Lithuania - Vlinius tourism guide

51 Pages·2007·4.986 MB·English

Contents
Welcome to Vilnius 2
Vilnius is… 3
How to get here 6
Visitor information 11
History 18
Culture 20
Sightseeing 36
Green oases of the city 52
Accommodation 57
Eating out 67
Shopping 74
Leisure 81
Maps 94
VILNIUS MOSAIC
Vilnius has always been a lively city. People from all the different nationalities and cultures who lived
here have created a colourful city mosaic. Our history, culture, nature, holidays and entertainment
are all reflected in our colours. We are ready to reveal those colours to you.
The Iron Wolf is a legend of our strength. We want the rumour surrounding our city and its glorious
history to spread throughout the world.
The white lily denotes our culture. It opens up like a flower revealing medieval mysteries, Vilnius
Baroque stories, treasures of the New Ages, impressive traditional celebrations, and modern cultural
events.
The light green along which the lily stem runs denotes the welcoming green aura of the city. You
are invited to discover comfort, leisure and charming moments of relaxation and absorption in its
ambience.
The scroll against the orange background signifies the Baroque feast which invites you to join in the
bustle of the celebrating city. Experience everything your heart desires. It will be unforgettable.
1
Welcome to Vilnius Vilnius is…
BAROQUE CITY ON THE VERGE OF Italian towns where Baroque was born. VILNIUS IS… visited by heads and monarchs of the most
TWO WORLDS Gracious slender towers supporting the sky influential countries in the world, including the
are the works of the Lithuanian Baroque OLD ARCHITECTURE U.S.A., the United Kingdom, and Japan. The
Vilnius is the only capital in Europe situated School. The Old Town of Vilnius, located in an multi-storey business centre on the northern
on the boundary of two ancient – Latin and amphitheatre of breathtaking nature, has been Old Vilnius is not only about Baroque. The bank of the Neris River is a symbol of the
on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. most impressive landmark of the Old Town is dynamic development of the city. The capital
the gracious Gothic masterpiece of St. Anne’s of Lithuania is the leading city in the region by
A city established on the boundary of two Church. The monumental Bernardine Temple the sheer volume of construction of business
cultures, Vilnius has always been a city of is located right next to it. The Grand Courtyard offices and residential houses; it boasts a high
modernity open to the dialogues of different of the Vilnius University, the Gates of Dawn, level of infrastructure and services and a rapidly
cultures. Profound traditions and experiences and the resurgent Royal Palace represent the improving quality of life. Vilnius is the city where
of ethnic culture are creatively incorporated beautiful Renaissance heritage. the future becomes the present.
into modern art forms – theatre, music, visual The dignified Classical architecture of Lithuania
arts, and dance – and yield a new quality of is represented in the Vilnius Cathedral, the
art. Our artists are known throughout Europe Town Hall and the Verkiai Palace complexes.
and worldwide, and Vilnius will become the The Chodkevičių (Chodkiewicz) Palace is the
European Capital of Culture in 2009. most stylish and the largest Classical building in
Byzantine – civilisations. In this city of ancient
Lithuania.
and versatile cultures, the spirit of tolerance
for different nations and religions has been
vivid for some time. Vilnius was first mentioned
in written sources in 1323, and by the 16th
century it had turned into a beautiful medieval
city, the heritage of which is still charming
today.
The Old Town architecture is the feather in EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2009
the cap of the city. The buildings of the largest
The capital of Lithuania is one of the most
Baroque Old Town in Central and Eastern Vilnius was vested with the mission to become
Europe (360 ha), which has managed to beautiful cities of the Old Continent, where the European Capital of Culture in 2009
preserve the medieval network of streets and the heritage of the past and achievements MODERN CITY because the city was best prepared among the
of the present, science and culture all co- new European Union member states to cherish
typical spaces, remind us of the beautiful old
exist in harmony. The residents of Vilnius are Vilnius is the leader of political and economic the old European cultural tradition and relate
hospitable and cheerful people. initiatives in the Baltic States: it has hosted it to the present challenges. The singularity of
numerous significant meetings, and it has been Vilnius was determined by its history, culture,
traditions and the landscape of the state and
the city. 2009 is also the year when Lithuania
will celebrate the millennium of its name.
Each year in the run-up to 2009 there is an
ever expanding rehearsal of cultural events and
actions.
2 3
Vilnius is… Vilnius is…
NORTHERN JERUSALEM VILNIUS UNIVERSITY CITY PANORAMAS A DIFFERENT VILNIUS
Vilnius acquired the name of Northern Jerusalem
The first university in Eastern Europe, Vilnius In terms of its landscape, Vilnius is one of the Vilnius is the only capital in the world where hot
due to the work of the Vilnia Gaon Elijah ben
University was established in 1579 and soon most beautiful cities of the world: the Old Town, air balloons are launched from the city centre.
