Guided tour “The majestic and royal Vilnius”
Vilnius was born from the dream of Grand Duke Gediminas. It became the capital and main residence of all rulers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Grand Duke’s mansion was located here. Vilnius was the place where life was boiling, music and swords sounded, even envoys from all foreign countries stayed here. During this excursion, it will be told how Gediminas skillfully took care of the well-being of the capital, what innovations Queen Bona introduced. Why Vladislaus Vaza’s heart remained forever in Vilnius, what was Stephen Bator’s contribution to Vilnius education and why “Kaziukas fair” rocks.
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1
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The reconstructed Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the former political, diplomatic, cultural center of the State, was one of the most famous in Europe in the 15th-17th centures and was demolished in the beginning of the 19th century.
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2
Vilnius Cathedral
The Cathedral of St. Stanislav and St. Vladislav is the most important place of worship for Lithuania’s Catholics, and the venue for the country’s main Christian and national festivities. As well visiting monument of Great duke Gediminas.
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3
Church of St. Casimir
The Church was built by the Jesuits: work began on it in 1604, just two years after St Casimir had been canonised. It was dedicated to the memory of Saint Prince Casimir. The legend has it that as many as 700 people rolled the cornerstone from Antakalnis to the centre of the city.
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4
Baltic Souvenir Pilies street
Pilies Street is the oldest and most flamboyant street in the Old Town of Vilnius. The street appeared in place of the former road from Vilnius Castle to the south, towards Poland and Russia. This was the main road to the castle, with its branches finally turning into side streets.
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5
St. Anne's Church
The Church of St Anne is a masterpiece of the late Gothic period. St Anne’s Church, which has survived to the present day without changing for over 500 years, has become a symbol of Vilnius.
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6
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Northern Europe. It is the largest university in Lithuania. The university was founded in 1579 as the Jesuit Academy (College) of Vilnius by Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Stephen Báthory.
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7
Vilnius Ghetto Memorial
The main Jewish quarter lay in the streets west of Didžioji gatvė. Today street names like Žydų (Jews) and Gaono (Gaon) are among the few reminders of those days. The 1572 Great Synagogue and its famous 1902 Strashun Library stood at the western end of Žydų gatvė. The synagogue was damaged in WWII and was demolished by Soviet authorities in the 1950s.
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8
Presidential Palace
From the 16th century it served as a residence for Vilnius bishops. In the 18th century, when Lithuania was occupied and annexed to the Russian Empire, the palace served as a residence for the Governor General of Vilnius. Russian Tsar Alexander I, French King Louis XVIII, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and Polish Marshall and statesman Jozef Pilsudski visited the palace. In 1997, the building was renovated.
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9
Town Hall
The Town Hall building was Gothic to begin with and changed with time. The Town Hall was reconstructed for the last time by the architect Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius at the end of the 18th century.