Vilnius Old Town

The Old Town of Vilnius (Lithuanian: Vilniaus senamiestis) is the historic part of the city of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is one of the largest and most beautiful medieval old towns in Europe.[1] It has an area of 3.59 square kilometres (887 acres). The settlement became a town in the early 13th century.[2] The old town is marked by narrow streets, old churches, museums and flower-decorated courtyards.[3]

Vilnius Historic Centre
UNESCO World Heritage Site
LocationVilnius, Vilnius County, Lithuania
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iv)
Reference541bis
Inscription1994 (18th Session)
Extensions2012
Area352.09 ha (870.0 acres)
Buffer zone1,912.24 ha (4,725.2 acres)
Coordinates54°41′12″N 25°17′35″E
Vilnius Old Town is located in Vilnius
Vilnius Old Town
Location of Vilnius Old Town in Vilnius
Vilnius Old Town is located in Lithuania
Vilnius Old Town
Vilnius Old Town (Lithuania)

The central squares in the Old Town are the Cathedral Square and the Town Hall Square. In 1994 the Vilnius Old Town was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.[3]

Landmarks

There are more monuments of interest in the Old Town than in any other part of Vilnius; they include:

Palaces
Vilnius Old Town
  • Presidential Palace
  • Slushko Palace
  • Radvilu Palace
  • Tyzenhaus Palace
  • Vilnius Castle Complex with the Gediminas Tower and Royal Palace

Religious monuments
  • St. Anne's Church
  • Vilnius Cathedral in Cathedral Square
  • St. Nicholas Church
  • All Saints Church
  • Gate of Dawn
  • Three Crosses
  • Cathedral of the Theotokos

Other places of interest
  • House of the Signatories
  • National Museum of Lithuania
  • Lithuanian National Drama Theatre
  • Fragments of the Vilnius city wall
  • Vilnius dungeons

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vilnius Old Town.
  1. Howard Jarvis; Neil Taylor, Vilnius with Kaunas (Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt, 2005), p. 108
  2. "Vilnius Historic Centre". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  3. "Unique Old Town of Vilnius". Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybė. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
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