Shlomo Zalman (1720–1797). The expositions
crossed the region’s borders with its progressive surrounded by wooded hills, is located in the An artificial beach and playground are located
presenting the years of prosperity of the Jewish
scientific ideas. Many of its teachers and alumni confluence of two rivers and the city centre in the very centre, on the Neris riverbank, and
community and the holocaust period can be
are the brightest personalities of Lithuanian (and lies serenely in the Neris Valley. Very different flower beds on the opposing banks of Neris are
found in the Vilnia Gaon Jewish State Museum;
Polish) science, culture and art history. panoramic views of the Old Town can be seen shaped in the form of phrases “I love you” and
reminders of the former ghetto can be seen in
The city block occupied by the old buildings of from the top of the Gediminas Tower, the Hill “I love you, too”.
the Jewish Quarters of the city. Here you will
the University is a true treasury of science and of Three Crosses, Užupis hill or from a special Some quarry tiles with the inscription “Miracle”
find a monument to the Japanese Consul Chiune
art: collections of old editions are preserved here panorama deck in Subačiaus Street. The Europa located throughout Vilnius will make your
Sugihara (1900–1986), who rescued many Jews
together with a rich collection of atlases, while skyscraper presents a much broader panoramic wishes come true. One of these tiles is in the
during World War II, and a playful sculpture of
the interior of the University is an impressive art view of the centre and neighbouring districts. All Cathedral Square between the Bell Tower and
Doctor Dolittle dedicated to the popular doctor
gallery in itself. areas of Vilnius can be seen from the observation the Cathedral. A tile with a “heart and apple”
Zemach Shabad (1864–1935).
deck in the TV Tower (165 metres above is designed specifically for lovers (Vilnius St. 30,
UŽUPIS REPUBLIC – THE MONTMARTRE OF ground). next to the Monument to S. Moniuška (Stanislaw
SOVIET HERITAGE
VILNIUS
THE GREENEST CAPITAL IN THE CENTRE
The former headquarters of the KGB is a symbol
Užupis, an artists’ district located on a bend OF EUROPE
of Soviet occupation and repression. It now
of the Vilnelė River and going many centuries
houses the Museum of Genocide Victims, which
back in history, is also known as the Republic of The geographical centre of Europe is located
presents frightening deportation statistics and
Užupis. The creative community of the district 26 kilometres north of Vilnius (54° 54’ N, 25°
expositions dedicated to resistance fighters,
organises original celebrations and actions and 19’ E; the centre was established in 1989). Here
and invites visitors to the terrifying cells where
contributes to adorning their republic. Such you can acquire a certificate as a Visitor to the
freedom fighters were kept and tortured.
personalities as the founder of U.S. avant-garde Geographical Centre of Europe (GCE). Europos
Among the heritage of the Soviet times is the
cinema, Jonas Mekas; the spiritual leader of Tibet, Parkas (Park of Europe) is situated near the GCE
Green Bridge (Žaliasis Tiltas) built in 1952 and
the Dalai Lama; and the President of Lithuania, (19 km from the city centre). The huge area
decorated by four sculptures typical of the Soviet
Valdas Adamkus, alongside others are honorary of 55 hectares is used to exhibit around 100
times. The residential building of 1951 near the
citizens of the republic. Užupis’ residents take sculptures created by well-known sculptors from
Neris River on the corner of J. Tumo-Vaižganto
part in the annual Montmartre Fair in Paris. more than 30 countries. Moniuszko)). These magical places can be
and Goštauto streets is a clear example of the
The district hosts many art galleries, craft Parks, public gardens, reserves and other green located easier if you drive a velomobile or a
Stalinist style.
workshops and coffee-shops. A guardian angel areas cover over 46 percent of the city area. segway, or if you walk around the city with an
looks after Užupis from one of its squares, and Some of them have been cultivated, and others audio guide. The mysticism of Vilnius is revealed
the Užupis Mermaid can be seen on the river have preserved their own natural beauty. during the evening excursions called Vilnius
bank. Legends.
4 5
How to get here How to get here
HOW TO GET HERE Hanover–Vilnius 1061 km / 659 mi; Vilnius International Airport Minibuses arrive every 5–15 minutes. Tickets
Helsinki–Vilnius 611 km / 380 mi; Rodūnios kelias 10 A can only be bought from the driver.
