Posts Tagged ‘Vilnius’
Uzupis District in Vilnius, Lithuania is mostly unrestored area occupied by artists, dreamers, squatters, and drunks. In 1998 residents unofficially declared the area to be independent with its own president, flag and constitution. Best time to visit is on April Fools day, when mock border guards stamp passports and the entire area erupts into a party.
Vilnius Cathedral
Vilnius Cathedral stands on the Cathedral Square in the Old Town of Vilnius. An original cathedral was built here in 1251. In 1387 a Gothic style cathedral was built. Now it is a classical style cathedral build by the project of Laurynas Gucevicius.
The most beautiful part of the Cathedral, the baroque chapel of St. Casimir, was built in 1623–1636. The crypt shows a cross section of Vilnius through the ages, well worth seeing.
You can also take a tour through the catacombs under the cathedral. 57m high belfry.
Outside the Cathedral, in the square, look for a particular tile on which there is written a word “Stebuklas” (means “miracle” in Lithuanian). Stand on it, make a wish and turn around three times. Your wish should come true 
This tile also marks the end of the Vilnius-Tallinn human chain in the 1989 protest of the Soviet Union
Vilnius Town Hall Square is located in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania. Few important buildings stand there for hundereds of years. Surely the most one is The Historic Town Hall, a building the square has its name from. Secondly one of few worth mentioning is a house of famous polish/lithuanian writer Adam Mickiewicz who lived and died there.
Basic history of Vilnius University.
1570 – A Jesuit college is established in the city of Vilnius and the Library is founded.
1579 – On April 1, King Stefan Batory issues a charter establishing Vilnius Academy. On October 30, Pope Gregory XIII issues a papal bull proclaiming the Vilnius College a university.
1641 – The Faculty of Law is established.
1753 – The Astronomical Observatory is founded.
1773 – The Jesuit Order is dissolved. An Educational Commission is set up to take charge of education.
1781 – Vilnius Academy is renamed into the Principal School of the grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Faculty of Medicine is founded.
1803 – The University is named Imperial.
1832 – The University is closed down by order of Tsar Nicholas I.
1919-1939 – The University functions under Polish authority by the name of Stefan Batory.
1939 – Lithuania having restored its independence, the University regains autonomy with the adoption of the University Statute.
Vilnius University View.
