ABOUT VILNIUS

Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and one of the country's oldest cities with more then 500.000 citizens. Of them 57.8% are Lithuanians, 18.7% Poles, 14% Russians, 4% Byelorussians, 0.5% Jews and the remaining 5% comprising some other nationalities.
Vilnius stretches along both banks of the fast flowing Neris River, and is set among hills and pine forests. Vilnius is a very old city indeed. The honour for founding Vilnius is given to Gediminas (a Lithuanian Duke) in the year 1323.

The modern culture of Vilnius fully reflects the diversity of city life offering evenings of classical and jazz music, opera, ballet, modern dance performances and theatre performances in several theatres of Vilnius.

Another one of Vilnius's beloved churches is the St. Anne's Church (picture on the right) from the year 1495 (in its current structure). The beauty of this church speaks for itself, and it is one of the places you must visit when in Vilnius.
Besides these very famous churches there are many other churches in Vilnius in both Baroque and Gothic style that are worth visiting.

The Lithuanian capital is famous for its commercial fairs and exhibitions.
Almost all hotels and a dormitory for young people are situated in the central part of the city.
There are many restaurants and cafés where you can find a great variety of different foods, from Lithuanian to East European or North American dishes.
There are plenty of shops and department stores selling high-quality goods from all over the world. There are several antique shops.
Private clinics and beauty salons are rapidly expanding their activities.

When you are in Vilnius it's a must to visit the Old Town. It is the historical centre of Vilnius and it is one of the largest in Eastern Europe. Valuable historic and cultural heritage is concentrated here. Due to its uniqueness the Old Town of Vilnius was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
Vilnius is also a university city. Vilnius University was founded in the 16th century and is the largest Lithuanian higher education institution with a long and rich history.

When staying in Vilnius you have a good chance for relaxing because the city is filled with recreational areas. Greenery prevails in over 40 % of Vilnius' area.

The language that is used in Vilnius is Lithuanian. You can also use Russian if you speak with the middle-aged or older people. If you speak with young people English is also an option.
For more information www.vilnius.lt