St. Virgin Mary Vist's Church
This is the first parish church built in 1409 by the attempts of Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. The main altar of the church contains the image of St Virgin Mary. It is believed that it was a wonder-maker and protects from the misfortunes. Since 1603 this place celebrates a Church festival carrying the name of St Virgin Mary which attracts many believers from different places of Lithuania.
Vilnius Defence Wall Bastion, LNM
The Bastion
was designed at the beginning of the 17th century. During the war with
Moscow in 1654-1667 it was badly destroyed. Later, in the 18th century,
its territory turned into the dust-heap of Vilnius , and the ditches and
the stone walls of the bastion were poured with soil. During World War
I, the Germans cleaned up the bastion. They reinforced the arcs, concreted
the floor, and equipped it with ventilation. During World War II, the
bastion turned into a hideout and storage of arms. In 19th century, an
orphanage was established here.
The stone walls and ditches of the Bastion were excavated in 1965 - 1970.
A bit later, the restored and reconstructed premises for cannons were
adapted to the exposition of arms and fortifications. The exhibits are
from the most ancient times up to the end of the 18th century. The entire
bastion now consists of the original tower of the city wall from the 16-17th
centuries, premises for the cannons, and the connecting corridor.
The Cathedral
Standing
at the foot of Gediminas hill, Vilnius Cathedral is Lithuania's spiritual
and political centre. It is thought that in pagan times this was the location
of an altar, an eternal fire, or even a temple to Perkunas. King Mindaugas
built the original cathedral in 1251 after his conversion to Christianity.
In 1387, on the occasion of the official conversion of the whole of Lithuania
to Christianity, a gothic style cathedral was built. The coronation ceremonies
of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania from Vytautas to Žygimantas Augustas
took place there. Due to fires, wars, and unstable ground, the Cathedral
was rebuilt more than once. As a result, gothic, renaissance, and baroque
styles are reflected in its architectural history.
The most beautiful part of the Cathedral, the baroque chapel of St. Casimir,
was built in 1623 - 1636 at the initiative of King Sigismundus Vasa. The
chapel contains a unique 18th century goblet-shaped pulpit and 18th century
silver-plated statues of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and Kings of Poland.
After the last reconstruction was performed according to the design of
Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevicius, the church acquired the strict quadrangular
shape favoured by French classicism. Now, a tall portico with 6 Doric
columns and sculptures by the Italian sculptor, T. Righi, which stand
in the niches, decorate the main fasade of the Cathedral. The tympanum
portrays the sacrifice of Noah.
VILNIUS
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