How much has Vilnius changed in 700 years? On the one hand, beyond recognition. The city has expanded, and architectural styles have changed; it has been ravaged by fires, wars, and uprisings. Vilnius has stumbled and then risen again – it has strengthened, grown, and become even more beautiful. Churches were built, educational institutions were established, new streets were created, and businesses, crafts, and the arts were developed. And even though many people wanted to subjugate and seize Vilnius, it survived and has remained free.
It is as free as it was 700 years ago. In 1323, Gediminas invited knights, merchants, doctors, blacksmiths, cobblers, millers, and other craftsmen to come to Vilnius to trade and practise their faith without any restrictions. So maybe nothing has changed since Gediminas’ letters 700 years ago? Vilnius nowadays is just as free, tolerant, and open as it was back then.
This itinerary is like a journey through Vilnius in a time machine. We will meet Zygmunt Sierakowski (Zigmantas Sierakauskas) being interrogated, then see Antoni Wiwulski (Antanas Vivulskis) designing a church, take part in the construction of the first large-panel blocks of flats, and then go back to the 17th century to watch cannons being fired from the Bastion. So, we’ve got 30 historical places and 30 stories from different periods. Maybe after this itinerary, it will be easier to answer a simple question – has Vilnius changed much in 700 years?
