VILNIUS OLD TOWN (Urban Development of the Historic City)

The area of Vilnius Old Town - 359 ha.
The population of Vilnius is 553 061 and the population of the Old Town - 20 400.

"Despite wars, occupations and destruction, the architectural ensemble of Vilnius remains unique. A city lacking German or Scandinavian features, rather reminiscent of Prague or Rome, Vilnius differs greatly from the other Baltic capitals. It is the largest Baroque city north of the Alps, and the one farthest to the east. Yet, nearly all styles of European architecture from Gothic to Classicism are present in Vilnius. They used to reach Lithuania belatedly, but probably due to this reason their examples are particularly mature and flawless. Baroque domes and towers of Vilnius coexist with an irregular medieval city plan. The spirit of Rome in Vilnius merges with a mix of other cultural influences: the city has always contained a multitude of Russian Orthodox churches, synagogues and even mosques that sometimes imitated baroque, but more often clung to their own models." (from the book Vilnius by Tomas Venclova)

Vilnius Old Town - the historical core of the capital, surrounded by woods, hills and valleys - emerged in the confluence of the River Neris and its tributary the River Vilnia. Through the centuries its urban texture, which reflects cultural identity of the local population, merged with the natural landscape. The city originated at the very point where both rivers joined. Large Baltic settlements could be found in this area as early 5th and 6th centuries.

By the 13th century the well fortified castle on the mountain was already surrounded by a city in which brick buildings were constructed. At the beginning of the 14th century Vilnius was comparable to the largest cities of East and Central Europe.

In 1323, during the reign of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, Vilnius was for the fist time mentioned in written sources as the capital of Lithuania, which at that time was the last large pagan state in Europe. In 1387 Lithuania finally accepted Christianity, and its capital was granted Magdeburgh rights. During the 15th century construction of Gothic style brick buildings began. There were built the Franciscan, Dominican, Bernardine monasteries, the Town Hall, new buildings of the merchant guilds, and a whole group of Old Believer churches bearing features characteristic to Lithuanian Gothic.

At the end of the 14th and at the beginning of the 15th century, during the development of early Gothic, the construction of massive buildings of strict form and heavy proportion prevailed. However, during the second half of the 16th century and the 17th century, when the mature Gothic style flourished, the composition of buildings became more complex and their proportions more graceful; forms became richer and constructions more rational.

The fire of 1471 devastated the rapidly growing city of Vilnius; it burned down many sacred buildings. However, the Medieval street plan of the city and the triangular market square next to the Town Hall had survived till the present days. The major axis of the city - Pilies street with its extension - Didžioji street - connects the city castle with the Town Hall and leads towards the Medininkai city gate. The central and most densely populated area of Vilnius which occupied approximately 90 ha in 1503 - 1522 was surrounded by a fortified brick wall to protect the city from possible Tartar attacks.

The Renaissance architecture emerged in Vilnius during the first quarter of the 16th century and flourished until the middle of the 17th century. One of the most typical features of the Vilnius Renaissance is the combination of its elements with details of the Gothic and Baroque styles.

The 16th century witnessed cultural flourishing and intensive construction, otherwise called the Golden Age of Vilnius City. Trade relations with Eastern and Western countries were established, promoting the diffusion of western traditions in Byelorussia and the Ukraine. Unfortunately, the most valuable buildings of the Vilnius Renaissance period such as the Lower Castle with its Art gallery, Library and Theatre, the Radvilos' palace just west of the Lower Castle, the palace of Jonusas Radvila on the corner of Vilnius and Liejyklos streets and a number of other buildings have not survived. The only characteristic example of this period which has survived is the gate of the Vilnius Defence Wall. Some details typical for Vilnius Renaissance can be seen in the House No.4 on Pilies street. It contains an alcove decorated with a double arch - a motif which can be seen in a number of other Renaissance buildings of the period.

Vilnius University was founded in 1579 by Jesuits. The University of Vilnius promoted and strengthened Baroque culture in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and contributed to the establishment of Vilnius as the most important cultural center of the region.

The fire of 1610 ruined the Lower Castle and the new Cathedral. Subsequent reconstruction intensively expanded the dominion of churches, and some new Baroque churches were built. The buildings of the early Baroque period (1600-1650) were directly influenced by the architecture of Rome. The church of St. Teresa is an excellent example of this phenomenon - the first church in the Baltic region built after the architectural decision of the Il Gesu Church in Rome.

During the High Baroque period one can see Italian Central Europe architectural influence. The churches of the St Peter and Paul, and St. Casimir represent the most typical examples of this style.

City buildings which were damaged during the wars and fires of the first half of the 18th century were reconstructed in the late Baroque style (1730-1790). The evolution of architectural forms in this style was influenced largely by northwestern Italy and the countries of the Habsburgh Empire: Czech, Austria, Central and Southern Germany. At the same time, individual features of the regional style were developed in Vilnius. The Vilnius Baroque school also known as the "last flash of the late Baroque in Europe" was created. The panorama of the city was enriched with extremely graceful and dynamic churches and bellfries richly decorated with metal details: the churches of Mary the Peacemaker, Missionaries, Basilians, and Kotryna.

The last decades of the 18th century enhanced the stylistic spectrum of the city with stylistically mature buildings of the Classicism period, also known as the Vilnius school of classicism (Cathedral, City Hall).

In 1795, after the third and the last partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Lithuania became a part of Imperial Russia, and Vilnius became the center of the province administered by a Governor-General. After the closure of Vilnius University in 1832, the urban texture of the city reflected the influence of St. Petersburg.

The Russian administration ordered to destroy several buildings which symbolized the Lithuanian independent statehood. These were the Lower Castle, the Defence Wall with its gates which surrounded almost the whole city (only Medininkai/Aušros Gate has survived). Numerous Catholic churches were transformed into Orthodox churches and many monasteries were turned into army bases and prisons.

At the end of the 19th century construction in the city became more intensive because of the railway from St. Petersburg to Western Europe - which lead through Vilnius - built in 1860. At the beginning of the 20th century Vilnius became the center of the Lithuanian national revival.

During the years of Soviet Occupation (1940-1990), the cultural heritage preservation was perceived as a prerequisite for the renewal of Lithuanian statehood. During this period several Old Town regeneration projects were prepared.

Lithuania regained its independence in 1990.
In 1994 Vilnius Old Town was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List.