Attractions
Gediminas Castle
Standing sentinel over Vilnius since the 13th century, the
landmark Gediminas Castle was built by the founder of the city, and
has served as defence bastion, prison, and now major tourist
attraction. Originally the castle was made of wood, later clad in
10ft (3m)...
see full detailsVilnius Cathedral
The resplendent Vilnius Cathedral, which stands proudly on the
central square of the Old City, has a chequered history that left
it decaying and abandoned through the Soviet era. The Cathedral,
which resembles a classical Greek temple more than it does a
Christian church,...
see full detailsEuropean Park
A few miles north of Vilnius town centre Lithuanian sculptor
Gintaras Karosas founded the Europos Parkas (European Park) on a
55-hectare site that encompasses the geographic centre of Europe,
as determined by the French National Geographic Institute in 1989.
The Park attracts hundreds of...
see full detailsJewish Memorials
In the early 20th century about half of the population of
Vilnius were Yiddish-speaking Jews and the city was dubbed the
'Jerusalem of the North'. The Nazis in World War II effectively
obliterated this community, encircling the Jewish quarter in barbed
wire and eventually...
see full detailsMuseum of Genocide Victims
The dark days of the Soviet occupation of Lithuania are
preserved in this disturbing collection of exhibits, which is
contained in the former KGB headquarters building. Those who drew
the antagonism of the authorities were detained, tortured and often
executed in this building. Some...
see full detailsHill of the Three Crosses
Near the Gediminas Castle in the Old City stands a hill topped
with a trio of crosses, originally erected in the 17th century in
memory of seven Franciscan monks who were crucified and thrown into
the Vilnia River. The crosses were destroyed by...
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