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The City
The guide was updated:
Vilnius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, wears its history with quiet pride. The city’s seamless blend of architectural eras seems improbable given its turbulent past, yet here it stands, firmly reclaimed as one of Europe’s most captivating capitals.
What makes Vilnius irresistible? It’s large enough to feel vibrant, small enough to explore without becoming overwhelmed. The streets, many retaining their medieval layout, combine old Baroque masterpieces, Gothic brickwork, Art Nouveau details and Classical facades, particularly along Gedimino Avenue. Look closely, and you’ll spot whimsical touches: carved masks, grinning gargoyles and other architectural surprises. Most of the buildings in Vilnius were constructed in the periods immediately after the great fires of 1610, 1737, 1748 and 1749, when the city’s wooden buildings were done away with. Amazingly, however, the Old Town’s street structure is virtually unchanged since medieval times.
Beyond the Old Town, Vilnius unfolds in green parks and hilltop vistas. The Neris River curves through the city, its banks offering a striking contrast: the spires of the historic centre on one side, the glass-and-steel New District on the other.
The best way to experience it all is to walk the cobblestone lanes, or cycle the well-marked paths that connect nearly every major sight. Vilnius rewards slow exploration, since every corner holds another layer of its story.
What makes Vilnius irresistible? It’s large enough to feel vibrant, small enough to explore without becoming overwhelmed. The streets, many retaining their medieval layout, combine old Baroque masterpieces, Gothic brickwork, Art Nouveau details and Classical facades, particularly along Gedimino Avenue. Look closely, and you’ll spot whimsical touches: carved masks, grinning gargoyles and other architectural surprises. Most of the buildings in Vilnius were constructed in the periods immediately after the great fires of 1610, 1737, 1748 and 1749, when the city’s wooden buildings were done away with. Amazingly, however, the Old Town’s street structure is virtually unchanged since medieval times.
Beyond the Old Town, Vilnius unfolds in green parks and hilltop vistas. The Neris River curves through the city, its banks offering a striking contrast: the spires of the historic centre on one side, the glass-and-steel New District on the other.
The best way to experience it all is to walk the cobblestone lanes, or cycle the well-marked paths that connect nearly every major sight. Vilnius rewards slow exploration, since every corner holds another layer of its story.