In the splash of the fountains

On 23 July 2020, the old fountain was restored and the current beauty began to flow again. Do you know how significant this date is for us? On this day exactly 80 years ago, Sumner Welles, the US Secretary of State issued a declaration condemning the occupation of the Baltic States and supporting their desire for independence. This event is also commemorated by a plaque next to the fountain, which is inscribed in English and Lithuanian with the State Department’s official statement of 23 July. Of course, the date the fountain was officially opened is no coincidence, given its special location in Washington Square. The name of the square was given in 1996 when the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Lithuania. The beautifully landscaped square and the classically shaped fountain are thus like a US embassy that is open to anyone who would like to visit.

You will probably agree that the reconstruction of Lukiškių Square is the project that has received the most attention in Lithuania. How many spears have been broken and hearts broken over the Vytis Monument and the Partisans’ Hill. It is therefore particularly gratifying that one of the city’s most modern fountains was able to win the affection of Vilnius residents and visitors without much hassle or rising tempers. The uniqueness of this interactive fountain is the movement of the water currents according to human movements, recorded by special cameras. Thus, every passer-by – either intentionally or unintentionally – can influence the flow of water. Of course, the fountain is most attractive to the city’s little ones; it’s fun to weave through the labyrinth of currents and try to get wet. Yes, yes, to get wet, not the other way around, because if you get too close, the water flow stops. The shapes and heights of the currents change according to the scenario and can change up to 10 times per second. And that’s not all this fountain has to offer! Come after dark and see the multi-coloured jets, whose special lights work both individually and synchronously with other lights. And when the sun goes down, the fountain can be controlled by hand movements. Isn’t this a great opportunity for the students of the nearby Academy of Music – future conductors – to brush up on their conducting skills?

The Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, designed by the young architect Elena Nijolė Bučiūtė in 1974, was a very modern building in Vilnius. Not only was the theatre building itself stunning but also its surroundings: the stairs, the pavement, the benches and, of course, the functionalist-style fountain. It was very different from the usual fountains that shoot into the sky. Its author, architect Aleksandras Stasys Lukšas, did not try to obscure the grandeur of the theatre, but rather created distinctive architectural waterfalls, giving the impression of a river flowing and evoking tranquillity. In the very centre of the city, the fountain has created a beautiful oasis. For a long time, it was neglected, and only in 2019 did the urban waterfalls start flowing again. To the delight of all Vilnius residents, the fountain was carefully reconstructed to preserve its authenticity. And on the occasion of the fountain’s rebirth, Richard Strauss’s opera ‘Salome’ was shown on a huge cinema screen in the theatre forecourt, featuring the best opera soloist of 2018, Asmik Grigorian.

Probably everyone who passes by the Institute of Lithuanian History on Tilto Street has noticed the unusual and unique fountain in the courtyard of the Institute. In 2004, the Central Mortgage Office was due to move into the building numbered 17, following its reconstruction. After the building and the adjacent courtyard had been renovated, the idea of a fountain was born. The head of the institution wanted a special fountain with a decorative element. As is appropriate in such cases, a call for tenders was launched. The winning company, Vilnius Potters’ Workshop, proposed six projects and Elena Aleksejeva’s work was selected. Although the seemingly fragile openwork fountain has no official name, it is affectionately known by the citizens as the ‘Flower’ or the ‘Blossom’. And this ‘Flower’ is extraordinary because not only does it close its petals in the dark, but it also glows in different colours. If you don’t believe it, come and see for yourself once the sun has gone down.

Even if you have never been to this courtyard at Tilto g. 3 before, you will easily recognise the author when you see the sculpture-fountain. His distinctive works are well-known and loved by Vilnius residents: the Roman Gary sculpture (the Boy with a Galosh, the Water Carrier, Dr Zemach Shabad, Leonard Cohen, and other ordinary and not-so-ordinary characters. Have you remembered his name yet? Romualdas Kvintas. The well-known sculptor created this fountain to decorate his courtyard, which may be why many people have not seen it. The sculptor’s 12-year-old neighbour posed for this work, and although she has now grown up, the sculpture-fountain is like a photograph capturing a moment – she is not subject to the passage of time and here will always remain 12.

