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Stone staircase leading up a grassy hill to a Vilnius Upper Castle.

Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital of the northern European country Lithuania. Lithuania forms the Baltic States with Latvia and Estonia; Vilnius is the second largest city of the three countries in terms of population size.

Vilnius was first mentioned in the year 1323 and granted city right in the year 1387. The old town of Vilnius was 1994 declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and fifteen years later Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture.

The name of the city comes from the 79.6 km long river Vilnia. Vilnius is not the only name for the Nordic city, so it has or had the names Vilna, Wilna, Vilno, Vilno, Vilne and Wilno.

Stone path with railing next to a white building and red roof.
Stone path leading to Vilnius Upper Castle ruins on grassy hill.

The tree of Vilnius Castle was begun in the 10th century. It lies on the Neris river, is built on a hill and should defend the city from attackers. Over the centuries parts of the castle were destroyed, but some survived. So also the Gediminas Tower which is a symbol of the city.

Gediminas' Tower on Vilnius Castle Hill.
Upper Castle ruins in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Brick wall with arched sections of Upper Castle in Vilnius.
Gediminas' Tower in Vilnius, Lithuania, seen through bare tree branches.
Stone staircase leading to the ruins of a brick castle.
Vilnius, Lithuania skyline under a cloudy sky.
Person meditating on a stone wall under a bright, cloudy sky.
Vilnius cityscape with river and modern bridge.
Vilnius skyline with TV tower under cloudy sky.
Vilnius skyline under a partly cloudy sky.
Three Muses statue in Vilnius with gold masks.

The Three Muses on top of the entrance to the National Drama Theatre. The Muses represent drama, comedy and tragedy.

Užupio Res Publika sign in multiple languages with icons including a smiley face, speed limit 20, Mona Lisa, and a car in water.

Before World War II, Vilnius was home to many Jews and therefore also bore the name “Jerusalem of the North”. One popular neighborhood was Užupis, in the old town of Vilnius. The Lithuanian name can be translated to “the other side of the river”.

Because of the Holocaust and the war the houses in Užupis were abandoned and later occupied mainly by homeless and prostitutes. After that a lot of artists moved in. In the 90s the residents of the place declared independency and called it Republic of Užupis.

Tourists photographing teapots on a graffiti-covered wall in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Decorative teapots affixed to a graffiti-covered wall.
Ornate, dark blue teapot with gold and white detailing mounted on a wall.
Church of St. Paraskeva, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Vilnius Old Town street scene with Gediminas' Tower in the background.
Graffiti-covered brick building in Vilnius, Lithuania, with a lamppost and walkway.
Vilnius City Hall entrance with Lithuanian flags.
Vilnius City Hall with hot air balloons in the sky.

The city hall of Vilnius
Vilnius fountain with buildings and hot air balloons in the background.
Fountain in Vilnius with hot air balloons in the sky.
Fountain in Vilnius, Lithuania, between two historic buildings.
Person sitting on a park bench under an umbrella in a park with a playground in the background.
Woman in orange coat walking in park along river.
A large H&M billboard on the side of a building in Vilnius, Lithuania, featuring a woman, with a red car driving past.
Europa City Style Center with large fashion brand advertisements.
King Mindaugas monument in Vilnius, Lithuania.

National Museum of Lithuania
Orthodox Cathedral of the Theotokos in Vilnius, Lithuania.

The main Orthodox Christian church in Lithuania: Cathedral of the Theotokos
Vilnius Cathedral bell tower viewed from below through ornate columns.
The bell tower of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral
Vilnius Cathedral bell tower under a bright blue sky.
Vilnius Cathedral bell tower, white with a dark dome, under a blue sky.
Vilnius Cathedral bell tower against a clear blue sky.
Vilnius Cathedral facade at sunset.
Vilnius Cathedral facade with classical columns and sculptures under a partly cloudy sky.
Vilnius Cathedral facade at sunset.

The 1783 completed Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius in the old town of Vilnius.

Vilnius Cathedral, viewed from across a grassy area, partially obscured by trees.
Vilnius Cathedral bell tower and statue against a blue sky.
Reflection of Vilnius Cathedral in a puddle on a cobblestone pavement.
Person standing in a shaded area between pillars, overlooking a square with a church and people in the background.
Man carrying flowers walking in Vilnius Cathedral Square with Gediminas' Monument in background.
Interior view of Vilnius Cathedral with a bust of Jonas Basanavičius and photo collages.
Low-angle view of ornate interior with religious paintings and a bust.
Vilnius Cathedral interior with a plaque commemorating Pope John Paul II's 1993 visit.
Black and white close-up of a sculpted scene depicting Justice blindfolded and holding a globe, supported by a draped figure.
Interior of Vilnius Cathedral, showing rows of wooden pews and ornate architecture.
Ornate interior dome of Vilnius Cathedral with paintings and sculptures.
Two silver statues of crowned figures in ornate marble niches.
Rows of lit candles on a metal rack in Vilnius Cathedral.
Interior of Vilnius Cathedral with central statue of a king and surrounding niche statues.
Black and white photo of a statue of a knight on horseback, with a church dome in the background.
Gediminas' Tower in Vilnius, Lithuania, under a blue sky.

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