Vilnius Historic Centre, World Heritage Site in Lithuania

Vilnius, the capital of the Republic of Lithuania, was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the 14th to 18th centuries, and was also a cultural center. The city has one of the largest old towns in Europe, with many architectural structures from various periods, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Vilnius Historic Centre is a World Heritage Site in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Vilnius!

What is the Vilnius Historic Centre?

Vilnius is located in the southeast of Lithuania, at the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris rivers. Although a castle was built on a hill here around the 10th century, the city developed as a town only after it became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century; by the 15th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a large country stretching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Diet in the south. And in the 16th century, the University of Vilnius, the third oldest university in Eastern Europe, was opened.However, from the 17th century, the city began to decline as wars destroyed the town and the population plummeted due to the plague. And the architecture of Vilnius, including cathedrals, churches, palaces, and universities, which still retain the atmosphere of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, was thoroughly destroyed during the Second World War, and most of it was restored.

The historical buildings in the old town vary from Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical styles. The buildings from each period combine to form a unique townscape.The Grand Duchy of Lithuania has been influenced by the East and West in terms of language and religion, and Vilnius has become a cosmopolitan city where various cultures intersect. Especially since the Middle Ages, many Christian churches have been built.

Major registered properties

Vilnius Cathedral

Cathedral of the Catholic Church, built in the 18th century in the neoclassical architectural style, designed like a Greek temple. However, it was turned into a warehouse when it was occupied by the Soviet Union, but was returned to the Catholic Church after independence.

Gedimina’s Tower

Part of the former Vilnius Castle. The building originated as a wooden fortress built in the 12th century on top of a hill, with a brick tower built in the 15th century, as we see today. The place is a symbol of Lithuania and was once even depicted on banknotes. Today, it is a popular observation deck from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the Old Town.

Gate of Dawn

Ruins of the city walls built in the 16th century.It is said that Vilnius was once surrounded by walls and had nine gates, but only the Gate of Dawn survives .Inside the gate is a chapel with a portrait of the Virgin Mary. A symbol of the town, this place is venerated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians alike and is still visited by pilgrims.

Vilnius University

Founded in 1579, it is the second oldest university after Jagiellonian University in Krakow (opened in 1364) and the University of Königsberg (opened in 1544). St. John’s Church on the campus was built in the 14th century and reconstructed in the 16th and 17th centuries.It was built for professors and students to pray here.

St. Anne’s Church

Built between 1495 and 1500, this church is known as the only remaining Gothic church in Lithuania.With its unique and splendid façade, the church was even a favorite of Napoleon, who said he wanted to take it back to Paris. It is also a collection of architectural styles from different periods, with the church interior decorated in the Baroque style and the nearby clock tower in the Neo-Gothic style.

For what reason is the Vilnius Historic Centre on the World Heritage List?

Vilnius was recognized for the following

Registration Criteria (ii)
The point is that Vilnius has had a tremendous influence on the development of architecture and culture in Eastern Europe over the centuries.

Registration Criteria (iv)
The architecture of Vilnius is an excellent example of Eastern European architecture evolving through five phases.

Conclusions and Impressions of a World Heritage Maniac

Anyway, as the town was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which is a large country, Vilnius was a place where many different national and regional cultures entered, which greatly influenced its architecture, culture, and religion.Vilnius is also valued for its architecture, which shows various architectural styles from different eras.

Incidentally, the city is famous for having the “Republic of Užupis” which became independent from Lithuania on its own.It is a country, but it calls itself a “republic” on the east side of the old town, but it is strange because it has a president and a constitution…It must be a joke, though, since the national day is April Fool’s Day.

Such Republic of Užupis is actually also a “World Heritage Site” since a part of it is included in the core zone.

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.