Bernardine Church, Vilnius

The Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard (also known as Bernardine Church) is a Roman Catholic church in the Old Town of Vilnius. It is located next to St. Anne's Church. Dedicated to Saints Francis of Assisi and Bernardino of Siena, it is an important example of Gothic architecture in Lithuania.

After their arrival in Vilnius, Bernardine monks built a wooden church in the second half of the 15th century, and at the end of the same century - a brick one. In the early 16th century it was reconstructed and the church was incorporated into the construction of Vilnius defensive wall.

Renaissance and Baroque features were added in the 17th and 18th centuries. The church is much larger than the nearby St. Anne's Church. According to the legend, the Bernardine monks used to tell such good sermons that crowds would come to listen. That is why the church is so large.

During the Soviet time, the church was closed down and used as an art institute. It re-opened as a church in 1994. The church features some mural paintings dating from the early 16th century and are considered unique in the world. The painting's composition and subject matter belong to Renaissance, while their stylistics belongs to the Gothic style.