Let’s start travelling around Vilnius by greeting its founder – the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. While on a hunting trip, he dreamt of a howling iron wolf and decided to build a city that would be known around the world. Gediminas first mentioned the city in 1323 when he invited foreign merchants and craftsmen. When you approach the bronze monument of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, stand on the side and look around – this is the view that Gediminas has seen every day since 1996.

The Cathedral Bell Tower, people in the square, continuous movement – the ruler would be delighted to see the city he established today. The monument was designed by the emigrated artist Vytautas Kašuba and depicts Gediminas’ right hand raised to bless Vilnius as he stands next to his horse holding the edge of his sword and showing that he is a democratic ruler.

You can speak to Gediminas as well –you can find a QR code at the base of the monument; scan it and you will hear what the Grand Duke of Lithuania thinks of Vilnius and the changes that have occurred in the city he founded.

Monument to Gediminas

The symbol of Lithuania’s Christianisation – the Cathedral – was built in a special location. In the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the bed of the Neris River was where the present-day Šventaragio Street is found; hence, the nice location in the green valley at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnelė rivers looked very different. There was the temple of the Thunderer (Lith. Perkūnas), one of the major pagan places of worship in Lithuania with an eternal flame where the bodies of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania were cremated. Actually, historians are suspicious of these legends and there is no consensus on whether the Catholic shrine was built in the times of Duke Mindaugas or later.

One of the first masonry structures in Lithuania, the Cathedral, changed its appearance several times; however, today you will find some bricks dating back to the 14th&nbsp;century in its catacombs. After Lithuania’s Christianisation, rulers were also buried in the Cathedral, in the Kings’ Crypt. Here you can see a dark blackish log on which coffins of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania were placed for a few centuries; they later were moved to a mausoleum. The greatest number of secrets stored in the catacombs beneath the Cathedral were revealed in 1931 after the foundations had to be repaired following a spring flood – the remains of the wives of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Alexander and Sigismund Augustus, Elisabeth Habsburgaitė and Barbora Radvilaitė, were discovered.

Catacombs Beneath the Cathedral

Where was Gediminas sitting when he wrote the letters that later were put on church doors of European cities? Most probably inside the Lower Castle built during the reign of the Grand Dukes Vytenis and Gediminas – in the complex with defensive walls, towers and structures. In fact, the configuration of the castle changed over the centuries; therefore, only intertwined remains of the construction from various periods have survived to date. But you can see one of the oldest masonry structures in Lithuania dating to the 13-14thcenturies – the Lower Castle can be seen in the foyer and exhibitions of the Palace of Grand Dukes. You can examine the masonry from the exterior approximately at the level of the 16thcentury surface of the ground.

There are many beautiful legends about the construction of the Lower Castle; historians say that when developing Vilnius, Gediminas wanted to build a strong castle that would be a secure stronghold. To this end, you had to sacrifice a maiden who would throw herself into a pit of foundations. But a miracle happened and while rolling a stone, the maiden survived and only a bouquet of flowers fell.

When looking at the preserved bricks, try to imagine what life was like among them.

Catacombs of the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Can you imagine that the territory where the present-day Presidential Palace stands and the heart of Vilnius was once a suburb? After Lithuania was baptized, a stratum of high-ranking clergy was needed, so the Grand Duke of Lithuania and the King of Poland Jogaila donated a plot of land to Vilnius’ first bishop, Andrius Vasila, by means of his privilege in 1387 whereby he wrote: “We donate the land near the garden of the Goštautai.” In this way, the Bishops’ Palace was built, though the land was swampy there.

This is also the place where Tsar Paul I lived at the end of the 18thcentury, where Stanisław August Poniatowski stayed in the early 19thcentury, and the future king of France Louis XVIII stayed on a visit. However, you can imagine what the palace looked like only from a dim image depicted on a piece of copper made 500 years ago. In the first half of the 19th&nbsp;century, the palace was destroyed, and the present-day Presidential Palace was built, which was used as a residence for Vilnius’ governor-general.

Even nowadays you can go back to the past: every Sunday at noon you can see the ceremony of the changing of flag and soldiers wearing the uniforms of the 14th&nbsp;century army who guarded the palace.

Bishops' Palace

Imagine that a long time ago Vilnius had only one cobbled street. It ran from the Lower Castle to the Town Hall and had no name. However, this city artery was named Pilies Street in the 16th&nbsp;century. It was used by city dwellers and served as a place for markets or church processions, while royal carriages and foreign envoys travelled down this road to the castle. The first wooden houses were soon replaced by masonry buildings, various arches and labyrinths of narrow courtyards. Over a period of 700 years, the street changed, so you can see buildings from different historical periods on it, though its spirit has remained unchanged. When walking down this road you will find the strangest corners, original staircase and, certainly, numerous stories.

