VILNIUS CHURCHES PLANS

Vilnius Old Town, the capital city of Lithuania, also, one of the largest survivors of the old medieval towns of northern Europe, has an area of 3.59 square kilometers (887 acres).

The oldest part of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, has developed over several centuries and has been shaped by the city’s history and an ever-changing cultural influence. It is a place where some of Europe’s greatest architectural styles – Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical – come together and complement each other.

In 1994 Vilnius Old Town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its universal value and originality. The very definition of “historic center” has a broader meaning than the old town, previously surrounded by defensive walls.

Taking a closer look at the different architectural plans that Vilnius churches have brought together over time, it has been a long journey from Gothic to Modernist. When you walk around Vilnius, you can read the history using the knowledge of architecture.

Plan of Vilnius Cathedral

Plan of the Church of St.Peter and St.Paul

Baroque design was initiated in Vilnius around 16th-17th century. This design always served as a dramatic backdrop for the liturgical rituals. In the wake of the Counter-Reformation, the wealth of Catholic churches was at odds with the restriction of Protestant houses of prayer.

An outstanding example of baroque design is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, the plan is transmitted not only through the help of decorations or of applied arts, but by certain purely architectural means, i.e. the structure of the space and the spatial arrangement of particular elements.

Other examples are Church of Catherine, Church of St Raphael, Church of St. Casmir etc.