It is extremely easy to get to Vilnius. Istanbul–Vilnius 1542 km / 958 mi; Tel. [phone]
Naturally, the fastest way is by air with direct Kyiv–Vilnius 581 km / 361 mi; Fax [phone]
flights available from about 30 European London–Vilnius 1730 km / 1075 mi; E-mail [email protected] AIRLINES
cities and connecting flights – from over Malaga–Vilnius 2064 km / 1281 mi;
Flight schedules are available at
600 other world locations. The railway Milan–Vilnius 1 535 km / 954 mi; Air Baltic
www.vilnius-airport.lt.
connects Vilnius with the whole of Europe Moscow–Vilnius 791 km / 491 mi; Rodūnios kelias 2
and some Asian countries. It is easy to get to Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
Lithuania by car – two European highways
GETTING FROM VILNIUS INTERNA- www.airbaltic.lt
(with branches) cross Lithuania; the interior
TIONAL AIRPORT TO TOWN AND
road network and service infrastructure are
BACK FlyLAL
also superb. You must drive on the right in
A. Gustaičio St. 4
Lithuania. You can leave your car in secure
Tel. [phone]
parking lots situated in various places in the Fax [phone]
city. E-mail [email protected]
The transportation system in the capital www.flylal.com
is efficient; you can reach any city district
by public bus or trolleybus. If you want to Lufthansa
get there faster – take a minibus or a taxi. Rodūnios kelias 2
Tel. [phone]
Numerous locations in the country can
Fax [phone]
be reached by buses leaving from Vilnius
E-mail [email protected]
Bus Station; some cities and towns can be
www.lufthansa.com
reached by train. A trip by bus, trolleybus or
minibus inside the city is very cheap. You will Finnair
By bus
find the prices of public transport tickets in Rodūnios kelias 2
the section “Visitor information”. Tel. [phone]
No. 1 – Airport–Railway Station;
Fax [phone]
No. 2 – Airport–Šeškinė–Centre.
BY AIR E-mail [email protected]
www.finnair.com/lt
The bus schedule is available at bus stops or
Direct flights to Vilnius are available from 28
online at www.vilniustransport.lt. SAS
European cities: Munich–Vilnius 1195 km / 742 mi;
Rodūnios kelias 2
Oslo–Vilnius 1055 km / 655 mi;
Tickets can be bought in press kiosks or from Tel. [phone]
Amsterdam–Vilnius 1376 km / 855 mi; Paris–Vilnius 1704 km / 1059 mi;
the driver. Fax [phone]
Barcelona–Vilnius 2251 km / 1399 mi; Prague–Vilnius 899 km / 559 mi;
E-mail [email protected]
Berlin–Vilnius 828 km / 514 mi; Riga–Vilnius 264 km / 164 mi;
www.sas.lt
By minibus
Brussels–Vilnius 1472 km / 914 mi; Rome–Vilnius 1710 km / 1063 mi;
Copenhagen–Vilnius 826 km / 513 mi; Stockholm–Vilnius 686 km / 426 mi; LOT
No. 15 – Airport–Kalvarijų St.–Santariškės;
Dublin–Vilnius 2054 km / 1276 mi; Tallinn–Vilnius 528 km / 328 mi; Rodūnios kelias 2
No. 20 – Airport–Fabijoniškės;
Düsseldorf–Vilnius 1295 km / 805 mi; Vienna–Vilnius 950 km / 590 mi; Tel. [phone]
No. 23 – Airport–Konstitucijos Ave.–Šeškinė;
Frankfurt–Vilnius 1249 km / 776 mi; Warsaw–Vilnius 365 km / 227 mi; Fax [phone]
Hamburg–Vilnius 1005 km / 624 mi; Zurich–Vilnius 1881 km / 1168 mi; No. 47 – Airport–Pašilaičiai. www.lot.com
6 7
How to get here How to get here
Estonian Air Routes and schedules are available at BY TRAIN Vilnius–Šumskas, 101 motorway
Rodūnios kelias 8 www.eurolines.lt and www.ecolines.lt. Vilnius–Švenčionys–Zarasai, 102 motorway
Tel. [phone] There are direct trains to Vilnius from the Vilnius–Polatsk, 103 motorway
Fax [phone] Vilnius Central Bus Station following countries:
E-mail [email protected] Sodų St. 22 6 European highways cross Lithuania:
www.estonian-air.com Tel. 1661 (for Vilnius or mobile phone calls) Russia (Adler, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad,
Tel. [phone] (for calls from other Moscow, Murmansk, St. Petersburg);
E67 VIA BALTICA: Helsinki–Tallinn–Riga–
Aeroflot towns) Belarus (Brest, Gomel, Minsk);
Pylimo St. 8/2 E-mail [email protected]; www.toks.lt Latvia (Riga); Pasvalys–Panevėžys–Kaunas–Marijampolė–
Tel. [phone] Warsaw–Wroclaw–Prague;
Poland (Warsaw);
Fax [phone] E28 Berlin–Gdansk–Kaliningrad–Kybartai–
Ukraine (Kharkiv, Odessa, Simferopol,
E-mail [email protected] GETTING FROM VILNIUS BUS STATION Truskavets). Marijampolė–Vilnius–Minsk–Gomel;
www.aeroflot.ru
TO TOWN AND BACK E77 Pskov–Riga–Joniškis–Šiauliai–Tauragė–
Vilnius Railway Station Kaliningrad–Gdansk–Warsaw–Krakow–
Austrian Airlines
By bus Geležinkelio St. 16 Budapest;
J. Basanavičiaus St. 11/1
Tel. [phone] Tel. [phone] E85 Klaipėda–Kaunas–Vilnius–Lida–
Fax [phone] No. 53 – Station–Pylimo St.–Kalvarijų Fax [phone] Chernivtsi–Bucharest–Alexandroupol;
E-mail [email protected] St.–Fabijoniškės; E-mail [email protected] E262 Ostrov–Daugaupils–Zarasai–Ukmergė–
www.liturimex.lt No. 26 – Station–Pylimo St.–Santariškės. Kaunas;
Train schedules are available at
E272 Klaipėda–Palanga–Šiauliai–Panevėžys–
Czech Airlines By trolleybus www.litrail.lt.
