Dear blog readers, thank you for joining me for the second part of the Northern Europe experience with Eyobus article, where we’ll be exploring Lithuania – the first country on our trip. As I share my travel experiences and all the information I gather, I hope to take you on this adventurous journey with me once again and create unforgettable memories. It makes me happy and proud to have you along for the ride. Let's start with Vilnius, the capital and most developed city of Lithuania. It's also the second-largest city in the Baltic countries. Vilnius' historical city, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, was chosen as the European capital in 2009. Interestingly, the name of the city of Vilnius comes from the Vilnia River flowing from Lithuania to Belarus.
I completely understand and appreciate your desire to focus on the more fun aspects of the trip. When it comes to visiting Vilnius, there are plenty of exciting places to explore. If you're interested in learning about the city's culture and history, then I would definitely recommend visiting the Lithuanian National Museum, Genocide Victims Museum, and Mickiewicz Museum. On the other hand, if you want to understand the architectural and religious structure of the city, then the Church of All Saints and Vilnius Cathedral are must-visit spots. The Republic of Uzupis is also a fascinating place to explore with its unique structure. Additionally, Trakai Town, Gediminas Castle, and Three Cross Hill are other must-see places to visit while you're in Vilnius.
It's understandable that due to the duration of the tour program, you may not have been able to visit all the places. However, it's great to hear that you were able to visit some of the must-see places in Vilnius, such as the Church of All Saints, Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Castle, Three Pilgrims Hill, Uzupis Republic, and the beautiful alleys of the city. It must have been an amazing experience to witness the atmosphere of the city up close and personal.
The Church of All Saints is a stunning Catholic church located in the heart of Vilnius, with its unique kitten-colored exterior. It's considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Vilnius. During the Second World War, the cathedral played a significant role in helping Lithuanian Jews survive. As the Baltic countries were under Soviet rule for a long time, the cathedral was converted into a museum. However, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Lithuania regaining its independence in 1990, the church was restored to its former function.
Vilnius Cathedral is a prominent landmark located in the large square at the very centre of the city. It's white colour and simple architecture makes it easily noticeable when walking in the square. It has an important and large structure for Catholics and is considered one of the most significant structures in Vilnius. Although it is known by different names, the white cathedral or Vilnius Cathedral is the most common. The tombs of the most important figures in Lithuanian history can be found within the cathedral, and coronation ceremonies have been held here over the years. Today, on special days, large crowds come to the cathedral to worship. There is also an observation tower located right next to the cathedral, and although there is no charge to enter the church, a fee is charged for entering the observation tower. A special pavement section can be found in the square between the observation tower and the Cathedral, where it's rumoured that if you turn a full circle on the point on the sidewalk without lifting your foot, your wish will come true. You can also spot Gedimina Castle on the high hill just above the cathedral. While it's within walking distance, you will need to climb a little to get to this place. However, if you prefer, you can also go up by funicular for a small fee. If you're lucky enough to have a sunny day, you can take advantage of this and do a little trekking.
Gediminas Castle is a defensive castle that overlooks the city of Vilnius and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Although the climb to the top may be a bit tiring, the view from the top makes it all worth it. The castle is the country's first defensive castle and can be seen from all over Vilnius. The national flag was first hoisted over the castle in 1919, and then it remained under Soviet occupation. Finally, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the flag of independent Lithuania was hoisted in the 1990s. While there is no entrance fee to the main square of the castle, which offers a view of Lithuania from above, there is a fee to enter Gediminas Castle, which has three floors and is 48 meters high. It contains sections explaining the history of Lithuania. Visitors can either enter the castle or enjoy the view in the castle square. It's especially recommended to visit at sunrise or sunset. As mentioned before, the name of the capital comes from the Vilna River, and from this section of the castle, you can easily see the river from which the city's name comes.
The Three Crosses, which were built in the Kalnai Park at the top of Vilnius in the 17th century, have become one of the symbols of the city over time. According to legend, the site was used to crucify seven people. Since the belief in paganism was widespread in Lithuania at that time, these corpses were dedicated to God and thrown into the cold waters of the Vilnia River. The original structure of the Three Pilgrims, which survived with this story, was made of wood. However, it was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt using concrete. The three white crosses can be easily seen from Gediminas Castle. Visitors can go to the site if they want, but we heard that the road might be a bit tiring. Therefore, we took photos of the crosses from Gediminas Castle. We also heard that visitors can examine the details of the city using binoculars in the small observatory located in the same place.
Our last stop in Vilnius was the Uzupis Republic, which is an independent neighbourhood with its own rules. On the way to the Uzupis Republic, we visited the red-brick St. Petersburg church, which is one of the most important churches in Vilnius. We highly recommend visiting the Mother Church and capturing the memories. The Republic of Uzupis is an autonomous neighbourhood that was founded by a group of artists in the middle of Vilnius. On April 1, 1997, this neighbourhood declared its independence with an army of only 12 people. They have their own constitution that includes articles such as “It is a natural right to be happy” and “It is a natural right to be unhappy”. The real story behind this neighbourhood autonomy is as follows: In the 1990s, a group of artists were still searching for an identity for Lithuania, which had just declared its independence from Soviet Russia. They felt that this was not enough and announced that this neighbourhood was separated from Vilnius and declared their autonomy. Various art activities have been held in the autonomous neighbourhood since then. Even the mayor, who is tolerant of these activities and neighbourhood autonomy, is also a member of this community. We highly recommend that you immediately go to the street where the rules in all languages are available and find the Uzupis Republic law in your language.
If you have some additional time, we highly recommend visiting the town of Trakai, which is just 45 minutes away by car from the city and has traces of the Turkish tribe. Unfortunately, we couldn't visit Trakai during our trip, but we'll definitely try to go on our next visit. In the meantime, we recommend exploring the beautiful streets of the city and trying local dishes in local restaurants. We hope you enjoyed our Vilnius tour and we look forward to seeing you in our next stop, Riga, Latvia, in the article series.
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