Page 223 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION  221

VILNIUS

Whether viewed from one of the hills that overlook the Old Town or
from one of the many pavement cafés with tall spires rising all
around them, Vilnius is unmistakably a city of great beauty. The
Old Town, on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1994, blends
Gothic and Neo-Classical styles with a breathtaking late flourish
of Baroque. Vilnius is in itself an architectural monument.

The character of Vilnius, the Lithuanian rebuild the city resulted in the rich
capital, has been retained partly because offshoot of the Baroque style that is
of its isolated location. Yet, the ebb and typical of its architecture today.
flow of history has given it a more Vilnius regained its status as the
multicultural feel than the country’s capital of Lithuania in 1918, but only
other cities. for a year. Occupied by Poland, with
The earliest written refer ence to Vilnius Lithuania’s government forced to
exists in a letter from Grand Duke relocate to Kaunas, it declined in
Gediminas in 1323, inviting citizens from economic importance until the
towns in Germany to settle here, Soviets invaded it in 1939. World War II
pledging freedom from taxes and devastated Vilnius and annihilated
granting other rights. Pagan Vilnius most of its Jewish population, but
sustained many attacks during the under the ensuing Soviet occupation
Northern Crusades, yet by the 14th the city expanded.
century it had become the capital of an Vilnius has been transformed from a
empire that stretched from the Baltic Sea sleepy backwater to a lively, modern
to the Black Sea. Vilnius was reduced to European capital that provides a
the status of a provincial city in the wonderful setting for shopping, dining
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but and nightlife. However, with Vilnius
following a period of devastating wars, University, Town Hall Square and several
invasions and fires between the early carefully restored churches, the city has
17th and mid-18th centuries, efforts to retained its charm.

Colourful mural by Antanas Kmieliauskas decorating the ceiling of Vilnius University’s bookshop, Littera
Bronze doors of Vilnius University Library

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