10 Best Historical Sites to Visit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania (B)

Vilnius is an ancient Eastern European city filled with cultural riches and historical landmarks. It’s historic roots date back to 1323 AD with its first written mentions as the city of Vilna. Since its origins, Vilnius has transformed architectural facades, experiencing everything from medieval to commonwealth to Nazi to communistic regimes. If you have limited time in the city, check out these historical sites to depict a true sense of this capital city’s roots.

This is one of the most popular sites in Vilnius, and for good reason. The Grand Duke of Lithuania, Gedeminas first built this “castle” as a wooden fortifications. In 1409, the Grand Duke Vytautas completed the brick structure, which only remains and a tower still stand today. The tower is a museum exhibiting archaeological finds of Lithuania's past. It's worth the climb, up the hill and tower, for spectacular views of old and new Vilnius. 

This late Gothic masterpiece's historical roots remain a mystery even to this day. Rumor had it that Napoleon Bonaparte admired the church and wanted to take it back to France in the palm of his hand. Soon, the French cavalry forces took over the church without much damage. In fact, the church hasn't changed in it's 500 year history. Look closely at the facade to discover "A" and "M" inscribed on the exterior, standing for Ave Maria or Latin Ana Mater Maria.  ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).