Renovated in 2004, the square has become a small green space, inviting people to take their time, stop, and remember the past. This historic place in Vilnius recalls the times of Šventaragis, when the Šventaragio Valley with its shrine and tombs of the rulers and the forecourt of Vilnius Castle were located here. It is therefore not surprising that Odminių Square is also known as Šventaragio Square. The riverbeds of the Vingrė and Vilnia, which in the Middle Ages separated the territories of the castles and the city, lie here. You can contemplate antiquity by sitting on a bench and gazing at the magnificent view of the Cathedral Square. Even the pavement fountain is a reminder of the past. The authors of the reconstruction plan had the wonderful idea of installing a fountain where there used to be a swamp. The modern pavement fountain combines the past and the present, with the calm trickle of water and the wet pavement reminding us of past times.  

In 2018, a Renaissance-style Garden was opened to visitors in the heart of Vilnius, between the Palace of the Grand Dukes and Gediminas Hill. Of course, the garden is not authentic, dating back to the time of Bona Sforza in the 16th century. It was created in honour of this ruler who loved gardening. Her apartment and the garden were connected by a staircase, so that she could immediately access at will a little oasis that was reminiscent of her birthplace. Bona Sforza is known to have longed for Italian cuisine in Lithuania, so the garden planted at her request was used to grow her favourite Italian fruit, vegetables, and spices. In addition to the plants typical of a Renaissance Garden, there is also a fountain – an integral part of such a space. The fountain has a classical composition, consisting of an octagonal ‘basin’ and a central ‘vase’ with an overflowing saucer. This fountain structure echoes the traditional architecture of the court period used until the 18th century.

The Bernadine Garden is one of the capital’s oldest public spaces, where you can feel the breath of nature and immerse yourself in the happy bustle of the city’s revellers at the same time. The history of this place dates back to 1469, when King Casimir Jagiellon invited the Bernardine monks to Vilnius and gave them this territory. The monks set about cultivating the area and adapting it for farm use, which led to the creation of kitchen gardens. The gardens turned into orchards at the very end of the 18th century, a change instigated by the intention of Vilnius University to extend the botanical garden. Over the years, the garden has had its ups and downs, from a botanical garden to a city park. The name of the Bernardine Garden has changed, and it has seen many changes in its long history: cafés, restaurants, a cinema, and a summer theatre, as well as a dance floor, monuments and fountains… Many of you have probably seen the elephant fountain that once stood here, if not in person, then in photographs? Everything changes, some objects are replaced by others, but only the River Vilnia and the love of Vilnius people for this place remains.

The most recent reconstruction of the park in 2013 attempted to partially recreate the environment created by the 19th-century painter Aleksander Władysław Strauss. The main path now leads to the central fountain. In Strauss’s time, an open-air theatre was located on this very spot. The current playing and dancing fountain, also known as the Rose Garden Square Fountain, entertains the audience with 14 melodies which are coordinated with the fountain’s water cascades. This fountain is one of the several main attractions of the Bernardine Garden, and people flock around it both during the day and after dark, when the fountain’s waters are bathed in colour.

This is definitely one of the newest and most original industrial-style fountains in the capital! One can only assume that the decoration of the Paupis Business House, created after the conversion of the former ‘Skaiteks’ factory, will not leave anyone indifferent. Some will admire and enjoy this fountain that manages to both stand out yet fit in perfectly with its surroundings, although fans of more traditional fountains may be less keen on this fountain. The architect Audrius Ambrasas, the author of the fountain, said of his idea: “The stream of water from the unscrewed tap fills the bowl and pours over the edges, as if connected to a Paplauja spring or a left-over factory process pipe”. 

So, let’s listen to the trickle of the fountain, relax, and travel back in time to when the springs flowed here, or later, when industry was buzzing.

The main focus point that forms the whole of Paupio Square space is the dynamic pavement fountain; it is not a new idea, as it is reminiscent of the fountains of Lukiškių Square or Odminių Square. However, its strict lines add cosiness and playfulness to the urban space, bringing business and residential buildings closer together. A simple solution is not a bad one, especially given that the fountains are arranged to replicate the line of the dug-out canal that once existed here, which was connected to the Vilnia River bend and formed an ‘island’. The concept of the water line is successfully expressed adding to the historical continuity of the site.

Konstantino Sirvydo Square is commonly referred to by Vilnius residents as the French Park and its fountain is its undisputed highlight. This fountain is a suitable rendezvous spot and a favourite place for Vilnius residents and visitors to relax. The fountain was installed in the Soviet era and has always been a centre of attraction for all kinds of people, with young people relaxing on the fountain’s edges on hot days, skateboarders riding, and young families with their children playing mischievously.

But do you know the historical location of the fountain? This has always been a lively place, with busy streets intersecting, and a thriving trade, craft and business scene. From 1853 until the Soviet era, one of the buildings here housed the bookshop of the famous publisher Józef Zawadzki. As well as selling books, it also had a reading room, a musical instrument shop and later a publishing house. The houses in the quarter were particularly badly damaged during the Second World War, and were still in ruins a decade after the war. The buildings were finally demolished in the late 1960s when the site was later cleared to create a square with a fountain.

