Page 18 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

16 INTRODUCING LITHU ANIA

Afternoon Explore the many
14 Days in Lithuania
grand buildings and court-
yards that comprise Vilnius
• Airports Arrive and depart
University (p226) before
from Vilnius Airport. strolling along Pilies Street.
• Transport This tour can be Lined with historic churches
made using Lithuania’s bus and houses, the street is the Old
and rail network, but hiring a Town’s main thoroughfare. Look
car would allow you much out for St John’s Church (p226)
more flexibility. and the Church of St Paraskeva
(p227) before reaching the grand
Church of St Casimir (p236),
Day 1 Vilnius Old Town Vilnius’s oldest Baroque church.
Morning The characterful Exit the Old Town through the
buildings and winding streets Gates of Dawn (p239), pausing
of Vilnius’s marvellous Old Town to view the miracle-working
have changed little in the past icon, The Madonna of Mercy,
several hundred years. Though within its chapel, which attracts The Town Hall in Kaunas, known locally as
the city was founded in the pilgrims from all over Lithuania the White Swan
11th century, much of Vilnius’s and Poland.
current architectural heritage Day 3 Trakai Island Castle
dates back to the late 18th Day 2 Vilnius Lying just 25 km (16 miles)
century, when a series of fires Morning The Old Town boasts west of Vilnius, Trakai Island
consumed many of its wooden a number of excellent muse- Castle (pp256–7) is an easy
structures and stone houses ums, including two that cover day-trip from Vilnius but can
were built to replace them. tragic events in moving detail: also make an enjoyable
A tour of the Old Town should the KGB Museum (p242) reveals overnight stop. Occupying one
start with its centre piece – the the Soviet reign of terror and of Lake Galvė’s many islands,
stunning, temple-like Vilnius includes the basement pri son the heavily fortified medieval
Cathedral (pp228–9), which cells of the KGB build ing; and castle is Lithuania’s best-known
stands on the site of an early the Holocaust Museum (p242) monument and once rivalled
pagan shrine. Behind is the covers life in the Jewish Vilnius for power. In summer
Royal Palace, part of the Lower ghettoes and the horror that yachts and peddle boats are
Castle (p230), home to Lithu- befell the com munity during available for hire.
ania’s Grand Dukes for four World War II.
centuries. The original Renais- Day 4 Kaunas
sance palace was demolished in Afternoon Either visit the self- With its well-preserved Old
1801; the existing building is a declared artists’ republic of Town, leafy parks and laid-
recon struc tion opened in 2009. Užupis (p244), a fascinating back pavement cafés, Kaunas
Perched on a hill above is the last quarter of cafés and indepen- (pp262–5) makes for an
remain ing tower of the Upper dent galleries, or head west to enjoyable stay. Old Town
Castle (p230), with fantastic the pleasant Žvėrynas district highlights include the pretty
views of the city. The Lithuanian (p245), with its wooden villas, 16th-century Old Town Hall
National Museum’s (p230) lovely park and wonderful (p262), the ruins of Kaunas
absorbing collection is a short views from the nearby TV Castle (p262) and the Gothic
walk from the Upper Castle. Tower (p245). Cathedral of Sts Peter and
Paul (p263). To learn more
about the city’s past, visit
the Vytautus the Great
War Museum (p264). The
nearby Devils Museum
(p264) is worth seeing for its
quirky collection of sculptures
and carvings of devils and
witches from all around
the world.
Day 5 Around Kaunas
An easy day-trip from Kaunas,
the Baroque Pažaislis
Monastery (p265), founded in
the 17th century, can be visited
on the way to the Rumšiškės
The remains of Vilnius’s Upper Castle, including the symbolic western tower on the right Open-Air Museum (p265), a
For practical information on travelling around Lithuania, see pp388–93