Some people guess that one of the oldest surviving buildings was constructed in the 16th&nbsp;century by Mikalojus Radvila. It is building number 10 on Pilies Street, where prominent Lithuanian politicians, clergymen and cultural representatives lived. Stop to enjoy the gothic building at Pilies g. 12. The Building of Chapter (Pilies g. 8) was one of the most luxurious on the street for a long time. In one of its courtyards, the first botanical garden of Vilnius University was planted, and the House of the Signatories is the place where the Declaration of Independence of Lithuania was signed on 16 February 1918.

Pilies street

Paganism in Vilnius is closely intertwined with other religions. This is seen from feasts, customs and even buildings. The Church of Saint Paraskeva in Vilnius is the first Christian church in Vilnius made of stone – it was built in the middle of the 14th&nbsp;century on the initiative of Maria Yaroslavna, the orthodox wife of Duke Algirdas. They say that future saints – martyrs Antanas, Jonas and Eustatijus – were baptised here.

There are some people who believe that one of the oldest orthodox churches in Vilnius was built on the site of a temple dedicated to the the pagan god Ragutis, who was worshiped by mead makers, brewers and vodka makers. In the middle of the 14th&nbsp;century, Ragutis was forgotten, and the temple was abandoned. Today this place is marked by the Altar of Ragutis standing in the square near the church on a round knoll of soil between two linden trees, and was found among the foundations nearby on Latako Street.

In fact, not everybody agrees that it is part of a pagan temple. However, you can see a candle burning near the stone to date – this is how volunteers interested in old religion continue the thousand-year-long traditions of rituals.

The Church of Saint Paraskeva and the Altar of Ragutis

In the courtyard of Stiklių Street, under an old fir, you can find a bronze statue of Medeinė made by Marius Grušas in 1988. Why is it so special? Our ancestors had a very strong relationship with nature –Lithuanians were the last pagan nation in Europe. It is known that the King of Lithuania Mindaugas sacrificed the first prey of his hunt to Žvėrūna-Medeina. The sculpture depicts the deity sitting on a bear as the mistress of all wild animals and is revealed as a courageous and resolute ruler of forests. Besides, foreigners often thought that Lithuanians were hairy like bears.

The statue was placed near the Lithuanian Association of Hunters and Fishermen, but Medeina was not the patron of hunters; on the contrary, our ancestors considered that she hindered hunters from killing animals. When looking at the statue, try to find its secret element – the bear has a ring on one of its fingers. You can find a copy of this work of art at in the sculpture park in Changchun, China (Changchun&nbsp;World&nbsp;Sculpture Park).

Medeine

Look at the charming architectural imperfections of St. Nicolas’ Church: the churchyard of unusual shape, the fence that looks as though it is “was in waves,” the asymmetrical building. However, these masonry structures have been standing in Vilnius since the times of the city’s establishment – St. Nicolas’ Church is also called the oldest Catholic temple in Vilnius.

It was built at the end of the 14th&nbsp;century and established for the craftsmen and merchants of the Hanseatic League invited to Lithuania during the reign of Duke Gediminas, who preferred to settle in the Western part of the city. This is also evidenced by the traditional title of St. Bishop Nicolas of Myra – the patron of travellers, merchants, craftsmen, captives and children.

The simple, thick walls of the church and moderate decorations reflect its archaic origin. Although the church has been re-built and restored several times over the centuries, its exterior has not changed. In the 20th&nbsp;century, St. Nicolas’ Church became the hearth of the Lithuanian language, culture and identity. In 1959, a sculpture of St. Christopher made by Antanas Kmieliauskas was erected in the courtyard of the church.

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St. Nicolas' Church

As you go down Pylimo Street, try to imagine that in the 14th&nbsp;century it served as the city boundary and the edge of Vilnius’ defensive wall, and the fortifications were reinforced with mounds of soil. &nbsp;The construction of the wall started in 1503 by order of Duke Alexander – both the castle and city residents had to be protected from attacks by Crusaders and Tatars. City dwellers also had to contribute to the wall’s construction, which took 20 years to complete. The defensive fortifications had to be installed at the western approaches to the city, which were its key access points in the territories of the Trakų, Pylimo and Naugarduko streets.

However, the city expanded and over the centuries, its boundaries also stretched. Peace in Vilnius was ensured by the “Guard of the City Gate” monument decorated with Gediminas’ Pillars, located on the building at the corner of Trakų and Pylimo streets. Today the elements of the defensive wall have become an integral part of the city’s architecture; its remains have been integrated into the old buildings. For example, the façade of the building at Pylimo g. 30 provides a view of the wall’s former loopholes.

Site of the 14th Century Mounds

Did the Lithuanians have beards in the ancient times like painters depicted? Evidently, beards were very unusual in Lithuania in the 14th&nbsp;century and showed the practice of Orthodoxy. The heart of Vilnius, the Church of the Holy Spirit, has become the resting place for three of Vilnius’ martyrs – Antanas, Jonas and Eustatijus. Their never-dying corpses were found in the basement of the church in the early 19th&nbsp;century and have defied time for more than 660 years – they are considered the greatest treasure among members of the Lithuanian Orthodoxy. These three Christians, noblemen of the Grand Duke of the Lithuanian origin, were martyred in 1346 or 1347 because, during the reign of Duke Algirdas, they secretly converted to Orthodoxy and followed its customs by growing beards.

