Vilnius
In the sacred forest near Šventaragis' Valley, Grand Duke Gediminas hunted a wisent that lasted longer than expected. He decided to spend the night in the valley where the Vilnia River flows into the Neris. That night he dreamed of a huge Iron Wolf standing on top of a hill and howling loudly. Upon awakening the Duke asked the krivis Lizdeika to interpret the dream. The chief priest explained that the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by him on this site. This city would become the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers. Gediminas obeyed the gods and built two castles: the Lower Castle in the valley and the Crooked Castle on Bald Hill. He moved his court there and declared it his permanent seat and capital. He named the surrounding area Vilnius after the tributary river. The name first appeared in Latin-edited letters by Gediminas from the year 1323. In another letter from 1325 the form Wilno also appears. Both forms ultimately originate from the old Lithuanian name of the river meaning ripple.
Vilnius became significant in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as a Baltic settlement since its foundation. It was the capital of the Grand Duchy from 1323 until 1795 within the Polish, Lithuanian Commonwealth. The city flourished under the Commonwealth especially after the 1579 establishment of Vilnius University by the Lithuanian Grand Duke Stephen Báthory. It had diverse communities with Polish Jewish Orthodox and German populations. Contemporary sources compared it to Babylon due to the many languages spoken there. By the middle of the 17th century most writing was in Polish. City was inhabited by a large number of Italian and Swiss artisans as well. All European nations were presented to an extent including French Spanish Swedes and even some Croatians. Especially in the 16th and 17th centuries Vilnius was called the New Babylon because of its many religions. Before World War II and the Holocaust Vilnius was one of Europe's most important Jewish centres. Napoleon dubbed it the Jerusalem of the North when he passed through in 1812. After that war Vilnius became the capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. Following independence in 1990 for the first time in modern history Lithuanians became a clear majority.
The Old Town covers about 3.6 square kilometers and its history dates to the Neolithic. The historic centre consists of three castles and the area previously encircled by the Wall of Vilnius. Streets are small and narrow with large squares later developed. Pilies Street the main artery links the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania with Vilnius Town Hall. Historic buildings feature Gothic Renaissance Baroque and classical architecture. Disasters resulted in building reconstructions in Vilnian Baroque style which later influenced the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Artists such as Matteo Castelli and Pietro Perti from the present-day Canton of Ticino were preferred by the Grand Duke. They designed the Chapel of Saint Casimir. The Lithuanian Laurynas Gucevičius was a noted classical architect in the city. The Old Town was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The Vilnius Historic Centre is noted for maintaining its medieval street pattern with no significant gaps. Some places were damaged during Lithuania's occupations and wars including Cathedral Square demolished in 1795. The Great Synagogue and part of the buildings in Vokiečių Street were demolished after World War II.
Vilnius was an artistic centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania attracting artists across Europe. The oldest surviving early Gothic artworks from the 14th century are paintings dedicated to churches and liturgy. Sixteenth-century wall paintings are in the city's Church of St. Francis and St. Bernard and the Church of Saint Nicholas. During the late-16th-century Baroque wall painting developed with frescoes featuring bright colors sophisticated angles and drama. Secular painting spread at this time representing representative imaginative epitaph portraits scenes of battles and politically important events. Italian sculptors such as G. P. Perti G. M. Galli and A. S. Capone were commissioned by Lithuanian nobility. Their works exemplify the mature Baroque with expressive forms and sensuality. Local sculptors emphasized Baroque decorative features with less expression and emotion. The Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival in Vilnius has been presented every four years since 1990 for about 30,000 singers and folk dancers in Vingis Park. In 2008 the festival and its Latvian and Estonian counterparts were designated as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Vilnius is an important center for the global fintech industry. It hosted the 2023 NATO Summit. In 2025 Vilnius was the European Green Capital. The city's budget reached €1.0 billion in 2022. In the second quarter of 2024 the average monthly salary in Vilnius was €2,501.1 gross and €1,526.2 net. Lithuania has over 50 percent of the world's market share in ultrashort pulses lasers produced by Vilnius-based companies. A laser system was produced in 2019 for the Extreme Light Infrastructure laboratory in Szeged which produces high-intensity ultra-short pulses. Corning Inc. bought a glass-cutting licence from the Vilnius-based laser company Altechna. Vilnius Tech Park in Sapieha Park unites international startups technology companies accelerators and incubators. fDi Intelligence ranked Vilnius number one city on its 2019 Tech Start-up FDI Attraction Index. Vilnius had the world's fastest internet speed in 2011 and remains one of the world's leaders despite falling rankings.
On the 11th of March 1990 the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR announced its secession from the Soviet Union. On the 9th of January 1991 the Soviet Union sent in troops. This culminated in the 13th of January attack on the State Radio and Television Building and Vilnius TV Tower which killed 14 civilians. The Soviet Union recognised Lithuanian independence in September 1991. According to the Constitution of Lithuania the capital of the State of Lithuania shall be the city of Vilnius. Remigijus Šimašius became the city's first directly elected mayor in 2015. The Vilnius City Municipality is the representative self-government organ established in 1990. It is elected to four-year terms and candidates are nominated by political parties and committees. Beginning with the 2011 elections independent candidates are permitted. Its executive organ is the Mayor who was appointed by the council before 2015. Since that year mayors were elected in a two-round system. The Seimas Palace in Gediminas Avenue houses the parliamentarians of Lithuania where the country's national government convenes.
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Common questions
When was Vilnius founded by Grand Duke Gediminas?
Grand Duke Gediminas established the city of Vilnius in 1323 after dreaming of an Iron Wolf. The name first appeared in Latin-edited letters from that year, with another form Wilno appearing in a letter from 1325.
Why is Vilnius called the Jerusalem of the North?
Napoleon dubbed Vilnius the Jerusalem of the North when he passed through the city in 1812. Before World War II and the Holocaust, it served as one of Europe's most important Jewish centres.
What architectural styles define the Old Town of Vilnius?
Historic buildings in the Old Town feature Gothic Renaissance Baroque and classical architecture. Disasters resulted in building reconstructions in Vilnian Baroque style which later influenced the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Which year did Vilnius become a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
The Old Town of Vilnius was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. It maintains its medieval street pattern with no significant gaps despite damage during occupations and wars.
When did Lithuania declare independence from the Soviet Union?
On the 11th of March 1990 the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR announced its secession from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union recognised Lithuanian independence in September 1991 following attacks on the State Radio and Television Building and Vilnius TV Tower.