Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

226  LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION

1 Vilnius University removed during further rebuil­
Vilniaus universitetas ding in the 19th century. At
68 m (223 ft), the bell tower,
Universiteto 3. Map 2 D3. Tel 268
7001. Open 10am–5:30pm Mon–Sat. which was given two extra
8 for prior booking call 268 7103. = tiers by Glaubitz, is the tallest
∑ vu.lt structure in the Old Town. A lift
runs to the top, from where
The oldest university in Eastern there are fine views.
Europe was founded as a
Jesuit College in 1568, before 3 Presidential
becoming a school of higher
education in 1579. The current Palace
campus, constructed between Lietuvos respublikos prezidentūra
the 16th and 18th centuries, is a Daukanto aikštė 3. Map 2 D3.
combination of different Tel 266 4154. Open 9am–5pm Sat
architectural styles. Façade of St John’s Church and the (call in advance). 8 for group tour
The most impressive of the adjacent belfry call 266 4073. ∑ president.lt
university’s 13 courtyards, the
Great Courtyard has open 2 St John’s Church Formerly a residence for high­
galleries dating from the Šv Jono bažnyčia ranking bishops, this ornate
17th century, which were Šv Jono 12. Map 2 D3. Tel 261 1795. building has existed since
later lined with dedications Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. 5 6pm Lithuania’s conversion to
to professors. Accessed via a Tue–Thu, 11am & 1pm Sun. Christianity at the end of the
passage from the western 14th century. The palace was
side of the Great Courtyard, At the southern edge of the rebuilt in the late 1820s in the
the Observatory Courtyard by university campus, the impres­ Neo­Classical style by Vasily
contrast is a serene enclosed sive façade and separate bell Stasov (1769–1848), an architect
garden from which the tower of the Church of St John from St Petersburg. It has
observatory and its zodiac the Baptist and St John the hosted a number of impor tant
symbols can be seen. Evangelist dominate the Great personalities, including
North of the Great Courtyard Courtyard. The original Gothic Napoleon Bonaparte and Tsar
is the Sarbievijaus Courtyard, church, built here in 1426, was Alexander I. The former used
the oldest part of the univer sity. reconstructed in 1749 in the palace during his doomed
At its far end, a bookshop, flamboyant Baroque style by advance on Moscow.
Littera, can be found. The Jan Krzysztof Glaubitz (see p237). The palace was later used for a
frescoes caricaturing professors The 10 magnificent altars in faux variety of ceremonial purposes
and students that decorate the marble with Corinthian columns before becoming the Presidential
interior of the bookshop were illuminate the otherwise austere Palace in 1997. When the presi­
painted in 1978 by Antanas interior. Initially there were 22 dent is in Vilnius, a flag flies
Kmieliauskas (b.1932). columns, most of which were showing his coat of arms.

Colourful interior of Littera, with its collection of books for leisure and study material, Vilnius University
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp304–305 and pp326–8

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