Picturesque route

Cathedral Square is the heart of the capital, a social and spiritual centre of Vilnius. It is the place where the history of the city begins and where the past, present, and future merge together. On a high hill you may see the legendary Gediminas Castle Tower while the foot of the hill embraces the solemn Vilnius Cathedral. Though it does not like other ornate Catholic churches, the Cathedral fascinates by its modesty, simplicity, and antique elements. The sculptures of St. Helen, St. Casimir, and St. Stanislav, which decorate the pediment of the façade, bless the citizens and guests of the city.

A mound with a tower of red bricks on it solemnly overhangs the city. The castle tower named after Grand Duke Gediminas, the founding father of the city, has long been a symbol of the capital. Legend has it that tired after a hunt, Gediminas stopped off in the Šventaragis Valley and saw a dream about an iron wolf who was howling like hundred wolfs.

When on the top of Gediminas Castle Tower, look eastwards to see three tall white crosses. The monument may be seen from many different places in the city but from the Castle Tower it seems to be at the reach of the hand. The Hill of Three Crosses gives one of the most beautiful views of Vilnius. It is said that when Gediminas started building the castle of Vilnius, first houses where built in the current territory of Kalnų Park—at its northern foot beside the Neris River.

The Church of St. Anne is a real late Gothic (also called Flamboyant Gothic) masterpiece as well as the most famous and the most beautiful building of that period in Lithuania. It was a subject of attraction to many researchers but the origin of this famous architectural monument is still a mystery. The exact time of the construction, the author, and the promoter of this church are still unknown. Therefore, the history of the Church of St Anne is often based on hypotheses.

Užupis is a mysterious district of Vilnius where the romantic spirit is still alive. In historical sources, it was first mentioned in the 16th century. Užupis started growing after the first bridges over Vilnia were built. Then, it was called the “salt way” to Polotsk. At that time, this suburb was popular among craftsmen and small merchants. It was mostly populated by Jews the majority of which died during the holocaust. It was a poor neighbourhood and, at one time, it even had a reputation of a brothel district.

Tymo Quarter is a part of the Old Town located on the opposite side of the Vilnia River than Užupis. In the Middle Ages, this craftsmen’s village was outside of Vilnius, behind the eastern city wall. According to the city map of 1808, Tymo Street followed the left bank of the Vilnia River between the bridges of Užupis and Paupis and was separated by a channel in the west. In the Middle Ages, it was a district of wooden houses among which stood the house of Tymininkai workshop.

In the 17th century, the Tatars and the growing Russian Empire started posing threat to the city. Therefore, at the order of Grand Duke Aleksandas people built a 3-kilometre-long defence wall. The construction lasted for 19 years. Each citizen of the city had to build a designated part of it. The wall was 3.2 kilometres long and 6 metres high.