{"id":29604,"date":"2026-09-17T10:01:50","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:01:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/?page_id=29604"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:15:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T10:15:49","slug":"the-origins-of-vilnius","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/the-origins-of-vilnius\/","title":{"rendered":"The Origins of Vilnius"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"29604\" class=\"elementor elementor-29604\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-05b2098 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"05b2098\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-45ec461\" data-id=\"45ec461\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f1edb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f1edb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><strong>1. Location of the Curved Castle<\/strong><\/p><p>The wooden Curved Castle, together with a settlement of wooden buildings, was located in the present-day Hill Park area between the Three Crosses (Bare or Curved) Hill and Table Hill.<\/p><p>In ancient times, this landscape looked quite different: the terrain has changed considerably, the slopes of the hills have eroded, and new ravines have formed.<\/p><p>The Curved Castle and its settlement were burned down during the Teutonic Knights\u2019 attack in 1390, and no further construction took place on the site.<\/p><p>Today, Hill Park is a popular place for city residents to go for walks.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cbae189 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cbae189\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-67a9214\" data-id=\"67a9214\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59d28fd elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"59d28fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.18.0 - 20-12-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-Kreivosios-pilies-vieta-2-768x560-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29607\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ad963b elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1ad963b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-Kreivosios-pilies-vieta-768x576-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29605\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d908888 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d908888\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d890958\" data-id=\"d890958\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-20de320 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"20de320\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>2. Cathedral Square<\/strong><\/p><p>The old course of the Vilnel\u0117 River surrounded the present-day square from the west (approximately along the present-day \u0160ventaragio and T. Vrublevskio Streets). The current course of the Vilnel\u0117 River was excavated in the 14th century as an additional defensive branch of the river, protecting the Upper Castle from the east.<\/p><p>The oldest masonry structures in Vilnius, dating from the 13th\u201314th centuries, were discovered during archaeological research into the foundations of the Lower Castle (Palace of the Grand Dukes). The Upper and Lower Castles were surrounded by defensive walls with towers.<\/p><p>The locations of the 14th-century walls, gates and towers in Cathedral Square are marked with pink granite slabs. The locations of the foundations of the Old Bishops\u2019 Palace, which stood beside the Cathedral Bell Tower from the 14th to the 16th centuries, are also marked.<\/p><p>Many old buildings were demolished when Cathedral Square was redeveloped in the 19th century. The present-day Cathedral Square was formed in the 20th century and is now the venue for the city\u2019s most important events and celebrations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e33fec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e33fec\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81b5040\" data-id=\"81b5040\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-078e6bc elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"078e6bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"549\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-Katedros-aikste-XX-a-pr-2-768x549-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29611\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f55f406 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f55f406\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-Katedros-aikste-768x576-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29609\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c993fc0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c993fc0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2d94fca\" data-id=\"2d94fca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-288db3e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"288db3e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>3. Monument to Gediminas<\/strong><\/p><p>According to legend, somewhere near this site, Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas had a prophetic dream about a howling iron wolf. His adviser, the seer Lizdeika, interpreted the dream: the howling wolf meant that a famous city would rise in this place.<\/p><p>Inspired by the dream, Gediminas resolutely set about expanding the settlement that already existed here, fortifying it and turning it into the country\u2019s most important city and capital. Gediminas understood that building castles would not be enough \u2013 it was necessary to establish diplomatic relations with Western countries. He decided to send letters to the Pope himself as well as to German cities.<\/p><p>One of these letters, sent on 25 January 1323, contains the first written mention of the name Vilnius. This is why Vilnius celebrates its birthday every year on 25 January \u2013 it is customary to consider the first mention of a city in written sources as the date of its foundation.<\/p><p>The monument to Grand Duke Gediminas was erected in 1996. It was created by Vytautas Ka\u0161uba and Mindaugas \u0160nipas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9ca7c13 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9ca7c13\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3fa49d2\" data-id=\"3fa49d2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-325bf4d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"325bf4d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>4. Upper (Gediminas) Castle<\/strong><\/p><p>The Upper Castle stands on the 48-metre-high Castle Hill. In the 11th\u201313th centuries, a wooden castle surrounded by a strong defensive wall stood here. It was first mentioned in historical sources in 1365, by which time the castle was already made of masonry.<\/p><p>In the 14th century, the castle withstood as many as seven attacks by the Teutonic Knights and was never captured. In the 15th century, the castle was strengthened and renovated under the rule of Grand Duke Vytautas of Lithuania. At that time, a Gothic palace was built within the castle grounds.<\/p><p>During the 1655\u20131661 war with Moscow, the castle was damaged and subsequently abandoned. The western (Gediminas) Tower was restored after the war, and a Castle Museum and an observation deck were established there.<\/p><p>In the 1980s, the partially surviving palace of the Upper Castle was conserved. During archaeological excavations conducted by the National Museum of Lithuania on Gediminas Hill in 2017\u20132019, the remains of the leaders of the 1863\u20131864 Uprising were discovered. In 2019, they were ceremonially reburied in Rasos Cemetery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-071dd28 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"071dd28\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c8ac7f\" data-id=\"6c8ac7f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f6a32f elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9f6a32f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4-Gedimino-pilis-768x961-1-768x694.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29615\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-028a2c2 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"028a2c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4_Gedimino-pilis2-768x464-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29613\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f2c29a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f2c29a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d19a656\" data-id=\"d19a656\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14258ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"14258ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>5. Palace of the Grand Dukes<\/strong><\/p><p>The Palace of the Grand Dukes was a centre of Renaissance culture in Vilnius. The old Gothic Lower Castle was expanded and rebuilt in the Renaissance style around 1520\u20131530. The construction was carried out by Italian architects invited by Grand Duke Sigismund the Old and Bona Sforza.