At beginning of 2002 the population of Vilnius town municipality was 554 200 (Vilnius county 849 500)
The Vilnius coat of arms is St. Christopher (Kristupas) wading in the water and carrying the Infant Jesus on his shoulders. The coat of arms was given to the city in the seventh year of its existence, i.e. in 1330.
In pagan times, i.e. until the end of the 14 th century, the Vilnius coat of arms featured Titan Alkis, hero of Lithuanian ancient tales, carrying his wife Janteryte.; on his shoulders across the river.
Current area of Vilnius is 392 square kilometres. Buildings cover 20.2 % of the city and the remaining area is prevailed with the greenery (43.9 %) and waters (2.1 %).
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and one of the country's oldest cities.
It stretches along both banks of the fast flowing Neris River, and is set among
hills pine forests. Vilnius is very old city indeed. The honor for
founding Vilnius
is justly given to Gediminas (a Lithuanian Duke) in the year 1323. Having declared Vilnius his "royal town",
Gediminas created the conditions for its subsequent growth as the political, economical and cultural
center of Lithuania. The fortress on Castle Hill was used for defense purposes
and was called the Upper Castle.
It is believed that the name of Vilnius originated from the river at which it is situated, i.e. from the name of the River Vilnele, which had an original name Vilnia.
Following the craftsmen in other European towns at the end of the 15th century,
Vilnius craftsmen began to join together by professions into guilds.
Many Catholic churches and monasteries appeared in the town.
Stone buildings sprang up inside the Lower Castle. The new Cathedral was among
them. Crafts and trade continued to develop in the 16th century.
Many beautiful new buildings in the late Gothic and Renaissance
style appeared in the town. The most significant event in the
cultural life of 16th century Lithuania was the founding of the
Vilnius Academy in 1579, which was endowed with the rights and privileges
of a university. In 1795 Vilnius became the center of a new gubernia
consisting of the lands annexed to the Russian Empire. A number of new
Classical style buildings were built, including the Cathedral, which had
been reconstructed at the end of the 18th century, a new town hall, and
the Governor-Generals' Palace. In 1860, a railway, the first in Lithuania,
crossed Vilnius and connected with St. Petersburg and Warsaw.
During World War I Vilnius was occupied by the Kaiser's troops for three and
a half years. On 16 February, 1918, Lithuanian Council in Vilnius proclaimed
an independent Lithuanian Republic. In the autumn of 1920, Vilnius and the region to
which it belonged were occupied by Poland. On October 10th, 1939, Lithuania
and the Soviet Union signed a treaty on mutual aid, in accordance with which
Vilnius and the Vilnius Region were returned to Lithuania. In 1940, Vilnius
became the capital of Soviet Lithuania, which meant it was an administrative
center of occupied Lithuania.
On March 11th, 1990, the Supreme Council restored Lithuania's independence.
The Old Town, historical centre of Vilnius, is one of the largest in
Eastern Europe (360 ha). The most valuable historic and cultural heritage
is concentrated here. The buildings in the old town – there are about 1.5
thousand of them – were built in a number of different centuries,
therefore, it is a mixture of all European architectural styles. Although
Vilnius is often called a baroque city, here you will find some buildings
of gothic, renaissance and other styles. The main sights of the city are
the Gediminas Castle and the Cathedral Square, symbols of the capital.
Their combination is also a gateway to the historic centre of the capital.
Because of its uniqueness, the Old Town of Vilnius was inscribed on the
UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
more pictures of Vilnius you can find by visiting my Photo Gallery
Hotels in Vilnius
If you are looking for a hotel in Vilnius, www.VilniusHotels.lt offers you variety from fantastic discounts to complete luxury.
Availability to make reservations online. Simply select services you need and do search on hotels located in Vilnius.
Wish you a pleasant stay.
Following the craftsmen in other European towns at the end of the 15th century,
Vilnius craftsmen began to join together by professions into guilds.
Many Catholic churches and monasteries appeared in the town.
Stone buildings sprang up inside the Lower Castle. The new Cathedral was among
them. Crafts and trade continued to develop in the 16th century.
Many beautiful new buildings in the late Gothic and Renaissance
style appeared in the town. The most significant event in the
cultural life of 16th century Lithuania was the founding of the
Vilnius Academy in 1579, which was endowed with the rights and privileges
of a university. In 1795 Vilnius became the center of a new gubernia
consisting of the lands annexed to the Russian Empire. A number of new
Classical style buildings were built, including the Cathedral, which had
been reconstructed at the end of the 18th century, a new town hall, and
the Governor-Generals' Palace. In 1860, a railway, the first in Lithuania,
crossed Vilnius and connected with St. Petersburg and Warsaw.
During World War I Vilnius was occupied by the Kaiser's troops for three and
a half years. On 16 February, 1918, Lithuanian Council in Vilnius proclaimed
an independent Lithuanian Republic. In the autumn of 1920, Vilnius and the region to
which it belonged were occupied by Poland. On October 10th, 1939, Lithuania
and the Soviet Union signed a treaty on mutual aid, in accordance with which
Vilnius and the Vilnius Region were returned to Lithuania. In 1940, Vilnius
became the capital of Soviet Lithuania, which meant it was an administrative
center of occupied Lithuania.
