Vilnius Old Town

Background

Vilnius Old Town lies in the centre of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, around the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers. It stretches from Cathedral Square in the north to the Gate of Dawn area in the south; Užupis, across the Vilnia, was once a historic suburb outside the town and is conventionally also regarded as part of the Old Town. In 1994 the Old Town was inscribed on the World Heritage List as the “Vilnius Historic Centre” (No. 541bis, criteria ii and iv, extended in 2012); the heritage area covers 352.09 hectares, with a buffer zone of 1,912.24 hectares. The Old Town itself covers 3.59 km², with 74 blocks, 70 streets and lanes, and 1,487 buildings. Sights include Cathedral Square and the Neoclassical Cathedral (given its present form by Laurynas Gucevičius in 1783–1801, with a free-standing bell tower 57 metres high); Gediminas Tower, the remains of the Upper Castle; the Palace of the Grand Dukes, rebuilt on its original site; the Vilnius University complex, with 13 courtyards and St John's Church; St Anne's Church, in brick Gothic, and the Bernardine Church; the Gate of Dawn, a 16th-century city gate housing an image of the Virgin Mary; Town Hall Square, Pilies Street (the Old Town's main street), Literatų Street, the artists' district of Užupis across the river, and the Hill of Three Crosses. The name Vilnius appears in a letter of Grand Duke Gediminas from 1323, and from the 13th to the end of the 18th century the city was the political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; in 1387 Grand Duke Jogaila, also King of Poland, granted it Magdeburg city rights. The Old Town radiates from the castle site and keeps a typically medieval street pattern, with Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical buildings side by side. Some of its buildings were destroyed in World War II and gradually restored after the war. Lithuanian is the official language, and English and Russian are also widely used in tourist areas.

Local customs

• Start at Cathedral Square and look for the tile inscribed “Stebuklas” (Miracle), which marks the end of the 1989 Baltic Way human chain
• walk south along Pilies Street to Town Hall Square
• step into the courtyards of Vilnius University and St John's Church
• visit the image of the Virgin Mary at the Gate of Dawn
• cross the river to Užupis and read the “constitution” on the wall
• climb Gediminas Tower or the Hill of Three Crosses for views over the Old Town's red roofs
• stroll around Literatų Street in the evening.

Travel tips

• The Old Town is walkable, with many cobbled streets and slopes, so wear comfortable shoes
• climb towers and hills only as far as you feel able
• winters are cold and the streets slippery, so dress warmly and watch your step. Opening arrangements for museums and churches follow on-site notices and official announcements.
• The Old Town is the centre of Vilnius, and the railway station and long-distance bus station are a short walk to the south
• city buses and trolleybuses reach the edge of the Old Town, and inside it you get around on foot. For specific routes, fares and timetables, check the latest local official information. Summer (usually June–August) is best for strolling and climbing
• in winter there is a Christmas market on Cathedral Square, and the Old Town is lovely after snow, though cold and slippery
• spring and autumn bring fewer visitors and suit a closer look at the buildings.