One of the first public fountains at the end of the 19th century was built in the Town Hall Square. The most significant change in the appearance of this square occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries; firstly, due to the change in the use of the square itself, as the former market square was gradually transformed into a recreational area with greenery, benches, and, later, the fountain. Another important factor was the wars, which devastated not only the square, but also the whole city. Unfortunately, the designer of the first fountain in the Town Hall Square and the exact date of its installation have not been identified. The fate of the fountain is also not well known: the history of the capital shows that in 1908 and 1914 the square was again redesigned, grassed over and fenced off, and that it was used for Christmas tree fairs before Christmas. After the Second World War, a flower garden was created in the square.

After the reconstruction of City Hall Square in 2007, Vilnius was enriched with another fountain. There were various suggestions as to what kind of fountain it should be – new or old. Initially, it was even thought to design a large modern fountain with St. Christopher in the middle. However, it was considered too big and noisy, so in the end, the city settled on a classical octagonal fountain raised on white granite steps. This shape was previously very popular throughout Europe, as it is very difficult to get a regular round shape out of stone. Incidentally, one of the more fun ideas that was abandoned was to install a press kiosk underground – probably just as well, because nowadays everyone ‘reads’ on their phones.

After a major renovation in 2013, Vilnius residents can once again enjoy the coolness and tranquillity of the fountain resembling a dandelion seed head. The subtle shape symbolises fragility and impermanence – just the kind of eternal existential questions one would like to ponder when walking along Vokiečių Street, whose history recalls the painful losses of the Second World War: the victims of the Holocaust and the destruction of the buildings. The trickling of the fountain’s water jets reminds some people of the sound of rain, while to others, it might whisper: Memento mori. Stop and listen to what the fountain will tell you.

The newest fountain in Vilnius is also a monument to the Reformers, whose contribution to the Lithuanian language and culture has not been adequately recognised. We all know Martynas Mažvydas, the author of the first Lithuanian book, but there were many other pioneers of Lithuanian literature of no less importance, such as Abraomas Kulvietis, Stanislovas Rapolionis. Jonas Bretkūnas, Abraomas Volanas, Mikalojus Radvila Juodasis, Mikalojus Radvila Rudasis and others. The monument created by sculptor Dalia Matulaitė is distinguished by water, which symbolises life, eternity, and the outpouring of free thought.

In a historically important, but previously little-studied and artefact-rich site, the management of the square has had to overcome a number of challenges. The sites of former buildings and destroyed cemeteries had to be highlighted, honoured, and commemorated, and the location of the fountain-monument has been moved several times as new sites have been discovered for protection.

The square also has a less immediately noticeable, less monumental fountain called ‘Takas’ (‘Path’) located on a slope, so that the water from the highest point of the fountain overflows over one edge of the pool and flows down a decorative stream more than 70 m long into another pool. The Living Path invites us to follow the flow of the stream and to get to know the new square better, to explore the greenery, and find a place to love.

Let’s take this opportunity to admire the fountain in the courtyard of the Presidential Courtyard, which has recently opened to the public. In such a place, it is simply necessary to remember that the history of the first palace that stood on this site dates back to 1387, when the privilege of Grand Duke Jogaila was written. Of course, the palace itself has been rebuilt and renovated many times during its impressively long life. It took its present form in the first half of the 19th century, when it was extensively rebuilt and enlarged according to a design by the Russian architect Vasily Stasov, in order to meet its status as the representative residence of the Governor-General of Vilnius. Interestingly, the fountain that we are admiring now is a new highlight of the courtyard that did not exist before. The idea for the fountain came about at the end of the 20th century when the building was renovated and adapted to suit the needs of the Presidential Palace. Since the reconstruction of the whole complex was phased according to the importance of the objects, the fountain had to wait for more than two decades, even though its location was already foreseen in the reconstruction plans. You may have seen this courtyard before and remember that the current fountain was replaced by a flower garden, which was conceived as a temporary solution until a fountain could be installed. Incidentally, it should be mentioned that one fountain was, however, installed in front of the new Governor General’s Office in the middle of the 19thcentury, not in the courtyard, but in the square in front (now Daukanto Square). 

Visitors are admitted to the historical park of the Presidential Palace and the inner courtyard with the fountain during the warm season from 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays, and from 11 am to 10 pm on weekends and public holidays.