Vilnius Lower Castle and Cathedral Square
Middle Ages to Early Modern (13th–18th c. with 5th c. hillfort substratum)·Grand Duchy of Lithuania·🇱🇹 Vilnius County, Vilnius Old Town, Gediminas Hill foot, Lithuania
About
About Vilnius Lower Castle and Cathedral Square
Vilnius Lower Castle and Cathedral Square in Vilnius County, Vilnius Old Town, Gediminas Hill foot, Lithuania is a Middle Ages to Early Modern (13th–18th c. with 5th c. hillfort substratum) Grand Duchy of Lithuania site built Wooden 13th c.; stone 14th c. serving as grand ducal residence and later royal palace of lithuanian rulers. Documented via 1323 Gediminas letters; UNESCO Old Town 1994. Vilnius Lower Castle and Cathedral Square illustrates Grand Duchy of Lithuania ancient city traditions with brick Gothic palace construction. Excavation excavated reveals palace 55×33 m; cathedral 84×34 m.
Why it mattersVilnius Lower Castle and Cathedral Square in Vilnius County, Vilnius Old Town, Gediminas Hill foot, Lithuania is a Middle Ages to Early Modern (13th–18th c. with 5th c. hillfort substratum) Grand Duch
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Pagan temple under Cathedral?
Theories
- 01Vilnius as Lithuania pagan last capital turning Catholic 1387
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Wooden 13th c.; stone 14th c.
- Period
- Middle Ages to Early Modern (13th–18th c. with 5th c. hillfort substratum)
- Culture
- Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- Purpose
- Grand ducal residence and later Royal Palace of Lithuanian rulers
- Abandoned
- 1799 (palace demolished)
- Rediscovered
- 1323 Gediminas letters; UNESCO Old Town 1994
- Excavation
- Excavated
Wooden 13th c.; stone 14th c.
Initial construction
c. 1417 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
54.6856° N · 25.2895° E · 30 m · 2 mapped features
Palace of the Grand Dukes
palaceReconstructed 15th–16th c. palace above bastion
54.6860° N · 25.2900° EVilnius Cathedral (Temple Horizon)
cathedralCathedral Square pagan temple horizon below 1251
54.6856° N · 25.2895° E
Gallery