Vilnius Historical Center - UNESCO World Heritage Site

I continue the introduction of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in my country. As you know, I live in Lithuania. I already wrote about two sites. Today, the time for the third one - Vilnius Historical Center. It was included in the World Heritage List in 1994. It is one of the most distant cities in Central Eastern Europe, where strong interactions between Eastern and Western cultures took place. From the fourteenth century until the 18th century's end, the city had a great influence on the development of the countries' architecture of the entire region. It is an example of a well-preserved medieval street network and urban buildings structure.

There is preserved a rich variety of buildings. Vilnius is an exclusive illustration of the central European city, organically developed over five centuries. The historic center of Vilnius retained a radiant medieval network of streets.

Historical buildings are characterized by the stylistics of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. The buildings are distinguished by their appearance, spatial composition, interior and exterior finishes. All of this creates a multifaceted view of the city, revealing its all-embracing coherence. The landscape is characterized by the overall structure of the city plan, the network of streets and squares, and the boundaries of the land. The details of the urban structure, which are in contact with the natural environment, also determine the unique silhouettes, panoramas, and perspectives that have been preserved to this day.

Lithuanians and other various countries of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with their own languages, religions, and cultures, contributed to the growth of Vilnius as a well-established multicultural city in which the influence of Eastern and Western cultures intertwined.

Historically and culturally, the Old Town of Vilnius can be compared with the Old Town of Krakow. In the course of history, both cities were the capital of Rzeczpospolita. Vilnius had a significant influence on Belarus, Ukraine, and Poland, that was very important for these countries.
So, come to our capital and explore this beautiful old city on your own. You are very welcome.

Text by @Fortune
Photos from Google.