Gediminas’ Tower (Gedimino Pilies)

There is no better public place to observe the city of Vilnius. Placed in the city center on a hill which measures 71 meters, it is a national symbol. By the way, the tower was depicted on the national currency : the litas.

Gediminas’ tower name comes from the name of the first grand duke of Lithuania (~1275-1341).

The tower is the only remaining part of the castle of Vilnius. This castle was building in 13th century and was rebuilt in 1419 by Grand Duke Vytaukas (~1350-1430) following a fire. It was used as a prison in 1610. Unfortunately, the castle was almost completely destroyed during the Russian occupation between 1655 and 1661. The restoration of the tower began in 1930.

There is a museum inside the tower but it doesn’t contain a lot of information : the museum has only some pictures, models of the structure as it appeared in the 14th and 18th centuries and pieces on the building’s history and knight armours.

Gediminas’ tower is also the place where ended the human chain on August 1989. This chain bounded the three Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) to protest against the Soviet occupation.

Sources :

http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/fr/voir/top-20/tour-du-chateau-de-gediminas/

Vilnius In Your Pocket