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(Darbą įkėlė Svečias)

Darbas:

14th century, but over the years several more floors and a spire were added to it (as well as a set of bells). Cathedral Square also holds a statue to Grand Duke Gediminas, who according to legend was the founder of the city (apparently he had a dream to build a city on this spot. Bit of a boring dream if you ask me, but it's all worked out for the best in the end). The statue is modern but done in a traditional style, ie you can tell what it's supposed to be, it doesn't have two heads, etc. Be warned that the plinth on which the statue is placed is of Ukrainian granite and is therefore avoided by some who fear that it has been contaminated by radiation from Chernobyl (interesting fact: ALL granite is naturally radioactive. At last my A-level in Geology come in useful).
The area of parks and open spaces that makes up this part of the city centre was once the site of one of Vilnius' castles. There had been a castle in Vilnius since at least the 11th century (although

according to legend the city was only founded as recently as 1323). What was once the Lower Castle was transformed into a Royal Palace in the 16th century but was then mostly destroyed at the beginning of the 19th .A few buildings still remain. One now contains the National Museum of Lithuania (at Arsenalo 1; the building was previously, and surprisingly enough, the Palace Arsenal.). This museum contains various artefacts charting Lithuania's history from pre-history to the present day. This museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Pretty much next door (in the Old Arsenal, whereas the National Museum is in the New Arsenal; imaginative lot these castle builders) is the Museum of Applied Arts, containing samples of Lithuanian and foreign art and design. This one's closed on Mondays. Just behind the Cathedral (at Katedros 3, between the Cathedral and Gediminas Hill) is the Lower Castle Museum which traces the history of the Lower Castle and which displays some of the finds of the extensive archaeological digs that have been conducted on the site of the Lower Castle. This is closed at the weekends.
Seeing as though there was once a Lower Castle it seems reasonable to suppose that there was once a Higher Castle, and you'd be right. You' ll find it, or what's left of it, at the top of Gediminas Hill. The hill is only 50 metres or so tall, which doesn't sound like much, and there' s a wide, cobbled road that spirals around it, but on a hot day this can present quite a physical challenge to the rotund, unfit, or the drunk. As I fall into all 3 categories I was out of breath by the time I reached the top. Fortunately some kind soul has put a row of benches up here so you can sit down for a while and catch your breath while you admire the view. Little remains of the 14th century castle that