Ukmergė–Vilnius.
M. Valančiaus St. 4/9
Tel. [phone] No. 1 – Station–Žvėrynas–Karoliniškės; The railway station, just like the bus station,
Fax [phone] is situated close to the Old Town of Vilnius. Numerous parking lots have been set up in
No. 2 – Station–Žygimantų St.–Saulėtekis;
E-mail [email protected] You can find one of the four Vilnius Tourist Vilnius, so you will always find a place for
No. 5 – Station–Žirmūnai;
www.czechairlines.com Information Centres in the station. your car. A large underground parking zone
No. 6 – Žirmūnai–Kalvarijų St.–Basanavičiaus
has been constructed in the very centre of
St.–Žemieji Paneriai;
You can take the same public transport to the city, beneath Gedimino Avenue, whereas
No. 7 – Station–Žvėrynas–Justiniškės–
BY BUS and from the Vilnius railway station as from Tilto Street, situated next to Gedimino
Pašilaičiai.
the bus station. Avenue, hosts multi-storey parking.

There are direct buses to Vilnius from the
By minibus
following countries: If you decide to leave your car in the city
BY CAR
No. 1 – Station–Pilaitė; centre or in the Old Town, one hour of
Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Czech Republic, Denmark, England, No. 2 – Station–Fabijoniškės; You can come to Vilnius by the following parking will cost you 2–4 litas. You can pay
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, No. 4 – Station–Šeškinė; roads: in cash or by credit card at the parking-
No. 5 – Station–Santariškės; meters set up next to the parking lots,
Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland,
Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, No. 6 – Station–Antakalnis; Vilnius–Kaunas–Klaipėda, A1 highway or by sending an SMS message. Usually,
No. 7 – Station–Pašilaičiai. Vilnius–Panevėžys, A2 highway parking is payable between 8:00 and 20:00.
Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia,
Vilnius–Minsk, A3 highway The times are indicated by road signs.
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.
Vilnius–Varėna–Grodno, A4 highway
Vilnius–Utena, A14 highway For more information please consult
Vilnius–Lida, A15 highway www.vilniustransport.lt.
Vilnius–Prienai–Marijampolė, A16 highway
8 9
How to get here Visitor information
HOW TO GET TO TRAKAI, KERNAVĖ, Buses leave for Kernavė around six times per VISITOR INFORMATION Total area: *
KAUNAS OR KLAIPĖDA FROM VILNIUS day, every 30 minutes – 1.5 hours.
By car – take highway A1 or A2 from Vilnius, Lithuania is a member of the European Union and 65,300 square kilometres. Almost one-third
To Trakai then take roads 108 and 116. NATO. Vilnius is the capital of the Republic of of the territory is covered by forests, and 4.5
Lithuania. percent is covered by water. There are over
Vilnius is the largest city in the country: its 2,800 lakes larger than 0.5 hectares in size,
By bus from the Bus Station in Sodų St. 22, To Kaunas
area is 401 square kilometres, and the number and 18 rivers longer than 100 kilometres in
Tel. 1661, departure platforms 6, 7, 8
of residents exceeds 0.5 million (2006). The Lithuania.
(suburban buses), 28 and 29 (intercity bus, By bus from the Bus Station in Sodų St. 22,
country’s GDP increases by 7–7.5 percent every
via Alytus). Buses to Trakai leave around Tel. 1661, departure platforms 35, 36 or 37. year; one-third of it is created in Vilnius County.
