Just as no living organism can survive without water, neither can a city. Today, it is hard to imagine city life without running tap water or sewage systems, though water was once a luxury at home; indeed, a miracle. It is said that serfs, upon hearing water flowed from the manor walls, forbade their children from serving there – it was believed the landlord had made a pact with the devil!
Vilnius can take pride in having Lithuania’s oldest water supply system. Its origins date back to 1501, when the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Alexander, granted the Dominicans the right to use the Vingriai Springs and to supply water to the townspeople.
Having what sometimes seems like an unlimited supply of drinking water, we seldom consider what a wonderful country we live in. In fact, we are one of the few countries in the world able to drink pure underground water. Perhaps that is why the old saying about taking things for granted exists: ‘water and health are never spoken of while they are present’, or the equivalent in English – ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’.
As you travel this route, you will see and learn about the significant influence water had on the city’s growth and development.
