CATHEDRAL AND CATHEDRAL SQUARE

It was here, at the confluence of the Neris and Vilnia rivers, that the formation of the city of Vilnius began. It was also a place for lovers' meetings, a market place and a fairground in the 19th century, and became the centre of popular gatherings at the time of independence. At the foot of the belfry is the "Stebuklas", which means "miracle". In 1989, the Baltic Way, a human chain of almost 600 km from Vilnius to Riga and Tallinn, began on this slab and rekindled the struggle for independence from the USSR. You can stand on the slab, make a wish and turn around three times to make it come true. At the end of the square, an equestrian statue of Grand Duke Gediminas, the founder of Vilnius, was unveiled in September 1996 on an ancient pagan site.

Built of wood in the 13th century, on an ancient pagan site honoring Perkūnas (the god of Thunder), the cathedral (Arkikatedra Bazilika) found its present form at the time of Grand Duke Vytautas in the 15th century. It was originally built in Gothic style and has been restored many times. The statues on the north side are of saints and apostles. The south wing houses the Chapel of St. Casimir (protector of the country), under which lie the remains of Lithuanian royalty and nobility. During the Soviet period, the cathedral became a painting gallery. Since independence, the large white building in the centre of the city has resumed its daily religious services. About 100 meters from the cathedral, in the long building of the former arsenal, is the National Museum. A little further on, in Arsenalo 3a, you can visit the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts (Taikomosios dailės ir dizaino muziejus) - open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm, Sundays until 4pm (tapestries, jewellery and ceramics).

Separated from the cathedral, the bell tower recalls the line of the moat that surrounded the square until the 19th century and the destruction of the low castle by the Russians. It is 57 m high. In the 17th century, a clock was installed there (open from May to September from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, from October to April until 6 pm). Today, behind the cathedral, the remains of the castle and the excavations can be visited.

Behind the Cathedral Square (after the statue of Gediminas), a paved path climbs up the park to Mount Gediminas(kalnas).