According to legend, during their torture, they miraculously healed overnight. Antanas, Jonas and Eustatijus were declared saints in 1374. On the façade of the Church of the Holy Spirit you can see images of the three saints, and inside the church, in the decorated reliquary, you can see their bodies: every year on 26 June, the reliquary is opened during special public worship.

Church of the Holy Spirit

Where would you look for the grave of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Algirdas? There are various legends: some say that he was burned according to pagan customs, and the orthodox Christians think that Algirdas was buried in the Orthodox Cathedral, one of the oldest Christian temples of Vilnius. Only the&nbsp;Church&nbsp;of&nbsp;Saint Paraskeva is older than this one.

The church was completed and blessed in 1348 on the initiative of Algirdas’ wife Julijona. She was buried here, and this is confirmed by a memorial plaque on the wall of the church. The church is located on a picturesque bank of the Vilnelė River, next to the Church of St. Anne and Bernardine Complex, which were built later. They say that Algirdas chose the place for the church personally as his manor was not far from here.

In the 19th&nbsp;century, when the Russian Tsar ruled, the church changed completely, but the oldest parts of its masonry – both visible and not visible – have remained. Archaeological explorations have revealed that to build the church, the same bricks used for the construction of Gediminas castle were chosen. For some time, the church facilities were used as university rooms and a library, barracks and a warehouse. The church was restored by the famous architect of the time Nikolay Chagin in the 19th&nbsp;century and was returned to the congregation

The Cathedral of the Theotokos in Vilnius

What was at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnelė rivers before the establishment of the City of Vilnius? Not only centuries-old oak trees. In fact, even the bed of the Vilnia River was in another location.

When looking at the Hill of Three Crosses, people in the 14th&nbsp;century saw the wooden defensive Vilnius Castle, which is also called the Crooked Castle. During the 1390 fight against the German Order, it was burnt down, and in this way part of the city’s history was lost. It is thought that the wooden defensive wall on Crooked Hill was there back at the beginning of the second millennium, and people lived in the castle and base in a wooden city in the 12-14th&nbsp;centuries. In fact, at the time, the landscape of the Hills Park (Kalnų parkas) was substantially different from the present-day view, and the Crooked Castle constituted a one-piece defensive complex with two other castles – the Lower and the Upper.

Later, when the Crooked Castle was no longer there, the hill continued to play an important role. One of the most well-known legends tells the story of the Franciscans, who carried out a mission in Vilnius in the 14th&nbsp;century. Angry pagan Lithuanians took them to the hill, tied them to crosses and pushed them in the Vilnelė River, ordering them to go back to where they came from. In Christian times, to mark this story, the first wooden crosses emerged on the hill, and now when we look at that side, we can see the white crosses designed by Antanas Vivulskis.

The Crooked Castle and the Hill of Three Crosses

Once, when Duke Vytenis was hunting in the forests, he heard a cry. He found a baby in an eagle’s nest and called it Lizdeika, and the surrounding areas were named Verkiai (verkti means to cry, Verkiai – a place where someone cries). When he grew up, Lizdeika became the chief oracle and interpreted a dream of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas about Vilnius. Maybe the history of Vilnius indeed started here, in Verkiai.

Although it is only a romantic story, it is known that there was an ancient pagan settlement in Verkiai and human remains with abundant shrouds and weapons were found. The first structure in Verkiai was a temple belonging to the ancient Lithuanians, thus Vilnius’ city dwellers who foster old traditions gather here to kindle and oversee the holy flame. After the Christianisation of Lithuania, Jogaila gave Verkiai to the bishops, who turned the former manor into their summer residence. Old oak trees hold the memory of those times, the 1700s, when Bishop Konstantinas Kazimieras Bžostovskis had a palace built here. Imagine in winter, when everything was covered in frost, bananas and pineapples grew in the glasshouse. The manor had a rich library, collections of paintings and hosted operas as well as fireworks shows. What we can see in Verkiai today is only a small part – the main palace has since been dismantled.

👣 Verkiai

Almost 700 years ago, in the 14th&nbsp;century, a city was born on seven hills where an iron wolf stood howling. The city was destined to promote the name of Lithuania across the world. Vilnius is not an ordinary city because different cultures and religions have lived in concord since the Middle Ages. When the swords of the Crusaders clanged, merchants travelled, and craftsmen plodded away, the capital city was protected by deities living in the surrounding forests, flames danced on the altars and legends that have survived to this day were born. If you keep your ears open, you will hear the rustling of the centuries-old oak trees and will see priestesses igniting fires if you close your eyes. The tower of the castle that emerged on the hill withstood the twists and turns of history, and the serpentine catacombs beneath Vilnius have preserved its extraordinary secrets.

<h2>You are invited to follow in the footsteps of the birth of Vilnius and discover your own legend!&nbsp;</h2>

Vilnius

XIV century: Vilnius legends

Overview:

You are invited to follow in the footsteps of the birth of Vilnius and discover your own legend!

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