50 times per day (40 times per day on the On weekdays, over 20 buses leave for The administrative authority and business entities Climate: *
weekends), every 10–20 minutes. Kaunas at various intervals (from 10 minutes of the country are concentrated in Vilnius.
By train from the Railway Station in to one hour). Thirteen banks operate in Lithuania, electronic Oceanic/continental. The average temperature
Geležinkelio St. 16, Tel. [phone]. By train from the Railway Station in banking services are well developed, and credit in July is +17°C, and in January is -4.9°C.
cards are accepted almost everywhere in the Temperatures can soar up to +30°C in
By car – A16 highway. Geležinkelio St. 16, Tel. [phone].
capital. summer, and drop down to -32°C in winter.
By car – A1 highway.
Lithuania is among the leading European countries
in mobile communication. Thus, finding an internet
Local Time: *
café or a wireless zone is fairly easy in Vilnius
To Klaipėda (Pilies, Vokiečių streets, Cathedral Sq., Gedimino
Ave., Vilnius International Airport, Vilnius Tourist Lithuania lies in the Eastern European Time
By bus from the Bus Station in Sodų St. 22, Information Centres in Didžioji St. 31 (Town Hall) Zone, GMT + 2 hours (same as, Helsinki, Riga,
Tel. 1661, departure platforms 35 and 37. and in Vilniaus St. 22). and Tallinn).
Buses to Klaipėda leave around eight times Signs indicating directions to the most interesting
locations and streets have been set up along the
per day at various intervals (from 30 minutes Ethnic Composition: *
main tourist routes in the city. You can travel
to eight hours).
around Vilnius by bicycle: over 70 kilometres of
By train from the Railway Station in Lithuanians – 83.5%, Polish – 6.7%, Russians
bicycle paths exist in Vilnius.
Geležinkelio St. 16, Tel. [phone]. – 6.3%, Belarusians – 1.2%, others – 2.3%.
Lithuanians – and especially Vilnius residents – are
By car – A1 highway. among the most educated people in the EU Lithuania is home to as many as 115 different
ethnic groups.
To Kernavė and know more languages than people in other
EU nations. Visitors to the country distinguish
By bus from the Bus Station in Sodų St. 22, diligence and hospitability as the national traits of Religion: *
Tel. 1661, departure platforms 10 or 11. Lithuanians.
Predominantly Roman Catholic (approximately
Geographic Location: * 80% of the total population). Other religions
include Orthodox, Lutheran, Evangelical
The Republic of Lithuania lies on the eastern Reformed churches, Old Believers, Judaism,
coast of the Baltic Sea. The country borders Sunni Islam, and Karaite.
Latvia in the north (588 km), Belarus in the
east (660 km), and Poland (103 km) and the Language. *
Kaliningrad Region of the Russian Federation
(273 km) in the south. Lithuania holds 90 The state language is Lithuanian.
kilometres of the Baltic Sea coast.
* Information provided by the Lithuanian State
Department of Tourism.
10 11
Visitor information Visitor information
National Currency and Payments City Codes Medical Aid Car Rental
The national currency is the Lithuanian Litas Birštonas (8) 319 Baltic & American Clinics
(LTL). The exchange rate is 1 EUR = 3.4528 Druskininkai (8) 313 Nemenčinės plentas 54A
LTL. Ignalina (8) 386 Tel. [phone] (24/7)
GSM [phone] (24/7)
Kaunas (8) 37
Fax [phone]
Klaipėda (8) 46
E-mail [email protected]
Public Holidays: Lazdijai (8) 318
www.bak.lt
Molėtai (8) 383
1 January – New Year; Neringa (8) 469 Medical Diagnostic Centre
16 February – Day of Re-establishment of Palanga (8) 460 V. Grybo St. 32/10
the State of Lithuania (Independence Day); Panevėžys (8) 45 Tel. [phone]
11 March – Day of Restoration of Šiauliai (8) 41 GSM [phone] (24/7)
Independence of Lithuania; Trakai (8) 528 Fax [phone]
23 March 2008 – Easter Sunday; Vilnius (8) 5 E-mail [email protected]
Avis
www.medcentras.lt
1 May – International Labour Day; Laisvės Ave. 3
24 June – St. John’s (Midsummer) Day; Tel. [phone]
Vilnius Gedimino Pharmacy
6 July – Day of Statehood (Crowning of Currency Exchange in City Centre and Fax [phone]
Gedimino Ave. 27
Lithuanian King Mindaugas); Old Town E-mail [email protected]
Tel. [phone]
15 August – Assumption; Rodūnios kelias 2
Open: 24/7
1 November – All Saints’ Day; Hansabankas, Vokiečių St. 26 Tel./fax [phone]
E-mail [email protected]
25 and 26 December – Christmas. Nordea, Didžioji St. 18/2 Vokiečių Pharmacy
www.avis.lt
DNB Nord, Pilies St. 36 Didžioji St. 13
Parex Bank, Geležinkelio St. 6 (open: 24/7) Tel. [phone]
Hertz
