Vilnius Town Hall, Vilnius, Lithuania

The town hall in Vilnius was mentioned for the first time in 1432. Initially it was a Gothic style building, and has since been reconstructed many times. The current Vilnius Town Hall was rebuilt in neoclassical style according to the design by Laurynas Gucevičius in 1799. It has remained unchanged since then. Its Gothic cellars have been preserved and may be visited. Nowadays it is used for representational purposes as well as during the visits of foreign state officials and rulers. The Town Hall Square at the end of the Pilies Street is a traditional centre of trade and events in Vilnius.

References:

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Palaces, manors and town halls in Lithuania

User Reviews

Planet Airlines (5 months ago)
A central point for Vilnius , the Rotuse or town hall is also an information centre! Beautiful at day or night!

Kayleigh Hartwell (6 months ago)
Lovely building with plenty of information brochures.

Jeff Clay (8 months ago)
5 star square in front of a 4 star building. Go at dusk, climb the steps and watch.

Aurimas Nausėda (9 months ago)
Special place to see photos and enjoy the warmth of the Old town

Paul B (2 years ago)
The building itself is interesting and has a deep history. It's unfortunate that the Vilnius Municipality has not invested in renovation and does not make full use of this venue. The building occasionally hosts concerts, art exhibitions and various events, including a Christmas Bazaar by all of the local embassies (charity event). But, with a little bit of investment, it could be one of the top venues in Vilnius. Three stars for unrealised potential.

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Castle Rushen is located in the Isle of Man"s historic capital, Castletown. The castle is amongst the best examples of medieval castles in the British Isles, and is still in use as a court house, museum and educational centre.

The exact date of castle is unknown, although construction is thought to have taken place during the reigns of the late 12th century and early 13th century rulers of the Isle of Man – the Kings of Mann and the Isles. The original Castle Rushen consisted of a central square stone tower, or keep. The site was also fortified to guard the entrance to the Silver Burn. From its early beginnings, the castle was continually developed by successive rulers of Mann between the 13th and 16th century. The limestone walls dominated much of the surrounding landscape, serving as a point of dominance for the various rulers of the Isle of Man. By 1313, the original keep had been reinforced with towers to the west and south. In the 14th century, an east tower, gatehouses, and curtain wall were added.

After several more changes of hands the English and their supporters eventually prevailed. The English king Edward I Longshanks claimed that the island had belonged to the Kings of England for generations and he was merely reasserting their rightful claim to the Isle of Man.

The 18th century saw the castle in steady decay. By the end of the century it was converted into a prison. Even though the castle was in continuous use as a prison, the decline continued until the turn of the 20th century, when it was restored under the oversight of the Lieutenant Governor, George Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan. Following the restoration work, and the completion of the purpose-built Victoria Road Prison in 1891, the castle was transferred from the British Crown to the Isle of Man Government in 1929.

Today it is run as a museum by Manx National Heritage, depicting the history of the Kings and Lords of Mann. Most rooms are open to the public during the opening season (March to October), and all open rooms have signs telling their stories. The exhibitions include a working medieval kitchen where authentic period food is prepared on special occasions and re-enactments of various aspects of medieval life are held on a regular basis, with particular emphasis on educating the local children about their history. Archaeological finds made during excavations in the 1980s are displayed and used as learning tools for visitors.

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