Vilnius

The first written mention of Vilnius (Vilna) comes in 1323, when it became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The city developed rapidly and increased in size so that by the beginning of XVIth century, Vilna was a big city surrounded by ramparts. In 1570 the famous Vilnius University opened.

Numerous fires and the plague of the XVIIth century, as well as Russian-Polish war, severely damaged the city's economy. As a result, during the third partition of Poland in 1795, Vilnius was annexed to Russia. During Russian rule, the city walls were destroyed, and, by 1805, only the Gate of Dawn remained.

In Vilnius at the end of World War I in 1918, Lithuania was proclaimed an independent republic, with its capital in Kaunas. Two decades of independence were interrupted in 1939 when the Red Army recaptured Lithuania – at which point Vilnius became the capital of Lithuania, within the Soviet Union.

Lithuania regained its independence only in 1990, with Vilnius as the capital of independent Lithuania. In 1994, the historic city centre was included in the List of World Cultural Heritage Cities by UNESCO. Currently Vilnius continues to evolve and develop, rightfully considered the most beautiful city in Lithuania.

08-12-2011 :: Museum of socialism opened near Vilnius

A museum dedicated to the times of communist dictatorship in Lithuania, was opened in the town of Nemencine. The place used to be an underground bunker during the Cold War era.

news archive 2011 

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