Emergency Telephone SEB Vilnius Bank, Gedimino Ave. 12 Open: Mon to Sun 8:00–19:00
Kalvarijų St. 14
Snoras, Gedimino Ave. 2
Tel. [phone]
In case of emergency call 112. No prefix Sampo, Gedimino Ave. 49A Fax [phone]
necessary. Ūkio Bankas, A. Goštauto St. 40 Weather forecasts E-mail [email protected]
Rodūnios kelias 2
You can exchange currency in almost all You can find a five-day weather forecast at Tel./fax [phone]
Information Hotline banks. The commission rate for currency www.meteo.lt. E-mail [email protected]
www.hertz.lt
exchange is 2 litas. Please note that most
For information about anything in Lithuania at banks are only open on weekdays until
Europcar
any time of day or night dial 118 or 1588. 17:00. However, banks set up in large
L. Stuokos-Gucevičiaus St. 9–1
shopping malls are open on weekends and
Tel. [phone]
their working hours on weekdays are much
Fax [phone]
longer. In urgent situations currency can be E-mail [email protected]
exchanged at the reception desks in larger Rodūnios kelias 2
hotels. Tel./fax [phone]
E-mail [email protected]
www.europcar.lt
12 13
Visitor information Visitor information
A&A Litinterp A single public transport ticket bought in a Vilnius with your friends, book one of the VTIC also acts as a conference bureau:
Bernardinų St. 7–2 press kiosk costs 1.10 litas. If you buy a ticket thematic excursions. Your business partners it accumulates and provides information
Tel. [phone] from the driver, it will cost you 1.40 litas. or office colleagues will immensely enjoy the about possible conference venues, service
Fax [phone] A one-day ticket costs 6 litas, a three-day suppliers, programmes for incentive trips and
E-mail [email protected] organises orientation visits. Visit the internet
ticket costs 14 litas, and a ten-day ticket costs
www.litinterp.com site www.vilnius-convention.lt, where you will
27 litas. The same tickets are valid for both
find detailed information about conference
Budget buses and trolleybuses. A trip by minibus venues, hotels, programmes for incentive
Rodūnios kelias 2 costs 2 to 3 litas. trips and contacts for highly qualified
Tel. [phone] conference organisers.
Fax [phone]
E-mail [email protected] Taxi You will find more information about us at
www.vilnius-tourism.lt.
Ukmergės St. 280
Tel. [phone] A trip by taxi costs 2 to 3 litas per kilometre.
Fax [phone] Short taxi phone numbers: 1445, 1422, 1313,
E-mail [email protected] VTIC Contacts:
1818, 1446, 1800, 1421, 1411, 1410, 1403, impressive excursions featuring performances
www.budget.lt
1441 (no prefix needed). and including refreshments. If you prefer a
Main Office
Ollex traditional trip around the famous places Vilniaus St. 22, LT-01119 Vilnius
of the Old Town, you can join the regular Tel. [phone]
Rodūnios kelias 8–423
TOURIST INFORMATION excursion “Discover the Old Town of Fax [phone]
Tel. [phone]
E-mail [email protected], [email protected]
Fax [phone] Vilnius”. Regular excursions are organised
Open:
E-mail [email protected] Vilnius Tourist Information Centre (VTIC) every day from 15 May to 15 September in
November–March: Mon to Fri 9:00–18:00,
www.autonuoma.lt English and German. Excursions leave from Sat 10:00–16:00, closed on Sun;
Visit one of the four Vilnius Tourist the Bell Tower in the Cathedral Square at April–October: Mon to Fri 9:00–18:00,
Information Centres (VTIC), and you will 14:00. Sat, Sun 10:00–16:00
Public Transport receive a map of Vilnius, publications about
Didžioji St. 31, LT-01128 Vilnius
Vilnius and Lithuania, and other information And if you want to experience something
(Vilnius Town Hall)
Trolleybuses and buses start running in Vilnius of interest. VTIC staff will help you reserve really extreme – order a flight by hot air Tel. [phone]
at 5:00 a.m. and return to their parks around a room in a hotel or a guest house or offer balloon and take a look at the capital from a Fax [phone]
midnight. The routes and schedules can be you other accommodation possibilities. They bird’s eye view! Open: Mon to Fri 9:00–18:00,
found in every trolleybus or bus stop or at will refer you to the best places for shopping Sat, Sun 10:00–16:00
www.vilniustransport.lt. or eating out, tell you about the events going You can buy souvenirs or postcards with
Geležinkelio St. 16, LT-02100 Vilnius
on in the city, and suggest other leisure the sights of Vilnius to remind you of your (Railway Station)
activities. trip to the city. In addition, Vilnius residents Tel./fax [phone]
and guests of the capital are welcome to use Open: Mon to Fri 9:00–18:00,
