Vilnius, host city of the 2011 User Forum
Karolis Eigelis introduces the capital of Lithuania
Vilnius may seem far away in the Northeast corner of Europe, but is actually its geographical 'navel' if you consider the continent’s geometrical gravity centre. Founded in 1323, Vilnius is now the capital of Lithuania and its largest city with a vibrant economic, social and cultural life.
There is a lot to see.
Vilnius’s historical centre is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in the region and enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status. The Old Town records the evolution of European architectural styles across the centuries.
Although Vilnius is often called a Baroque city, you will also stumble upon masterpieces of Gothic architecture, Renaissance monuments, or neoclassic buildings, as well as a remarkable collection of more than 20 Eastern Baroque churches.
The main city sights are the medieval Gediminas’ Tower built to defend the old Great Duchy of Lithuania, and the Cathedral Square with its iconic bell tower and neoclassic St Stanislaus Cathedral.
Vilnius University, founded in 1579, is the oldest university in the Baltic States and one of the first to be established in Eastern Europe. Its complex of buildings extends throughout Old Town and its original architecture has changed over the centuries under influences of various styles.
At the junction of the Central, Northern and Eastern Europe, Vilnius is thriving with diverse culture. The city’s artists, writers and poets are headquartered in the so-called Republic of Uzupis, an Old Town district that declared independence on April Fool’s Day, 1997 and is ruled by its own constitution.
Vilnius is also the birthplace of medieval rulers, such as Great Dukes Gediminas and Vytautas, legendary queens and fiction’s most sophisticated serial killer: Hannibal Lecter.
Above all, Vilnius is a great place to visit at the heart of Europe.
