Lithuania, Europe (Point of interest)

Behind the elegant colonnaded façade, Vilnius Cathedral in the Old Town houses fine frescoes and paintings, plus the ornate baroque chapel of St Casimir. It burnt down several times during its 800-year history and became a garage under Soviet occu... Continue reading →

Vilnius University is Eastern Europe's oldest university and was founded in 1579. It is based around a series of leafy courtyards off Universiteto surrounded by magnificent stucco buildings - perfect for a lunchtime pit-stop in the sun.... Continue reading →

From medicinal use to artists' material, visitors can discover the versatility of amber at the quaint two-storey Amber Museum-Gallery. Amber is displayed in shades of black, blue and red as well as traditional burnt orange. Established in 1998, th... Continue reading →

The decorative brick towers and spires of this late-Gothic fantasia were finished in 1501, but much of the original stained glass was destroyed by Napoleon's troops when they were stationed here. At night the Church of St Anne is eerily floodlit.... Continue reading →

The Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, affectionately known as CAC, presents a range of local and international contemporary art exhibitions, conferences, lectures, film screenings and musical evenings. Established in 1992, CAC also houses an imp... Continue reading →

Europe's 'heart' is celebrated in this vibrant 55-hectare sculpture park. More than 100 artists contributed some eccentric pieces to Europa Park, chief among them the ironic Infotree by Gintaras Karosas, featuring Lenin surrounded by thousands of d... Continue reading →

Vilnius' 14th-century, hexagonal Higher Castle can be reached by funicular and affords great views across the Old Town. Be careful climbing the final 78 precarious steps to the viewing platform. Inside there's a small museum of weapons and armoury.... Continue reading →

Housed in the New Arsenal of Vilnius Castle, The Lithuanian National Museum's exhibits include national costumes, Egyptian mummies and Japanese swords. A display celebrating Lithuania's millennium in 2009 whizzes through 1,000 years of history, hou... Continue reading →

The National Drama Theatre in Vilnius is one of the largest theatres in Lithuania. It has staged more than 200 productions since its birth in 1940. The theatre plays host to a number of annual festivals, such as the Sirenos International Theatre Fe... Continue reading →

Vilnius' National Philharmonic hosts National Symphony Orchestra concerts in its Concert Hall. Along with its Chamber Hall, the National Philharmonic is the centrepiece for the Vilnius Festival (June), the Gaida Contemporary Music Festival and the ... Continue reading →

In the heart of Soviet-built Karoliniškes, the Television Tower rises 165m, providing unequalled views on a clear day across Vilnius to Belarus from the viewing platform. The Milky Way restaurant revolves slowly on the 55th floor. On the bottom f... Continue reading →

Housing a sombre reminder of the Jewish community's destruction in Vilnius under Soviet occupation, the Old Town's Tolerance Centre, part of the Vilna Gaon Lithuanian State Jewish Museum, highlights prominent Jews and contemporary suffering worldwi... Continue reading →