Vilnius Districts studies

Viršuliškės

A village that turned into one of the rapidly expanding parts of Vilnius

Viršuliškės is a great part of the city for exploring the capital, although not everything that had been designed by Birutė Kasperavičienė and Juozas Zinkevičius in 1973 was implemented later.

Justiniškių and Tujų Streets were left unconnected, and Ozo Street, which was supposed to cross two cemeteries and connect with the current Šešuolių Street, ended up being cut off.

There are three cemeteries in Viršuliškės. While exploring this residential area, you will find many sculptures, see what the first church built after fifty years of Soviet occupation looks like, and learn what features are typical of Viršuliškės.

What will you see/learn along the route?

Where was the village of Viršuliškės and its cemetery located?
How much did it cost to build the Press Palace?
What makes Tujų Street special?
Which was the first church built after regaining independence and what is missing?
Where was the third radio station opened in Vilnius?
What are the distinctive features of Viršuliškės?

Start location

Viršuliškės cross–street

Viršuliškių skg. 83

Duration

2 h Without going inside

Distance

6,00 km

Means of travel

On foot

Pet friendly

Additional information

For people with reduced mobility and parents with children in pushchairs, the route can be difficult. Cemeteries are not accessible and it may be difficult to walk or drive to Object 9 on this route. There are stairs between Objects 10 and 11, and there is no pavement on Sudervės Street – care is needed.
Pets are fine, except for indoor attractions. For moral reasons, it is not recommended to visit the cemetery with dogs.

Route compiled by Andrius Pavelko; photos by Andrius Pavelko

Route map

1. Viršuliškės cross–street

This cross-street was the main street of the former village of Viršuliškių, with the surviving…

2. Viršuliškės village cemetery

The small cemetery of the former village is today surrounded by high-rise buildings and the Vilnius…

3. ‘Grand Office’

‘Grand Office is a modern 21-storey business centre that opened its doors in 2014.The…

4. Sculpture ‘The Finn’

The 10 m high sculpture of a steel giant holding a cloud, ‘Suomis’ (‘The Finn’), which…

5. The Press Building

The construction of the ‘Press Palace’ building (architect Yurijus Koninas, engineer Alfonsas…

6. The production wing of the printing house

In 1986, newspapers were the main medium of information, with 1,840 newspapers per 1,000…

7. Sakharov Square

In 2011, as a monument to the nuclear physicist, dissident, human rights activist, academic Andrei…

8. Radio station

The former Vilnius medium wave broadcasting station is located in a small forest in Viršuliškės,…

9. The cobblestone path

The cobblestone path commemorates the old road to the village of Viršuliškės. The current Tujų…

10. Highlights of Viršuliškės

The architectural designs for the construction of Viršuliškės were prepared in 1973 by the chief…

11. Sculpture ‘Song’

This sculpture by Vladimiras Kančiauskas was erected in 1990. Known locally simply as…

12. The Church of Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis

This is the first church built in Lithuania after fifty years of Soviet occupation. In 1988, a…

13. The Jewish cemetery in Sudervė

This is the third cemetery and the only working Jewish cemetery in Vilnius. The history of the…