An octagonal brick turret marks the high ground where the Neris and Vilnele rivers meet in the heart of Vilnius. The original castle was built in the 1200's, but was destroyed. The current building was erected at the direction of the Grand Duke Vytautas. The Duke's castle ended up being used as a prison 200 years later, and even though its walls are ten feet thick, it was heavily damaged by Russian troops in the 17th century. The castle lay mostly ruined until the early 20th century, when restoration work began. Today it is one of the must-see destinations in Vilnius, not just because of its history, but because its height offers a wonderful view of the historic district.

Photograph © Jonas Sauciunas

Photograph © Jonas Sauciunas