Byzantine. Lithuanian baroque school, multinationalspirit, the interweaving of various ethnic trends with the achievements of many cultures - this is what makes the capital of Lithuania a pearl of the B altic region. It is worth visiting the ancient Cathedral, the Church of Peter and Paul, the Gediminas Tower, the University, and cozy courtyards. You can also visit the Uzupis district, which resembles the Parisian Montmartre and concentrates the intellectual elite. And the gates of Aushros (or Dawn) are a real monument of Renaissance architecture, one of the main attractions of the city. You can feel the unique atmosphere and admire the panorama of Vilnius from the TV tower, which is 165 meters high.
