Vilnius

This beautiful city is one of the smallest European capitals, yet is plenty of art treasures and proud of its long centuries of history which left an extremely rich architecture. Vilnius is a true Baroque jewel, but boasts monuments of many different architectural styles. The Old Town of Vilnius is one of the largest in Europe, featuring more than 1500 historical buildings. Its pastel facades, harmonious churches, cobblestoned streets create a unique, romantic atmosphere.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is still a small city, easy to discover walking along its cobblestoned streets, secret yards and majestic squares. Founded in 1323 by the Grand Duke Gediminas, during centuries Vilnius was a trade centre of the Baltic region. Its architecture was enriched by the Hansa merchants and by different invaders who occupied the country during its long history: Germans, Poles, Russians, Swedes… Vilnius was also the General Headquarters of the French army of Napoleon in his attempt to occupy Russia. This multinational influence has affected the architecture of the city, with its facades in gothic, renaissance, neoclassical styles as well as cultural and religious life. Here you can see a variety of Orthodox Churches with its onion cupolas, Catholic Churches with high spires and colonnades and Protestant Churches. The historical centre of Vilnius is designated as UNESCO World Heritage site. Vilnius was the European Cultural Capital in 2009. Despite of its stateness, Vilnius is an active modern city; its ambiance is young, lively and dynamic, as Vilnius is the main university city of Lithuania. Every year Vilnius hosts many colorful fairs, theatre performances and festivals.