About Vilnius Upper Castle
Although the remains of the Upper Castle are often referred to as Gediminas Castle, it is all the walls of the castle that were built in the early 15th century during the reign of Vytautas the Great. In Gediminas’ time, the site was occupied by a wooden castle, while only the Lower Castle had masonry buildings and fortifications. Guillebert de Lannoy, a French diplomat who visited Lithuania between 1413 and 1414, described Vilnius as follows: “The castle stood on a sandy hill, was made of wood, and was fortified with bricks, stones and earth. The castle and its other wooden buildings are fenced, but the city of Vilnius itself is open – it has no defensive walls.” The wooden castle burnt down in a fire in 1419. The construction of stone fortifications was then undertaken. The western tower, which has survived to the present day, was taller than the present one – four storeys. The tower of the northern castle, of which only the remains remain, was smaller. The castle itself also shows the presence of a stone residential palace.
The castle built by Vytautas, or rather its remains today, remains one of the key symbols of Vilnius as the capital of Lithuania. The castle tower, which dominates the skyline of Vilnius, is directly identified with the significance of Vilnius as a historical centre, a sign of the creation of the mediaeval Lithuanian state itself.
Today, the castle tower houses an interactive exposition presenting the development of the castle itself and Vilnius. It is a branch of the Lithuanian National Museum. From the castle hill and the tower itself, you can enjoy a magnificent panorama of Vilnius Old Town and Antakalnis.
For more information: Gediminas Castle Tower, www.lnm.lt/muziejai/gedimino-pilies-bokstas/