The Old Town of Vilnius (Lithuanian: Vilniaus senamiestis) is one of the largest medieval old towns still standing in Northern Europe. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers an area of 3.59 square kilometers (887 acres). The Old Town includes 74 districts, with 70 streets and lanes that contain 1,487 buildings. These buildings have a total floor area of 1,497,000 square meters. A larger area, called the administrative division (senamiesčio seniūnija), covers more than 4.5 square kilometers. The Old Town was founded in 1387 by Jogaila, the Lithuanian Grand Duke and King of Poland, under the Magdeburg rights. Over many centuries, it has grown and changed due to the city's history and cultural influences. The Old Town features many architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical. It also includes Catholic, Lutheran, and Orthodox churches, homes, museums, and historical buildings.
Pilies Street is the main street in the Old Town and is known for its cafes and markets. Gediminas Avenue, the main street of Vilnius, runs partly through the Old Town. The central squares in the Old Town are Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square.
One of the most detailed groups of buildings is the Vilnius University Architectural Ensemble. This group covers a large part of the Old Town and includes 13 courtyards. It was chosen to represent Lithuania in the Mini-Europe Park in Brussels.
In 1994, the Vilnius Old Town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List (No. 541) because of its unique value and beauty. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has the largest Baroque Old Town in Eastern and Central Europe. The term "historic center" includes more than just the Old Town, which once had walls around it. It also includes nearby historical areas like Užupis, which used to be outside the city. Because of this, Užupis is often seen as part of the Old Town.
The 352-hectare Vilnius Old Town (Senamiestis) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site should not be confused with one of 21 elderships (boroughs) of Vilnius called Senamiestis. This borough has a slightly larger area of 450 hectares.
Landmarks
In the Old Town of Vilnius, there are many interesting places to visit. These include:
- Presidential Palace
- Slushko Palace
- Radvilas Palace
- Tyzenhaus Palace
- Vilnius Castle Complex with Gediminas Tower and Royal Palace
- St. Anne's Church
- Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard
- St. Michael the Archangel Church
- Church of St. Johns
- Church of St. Casimir
- Vilnius Cathedral in Cathedral Square
- St. Nicholas Church
- All Saints Church
- Church of St. Theresa
- Gate of Dawn
- Three Crosses
- Church of St. Catherine
- Church of St. Philip and St. Jacob
- Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity
- Cathedral of the Theotokos
- St. Nicholas Church
- St. Paraskeva Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit
- House of the Signatories
- National Museum of Lithuania
- Lithuanian National Drama Theatre
- Fragments of the Vilnius city wall
- Vilnius dungeons
- Vilnius University