Seimas Palace, Vilnius

Seimas Palace, Vilnius

The Seimas Palace is a significant building in the history of Lithuania. It serves as the home of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania. The construction of the building began in 1967, and it was designed by architects Algimantas Nasvytis and Vytautas Nasvytis. It was completed in 1980, and it became the home of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, replacing the Lithuanian SSR State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre building.

However, the Seimas Palace became a symbol of Lithuania's resistance to the Soviet occupation in the late 20th century. On March 11, 1990, an act "On the Restoration of an Independent State of Lithuania" was announced in the Seimas Palace, marking the country's determination to break free from Soviet rule. A year later, on January 13, 1991, the Soviet army attempted to occupy the Seimas Palace, but tens of thousands of people gathered to defend it. The event resulted in 14 deaths and hundreds of injuries, but it ultimately marked a crucial moment in Lithuania's fight for independence.

Today, the Seimas Palace serves as a place of remembrance, with the remains of the barricades used and monuments reminding visitors of the historic events that took place there. Additionally, the building has undergone several changes over the years. In the late 20th century, the Ministry of Finance of the Lithuanian SSR and the Lithuanian Council of Trade Unions buildings were added to the Seimas Palace, becoming the II and III Seimas Palaces, respectively. The Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Lithuania was also located in the western part of the I Seimas Palace from 1993 to 1997.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vilnius. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Seimas Palace on Map

Sight Name: Seimas Palace
Sight Location: Vilnius, Lithuania (See walking tours in Vilnius)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Vilnius, Lithuania

Create Your Own Walk in Vilnius

Create Your Own Walk in Vilnius

Creating your own self-guided walk in Vilnius is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Užupis District Walking Tour

Užupis District Walking Tour

A tiny isolated area and a former suburb, which now forms part of the Old Town of Vilnius, the Uzupis district is often compared, for its bohemian and laissez-faire atmosphere, to Montmartre of Paris and Freetown Christiania of Copenhagen. Similarly to the latter, in 1997, the district declared itself an independent republic; the tongue-in-cheek constitution of the self-proclaimed “republic”,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vilnius Old Town Walking Tour

Vilnius Old Town Walking Tour

The historic and present-day capital of Lithuania, Vilnius is known for the architecture in its Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

The name of the city originates from the River Vilnia (which is the Lithuanian for “ripple”). According to legend, Grand Duke Gediminas (c. 1275–1341), having hunted near the confluence of the Vilnia and Neris rivers, saw a dream in which a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Historical Churches Tour

Historical Churches Tour

As the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Lithuania, Vilnius boasts a wealth of gorgeous churches featuring diverse architectural styles – Gothic, Baroque, to mention but a few. Many of the local churches are historical, having witnessed centuries of events and become iconic landmarks of the Lithuanian capital.

One of the most famous temples in Vilnius...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles