The Trakai Island Castle is surrounded by a tranquil blue lake.
Like Italy’s Rome, a wolf was involved in the founding of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
Legend has it that while on a hunt near River Vilnia, Duke Gediminas dreamt of a mythical creator known as the “Iron Wolf”. The lone wolf was howling on a nearby hill, though it sounded like a thousand wolves instead.
The duke’s pagan priest then interpreted the dream as a sign to build a city there – which Gediminas did, almost immediately, and named it Vilnius.
Today, the statue of Duke Gediminas with his horse and the Iron Wolf can be found at the Cathedral Square of Vilnius. The first thing you would probably realise about the statue is that the duke is standing beside his horse, and not mounting it, which signifies that he was a great diplomat rather than a warrior.
Gediminas forged many alliances with other states including the Holy See to protect and expand his kingdom, even though he himself had remained a pagan till his death.
At the Cathedral Square, Vilnius Cathedral and its belfry stand imposingly. It is also here that you can find the Palace of the Grand Dukes, or rather, a replica of it as the original had been destroyed. It is now a museum and concert hall.
Behind the square is the Gediminas Tower, which sits on the same hill where the wolf was said to have howled. You can either walk up the hill or take a short funicular ride to the tower. From the top of the building, a grand view of the city opens up.
The Vilnius Cathedral with its huge belfry. — Photos: KOO WEE HON
Vilnius is bound by two rivers: the bigger Neris and the smaller Vilnia, for which the city is named. There are walkways along the banks of the Neris, great for a stroll in the summer setting sun.
A pedestrian bridge called White Bridge will get you across the river. Here you can see why Lithuania, despite a population of only 2.8 million, is a world powerhouse in basketball, as there are numerous basketball courts that seem to always be packed with teams playing.
Vilnia is a gentle river that is shallow in some parts, and there are parks and woods on both sides of it. The cold water was a wonderful relief for our hot tired feet after a long day of wandering and sightseeing in the city.
Along the Vilnia is the Republic of Uzupis, a unique settlement which declared independence on April 1, 1997. It has its own president, anthem, and flag. Residents pay no taxes, and a constitution written in numerous languages is fastened to a wall for all to see. Cats and dogs are bestowed constitutional rights here, and owners are guaranteed the right to own these pets.
One of the street art pieces at the Open Gallery.
Uzupis is an artistic and bohemian enclave and there are usually sculptors sitting by the river. It’s a good experience to hang out with these artists and contemplate what the world would be like if it adopted Uzupis’s unique constitution.
For a country founded by a pagan king, Lithuania now ranks as one of the most religious countries in the world. Vilnius alone has 25 churches and they are almost always packed during mass services. These churches were built earlier by the knights, as well as those who were rich and elite.
The impressive ones apart from the main cathedral are the Church Of St Anne And Bernardine Complex with its decorative brick construction, and the Gates Of Dawn, which was initially part of the defensive gates.
Gates Of Dawn is a pedestrian pass built under the church.
There are also tons of museums here – 30, in fact. The standouts include the KGB Museum which were previously prison cells, and the Palace Of The Grand Dukes Museum.
On top of Kalny Park is the Hill Of Three Crosses where three concrete crosses were built to replace the ones knocked down by the Soviet Union army, when they ruled the country once upon a time. Lithuania was the first nation to declare independence from USSR in 1990.
The city has numerous works of street art that can be found all around. Check out the Open Gallery, a large, open-air gallery set in a gritty industrial area with plenty of street art pieces like installations and murals.
There are quite a few streets with vibrant atmosphere in the evenings, like the Gedimino Avenue, which is lined with swanky restaurants and bars on both sides.
My wife and I made our way out of the city for a day to explore Trakai Island Castle, a medieval Gothic castle that was rebuilt on an island in the middle of a huge lake. There are boat cruises around the lake, but we chose to hike to some interesting spots in the surrounding area instead.
The national dish of Lithuania is cepelinai, is a potato dumpling stuffed with spiced ground meat. There’s also kepta duona or baked bread, which are strips of dark rye bread fried in oil and rubbed with garlic, and lastly, topped with cheese.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
Visiting Vilnius, Lithuania
The Trakai Island Castle is surrounded by a tranquil blue lake.
Church of St Anne And Bernardine Complex is beautiful.
One of the street art pieces at the Open Gallery.
Gates Of Dawn is a pedestrian pass built under the church.
The writer’s wife cooling off on the banks of the River Vilnia after a long day of walking.
The Vilnius Cathedral with its huge belfry. — Photos: KOO WEE HON
