Zone: The Old town

Author:

Vilnius's Old Town quarter is one of Europe's largest – it spreads over nearly four square kilometres, in a kaleidoscopic mixture of seven dozen streets and a maze of picturesque, convoluted lanes. One-and-a-half thousand old buildings in the Old Town – built in every style from Gothic and Renaissance, to Classical and Soviet-era – will be your local guides to the stories of Lithuania's most famous people and personalities. Let's begin our excursion at the very cradle of Lithuania's long history – Gediminas Hill, or as it's often called, Castle Hill – a place where there was once a mighty and impregnable castle. We'll hear about the two princes who played the most memorable roles in Lithuanian history. We'll find out about the Cathedral Church, with its unique monument to Lithuania's first saint, Saint Casimir, and we'll walk along Pilies Street, the city's main street, which has been the central thoroughfare of Vilnius since the earliest days of the city.