<\/p><p>After the reconstruction, the palace consisted of four wings surrounding an inner courtyard. In 1544\u20131548, the rebuilding of the palace was directed by Sigismund Augustus and the architect Giovanni Cini. The palace was renovated once again after the fire of 1610.<\/p><p>During the 1655\u20131661 war with Moscow, the palace was looted and damaged in the fighting, making it no longer suitable as a residence for the rulers. It stood abandoned for about 100 years, and the ruins of the palace were demolished in 1801.<\/p><p>Following extensive archaeological research at the end of the 20th century, the Palace of the Grand Dukes was reconstructed in 2002\u20132009. Today, it houses a museum and hosts exhibitions, concerts and educational events.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3d45535 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3d45535\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-106d1b9\" data-id=\"106d1b9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73812ec elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"73812ec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5-Valdovu-rumai2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29619\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7948720 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7948720\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5-Valdovu-rumai-768x576-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29617\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-de7ee8d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"de7ee8d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e020b5\" data-id=\"3e020b5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9294ff7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9294ff7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>6. Vilnius Cathedral<\/strong><\/p><p>Like many important places of worship, Vilnius Cathedral was built on the site of a former sanctuary of the old faith. The foundations of the first church and a fragment of its ceramic glazed-tile floor have survived in the cathedral\u2019s basement.<\/p><p>After Lithuania adopted Christianity in 1387, a new cathedral was built on the old foundations under the care of Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania. Over the centuries, it was rebuilt in the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles.<\/p><p>In 1783\u20131801, the Cathedral was reconstructed in the Neoclassical style according to a design by Laurynas Gucevi\u010dius. The architect did not alter either the old foundations or the Gothic masonry walls, but extended and enlarged the cathedral. A monumental portico with six columns was created on the fa\u00e7ade.<\/p><p>During the Soviet era, the Cathedral housed an art gallery and organ concerts were held there. In 1988, the church was returned to the faithful.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dcbfb79 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dcbfb79\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7763e32\" data-id=\"7763e32\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1504936 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1504936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"550\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6-Vilniaus-katedra-2-768x550-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29623\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a56b410 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a56b410\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/6-Vilniaus-katedra-3-768x799-1-768x694.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29621\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9beb112 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9beb112\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a1001a\" data-id=\"2a1001a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a541d7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a541d7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>7. Cathedral Bell Tower<\/strong><\/p><p>The foundations and lower round section of the Cathedral Bell Tower form the oldest surviving defensive structure in Vilnius \u2013 a former tower of the 14th-century defensive wall.<\/p><p>The underground part of the tower, dating from the 13th century, is square in shape and is one of the oldest surviving masonry structures in Vilnius. The walls of the first floor of the round section are 2.8 to 4 metres thick. They are built of stone, with bands of brickwork inserted every 3\u20134 rows.<\/p><p>The bell tower was installed in the defensive tower in the 16th century and was rebuilt several times later.<\/p><p>Next to the bell tower, in front of the Cathedral\u2019s main entrance, the location of the gateway providing access to the castle complex is marked with pink granite.<\/p><p>Today, the bell tower is open to visitors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ae2d8d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ae2d8d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc646a2\" data-id=\"fc646a2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffb7ac6 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ffb7ac6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"695\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/7-Katedros-varpine2-695x1024-2-695x694.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29629\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/7-Katedros-varpine2-695x1024-2-695x694.jpg 695w, https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/7-Katedros-varpine2-695x1024-2-80x80.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 695px) 100vw, 695px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19697d4 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19697d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"664\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/7-Katedros-varpine-664x1024-2-664x694.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29631\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-39a507e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"39a507e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-241d369\" data-id=\"241d369\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07a23cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"07a23cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>8. Castle Defensive Wall<\/strong><\/p><p>In the 14th century, the castle defensive wall surrounded the grounds of the Upper and Lower Castles. From the site of the present-day bell tower, it extended towards the New Arsenal (Arsenalo St. 1), which was built on the remains of the defensive wall.<\/p><p>A restored section of the 14th-century defensive wall can be seen between the New and Old Arsenals (Arsenalo St. 3A). The wall was built in the Gothic style, with one stretcher and one header brick laid alternately in each course.<\/p><p>Next to the defensive wall, you can visit the Archaeology Exhibition housed in the Old Arsenal, bringing this route exploring the origins of the city\u2019s history to an end.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8568da2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8568da2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-396cd58\" data-id=\"396cd58\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d05a17 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0d05a17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/8-Pilies-gynybine-siena-768x576-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-29633\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Location of the Curved Castle The wooden Curved Castle, together with a settlement of wooden buildings, was located in the present-day Hill Park area between the Three Crosses (Bare or Curved) Hill and Table Hill. In ancient times, this landscape looked quite different: the terrain has changed considerably, the slopes of the hills have<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-29604","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29604"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29637,"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/29604\/revisions\/29637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vsaa.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}