Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius

Vilnius Cathedral, Vilnius (must see)

The Vilnius Cathedral is the heart of Catholic spiritual life in Lithuania. The first cathedral was built in 1251 after King Mindaugas converted to Christianity, on a site that had previously been used for pagan worship. Archaeological remains of that earlier structure can still be found beneath the current building, offering a glimpse into the city鈥檚 layered history.

After Lithuania鈥檚 official conversion to Christianity in 1387, a Gothic cathedral was commissioned, which burned down in 1419. Grand Duke Vytautas oversaw the construction of a new cathedral in 1429, intended for his coronation, although the ceremony never took place. Later additions included a bell tower in 1522 and multiple chapels and crypts between 1534 and 1557, reflecting the growing importance of the cathedral in the city鈥檚 religious and civic life.

The Chapel of Saint Casimir, added in 1636, features Baroque decoration with frescoes by Michelangelo Palloni and an altar and stuccowork by Pietro Perti. Statues within the chapel represent key political figures connected to the Jagiellonian dynasty, offering insight into the cathedral鈥檚 historical and cultural significance.

After the southern tower collapsed in 1769, the cathedral was rebuilt in its current Neoclassical style, with sculpted saints adorning the fa莽ade and roof. The nearby bell tower houses an exhibition on the cathedral鈥檚 history and provides panoramic views of Vilnius鈥檚 Old Town.

In 1993, Pope John Paul II began his visit to Lithuania at the cathedral, underscoring its enduring role in the nation鈥檚 history.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vilnius. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Vilnius Cathedral
Sight Location: Vilnius, Lithuania (See walking tours in Vilnius)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Vilnius Old Town Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Vilnius, Lithuania

Create Your Own Walk in Vilnius

Creating your own self-guided walk in Vilnius is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

U啪upis District Walking Tour

A tiny isolated area and a former suburb, which now forms part of the Old Town of Vilnius, the Uzupis district is often compared, for its bohemian and laissez-faire atmosphere, to Montmartre of Paris and Freetown Christiania of Copenhagen. Similarly to the latter, in 1997, the district declared itself an independent republic; the tongue-in-cheek constitution of the self-proclaimed 鈥渞epublic鈥�,... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Historical Churches Tour

As the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese and the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Lithuania, Vilnius boasts a wealth of gorgeous churches featuring diverse architectural styles 鈥� Gothic, Baroque, to mention but a few. Many of the local churches are historical, having witnessed centuries of events and become iconic landmarks of the Lithuanian capital.

One of the most famous temples in Vilnius... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

Vilnius Old Town Walking Tour

Legend has it that Grand Duke Gediminas dreamed of an iron wolf howling on a hill, inspiring him to found a city that would grow into today鈥檚 Vilnius. Centuries later, in 1812, when Napoleon passed through Vilnius during his Russian campaign, he reportedly described the city as 鈥渁 pearl of the north, full of charm and surprises.鈥�

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is one of Eastern... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

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