Sat, Sun 10:00–16:00
If you want to see the most popular sights of their portable or palm (PDA) computers
Vilnius, you can rent an audio guide together to browse the internet in VTIC offices at
Konstitucijos Ave. 3, LT-09601 Vilnius
with a special map and get acquainted Vilniaus St. 22 and Didžioji St. 31 (Town (Vilnius City Municipality)
with the Old Town on your own. You can Hall). Tel. [phone]
choose a bicycle trip around Vilnius; bikes Open: Mon to Thu 9:00–17:00,
Fri 9:45–15:45, closed Sat, Sun
can be rented in the Tourist Information
Centre in Vilniaus Street. If you dream about
www.vilnius-tourism.lt
participating in an interesting trip around
www.vilnius-convention.lt
14 15
Visitor information Visitor information
VILNIUS AND LITHUANIA ONLINE www.migracija.lt www.tours.lt www.baltikuminfo.de
Official website of the Migration Department Lithuanian tourism catalogue. Website of the Baltic States Tourist
Official Websites under the Ministry of the Interior of the Languages: Lithuanian, English, German, Information Centre in Berlin.
Republic of Lithuania; provides important Russian. German.
www.vilnius.lt information on the issues of migration.
Official website of Vilnius City Municipality. Languages: Lithuanian, English, Russian. www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/ www.lituaniatur.com
Languages: Lithuanian, English. europe/lithuania Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
The web pages from the popular Lonely Information Centre in Barcelona.
Travel and Tourism
www.president.lt Planet series that provide information about Spanish.
The official website of the President of the
www.vilnius-tourism.lt Lithuania and its cities.
Republic of Lithuania provides information
Website of the Vilnius Tourist Information English. www.liettua.fi
about the work, institution and family of the
Centre. Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
President.
Languages: Lithuanian, English. www.litauen-info.de Information Centre in Helsinki.
Languages: Lithuanian, English, French, Russian.
Website providing basic information about Finnish.
www.travel.lt Lithuania.
www.lrs.lt The official website of the Lithuanian Tourism
German. www.litinfo.ru
Official website of the Parliament of the Development Agency introduces the main
Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
Republic of Lithuania. tourism resources of Lithuania.
www.vilna.info Information Centre in Moscow.
Languages: Lithuanian, English, French, Chinese. Languages: Lithuanian, English, German, Russian,
Website providing detailed tourist Russian.
Polish.
information about Vilnius and Lithuania.
www.lrv.lt
Finnish. www.litwatravel.com
Official website of the Government of the www.muziejai.lt
Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
Republic of Lithuania. Official website of Lithuanian museums.
Languages: Lithuanian, English. Languages: Lithuanian, English, German, French. www.litva.ru Information Centre in Warsaw.
Website created by the Club of Friends of Polish.
www.lietuva.lt www.visiteurope.com/lithuania Lithuania.
Lithuania’s Main Gateway. Official website of the European Travel Russian. www.lithuaniatourism.co.uk
Languages: Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, English, Commission. Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
German, French. English. www.litva.sk Information Centre in London.
Detailed website dedicated to Lithuania. English.
www.balticsea.com
www.tourism.lt Slovak.
Official website of the Baltic Sea Tourism
Official website of the Lithuanian State www.infotourlituanie.fr
Commission.
Tourism Department under the Ministry of www.lituania.com.ar Website of the Lithuanian Tourist
English.
Economy of the Republic of Lithuania. Website created by Lithuanian communities Information Centre in Paris.
Languages: Lithuanian, English. of Argentina, Brazil and Spain. French.
www.inyourpocket.com/lithuania/en
Website presenting Lithuania and various cities Languages: Spanish, Portuguese.
www.urm.lt in the country.
Official website of the Ministry of Foreign English. www.litwa.pl
Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania; provides Website where you will find useful
information about diplomatic representations, www.exploring.eu information about the country, its traditions,
foreign policy and consular issues. Website presenting Lithuania and various cities and its inhabitants.
Languages: Lithuanian, English, French. in the country. Polish.
Languages: English, German, Russian.
