Hill of Three Crosses, Vilnius, Lithuania

On the hill stand three white crosses, each 12 meters tall. This place is a symbol of Lithuania’s national identity and commemorates tragic events from the 14th century, when, according to legend, seven Franciscans were murdered here by pagan inhabitants. Four of them were thrown into the nearby Wilenka River, and three crosses with the bodies of the martyrs were placed on the hill.

The first wooden crosses were erected between 1613 and 1636, and the existing concrete monument was created in 1916 based on a design by Antoni Wiwulski. The monument was destroyed by Soviet authorities in 1950 and later rebuilt in 1989, shortly before Lithuania regained its independence.

From the Hill of Three Crosses, there is a beautiful view of Vilnius’ Old Town, and the hill itself is a popular walking spot and an important historical and cultural symbol of Vilnius.

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A little bit of Vilnius.
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St. Anne’s Church, Vilnius, Lithuania (part 2 of 2)

The interior of the church, although the church itself is a gem of Flamboyant Gothic with an extraordinary, lace-like façade made from 33 types of bricks, does not match the originality and finesse of its façade. It is a single-nave church, and much of its interior decoration dates back to the early 20th century, when a comprehensive renovation was carried out. The altars in the church are in the Baroque style, which does not entirely harmonize with the Gothic architecture of the temple. The main altar contains the painting of St. Anne the Mother of the Virgin (St. Anne Samotrzeć), and the side altars and furnishings such as the organ case, pulpit, and confessionals come from the time of this renovation. In the side aisles, there are also preserved Gothic frescoes and crystal and net vaults, which are a unique heritage of sacred art from the early 16th century.

Although the interior of the church is less impressive than the façade, it is nevertheless a valuable sanctuary of Gothic art with Baroque elements and testifies to the long history of its use and evolving decoration.

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St. Anne’s Church, Vilnius, Lithuania (part 1 of 2)

This is one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Lithuanian capital and a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. It was built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, and its founder was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Alexander Jagiellon.

The church was constructed between 1495 and 1500, and its main architect was Michał Enkinger from Gdańsk, although some sources also mention Benedykt Rejt as a possible designer. The church initially served as the chapel of the St. Anne’s Brotherhood and was adjacent to the Bernardine monastery complex.

The building has undergone many repairs and reconstructions – after fires, the collapse of the vaulting in 1563, and during major renovations in the 20th and 21st centuries. An important stage was the restoration from 1902 to 1909 and another one from 2009 to 2010, when the heavily damaged façade and roof were secured.

St. Anne’s Church enchants with its Gothic façade, which was made using as many as 33 types of hand-profiled bricks! Two openwork towers, saddleback arches, and a wealth of Gothic details make the church a true architectural gem and one of the symbols of Vilnius.

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Town Hall Square, Vilnius, Lithuania

This is the historic center of the city, with origins dating back to the Middle Ages. As early as the 15th century, a Gothic town hall stood on this square, serving administrative, judicial, and commercial functions – it housed, among other things, the mayors’ meeting hall, an armory, an archive, a prison, as well as the city scales and a pillory used for administering justice. The square was an important place for gatherings and public spectacles.

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