My Year in Lyon: Lithuania: Vilnius

After spending the morning and most of the afternoon in Trakai, I arrived back in Vilnius at 4:30 and spent the rest of the day wandering around the UNESCO listed city centre. The weather was absolutely fantastic! Lots of locals out enjoying it at the sidewalk cafes with friends or going for a stroll down the cobblestone streets. One thing I noticed here and in Poland is that women rarely wear shorts - usually skirts or dresses only (it's too hot for pants!). What I will remember the most about Vilnius is the music - on almost every street I went to there was someone playing an instrument: flute, violin, recorder quartet, accordion, perfect for a stroll on a warm summer Saturday evening.

Vilnius is a wonderful mix of gothic and classical architecture. The buildings in the old town are all painted in brilliant whites or in colourful pastels, that seem to glow in the late-summer sun. It gives it a very clean, friendly atmosphere, which I suppose must help it feel less dreary in the winter. All of the buildings along the main street have been well restored, so although they are all several hundred years old they look almost new.

The main street, Ausros Vartu Gatve (lots of accents in that name but it takes way too long to type!)

"The Gates of Dawn", the gateway to the old town. You can see through the window a silver-covered painting of the Virgin Mary, said to have miraculous powers.

St. John's Church. Catholicism is the main religion in Lithuania.

The Vilnius Cathedral, first built in the 13th century, is a stunning northern Parthenon. It was closed for several decades by the Soviets, and was originally meant to be used as a truck repair garage! Nearby is the Vilnius Cathedral Belfry, which was once part of the town's fortifications.

Vilnius Cathedral.

Cathedral Belfry.

One thing that surprised me was that Lithuanians are obsessed with basketball! There are signs everywhere advertising for the upcoming EuroBasket championship they will be hosting.

Advertisements for the upcoming EuroBasket Championships.

There was a medieval cultural fair going on in Town Hall Square - lots of people in traditional costumes dancing, craft making, and cooking!

Baking in Town Hall Square.

Medieval festival in Town Hall Square.

On top of a hill overlooking the city are the ruins of the Grand Duke's castle, with some of the towers still intact. You get a beautiful view of the city from the top: the new city on one side of the river and the old city on the other.