16 17
History History
HISTORY Founding of Vilnius – the Legend Gediminas, Vilnius is mentioned for the first 1795 After the third partition of the
time in written sources as the capital of Commonwealth of the Two States, Lithuania
Lithuania is the oldest state of the Baltic Once upon a time, Grand Duke Gediminas Lithuania. is annexed by Russia and turned into a Russian
countries. The pope proclaimed Lithuania of Lithuania was hunting in the sacred forests 1387 Grand Duke Jogaila baptises Lithuania, province. Many city residents are killed or
a European kingdom in 1251, after King of the Šventaragis Valley. Feeling tired after forms a union between Lithuania and the deported into the Eastern regions of the
Mindaugas united all Lithuanian tribes in the a long and successful hunt, duke decided to Kingdom of Poland, and grants Vilnius the rights Russian Empire.
13th century and was baptised, thus turning the spend the night there. He had barely closed of a city. 1830–1831 An uprising for independence
young state toward the direction of European his eyes when he dreamt a peculiar dream: 1410 The army led by the Polish King Jogaila against the Russian administration in the former.
culture. he saw a huge iron wolf standing atop the and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas Commonwealth of the Two Nations is caused
hill where he had killed a bison. The wolf, achieves a decisive victory against German by repression and abuse of power by the
In the 13–15th centuries the Great Duchy of with his head raised proudly towards the orders at Žalgiris (Grunwald). empire.
Lithuania developed into a large medieval state moon, howled as loud as a hundred wolves. 14–15th centuries Lithuania, including its 1831 Following the defeat of the uprising, the
annexed lands, becomes one of the largest
spread over the larger part of Eastern Europe. Awakened by the rising sun, the duke Russian administration closes Vilnius University,
states in Europe.
The 16th century was a time when Vilnius remembered the dream and asked a pagan turns Catholic churches into Orthodox
1495 The first workshops for goldsmiths and
prospered: the capital became one of the most priest, Lizdeika, to reveal the mystery of the churches, and closes monasteries or turns them
tailors are opened in Vilnius. The capital starts
beautiful cities in Eastern Europe and we still dream. Here is how the priest interpreted into barracks.
developing as a centre of Eastern European
admire its heritage today. it: “What has been proposed by the gods 1864 The Lithuanian press is banned. Books
trade, industry and culture.
for the ruler and for Lithuania shall happen! in Lithuanian are published in Prussia and
1501 The city water-supply system starts
The iron wolf symbolises an insurmountable distributed in Lithuania secretly by book
operating.
castle and a city which will be founded by the smugglers (knygnešiai). Secret Lithuanian
1552 Francisk Skorina establishes the first
ruler of this place. The city will become the printing shop in the city. The city becomes one schools open.
capital of Lithuanian lands, and the howling of the most famous book-printing centres in 1869 The St. Petersburg–Vilnius– Warsaw
of the wolf represents the fame of the city, Europe. railway line is constructed, an iron foundry and
which will reach the farthest corners of the 1547 The first Lithuanian book, Catechesis by a tobacco factory are opened, and the first
world.” Thus, the Grand Duke Gediminas of Martynas Mažvydas, is published in Kaliningrad. brewery is set up.
Lithuania conceded to the will of the gods 1569 Following the Union of Lublin, which 1896–1902 Vilnius becomes the centre of a
and started to build the future capital, the formed the single state of Poland and Lithuania national revival.
name for which – Vilnius – was derived from – the Commonwealth of Two Nations – Vilnius 1904 The ban on the Lithuanian press is lifted.
the name of the Vilnia River. loses its administrative powers, and Warsaw 16 February 1918 The independence of the
becomes the centre of the huge joint state. state is restored.
1579 A school established by the Jesuits in 1920 Poland occupies the region of Vilnius.
Vilnius is granted the status of a university. The The capital of Lithuania is moved to Kaunas.
Key Dates of Vilnius and Lithuania’s History
university turns into the main cultural centre in 1939–1940 Lithuanian independence ends
the region. with the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop
1009 Lithuania is mentioned for the first
Pact between the Soviet Union and Germany,
time in written sources – the Chronicle of
whereby Europe is divided into areas of political
Quedlinburg.
influence. The Soviet Union returns Vilnius to
1251 Lithuania (the only pagan country left in
The history of Lithuania is full of drama: wars Lithuania and occupies the entire country.
Europe) is granted the status of kingdom by a
and occupations have lasted for 700 years of World War II During World War II, the
Papal Bull.
the 1000 years of its history. The strong longing Old Town of Vilnius suffers serious damage.
1253 Duke Mindaugas is crowned the King of
for freedom made Lithuania independent However, numerous valuable monuments
Lithuania. 6 July is now Lithuanian Statehood
twice: in 1918 and in 1990, during the “singing remain untouched.
Day.
revolution”. The Lithuania of today is an active
1323 During the rule of Grand Duke
and promising member of the EU.
18 19