Town Hall, Vilnius

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Vilnius Town Hall
Vilniaus Rotušė
Neoclassical style
Address	Didžioji g. 31, 01128 Vilnius, Lithuania
Coordinates	54°40′41″N 25°17′13″E / 54.678°N 25.287°E / 54.678; 25.287
Construction started	1785
Construction stopped	1799
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Laurynas Gucevičius
Website
vilniausrotuse.lt

Vilnius Town Hall (Lithuanian: Vilniaus rotušė) is a historical town hall in the square of the same name in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Palace

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, including

.

Square

The Town Hall Square (Lithuanian: Rotušės aikštė) at the end of the Pilies Street is a traditional centre of trade and events in Vilnius. Major annual fairs, such as Kaziukas Fair, are held in this square, the main Christmas tree is decorated here, various concerts and other attractions are organised as well as celebrations of the important dates of the state.

History

As far back as the early fifteenth century, the square was bordered by small shops. With the expansion of the city and the development of trade the number of small shops was increasing. Most of them were selling

, imprisonment and confiscation of merchandise. Confiscated goods were donated to various refuges and hospitals.

Following the example many established cities Vilnius was granted the

regarding the construction of their market places and participation in the city's events.

However, fighting with resellers was often a real challenge: powerful owners of jurisdictions would not always obey the orders of the rulers. Scottish and Jewish tradesmen in the seventeenth century were forbidden to trade in golden, silver, silk and semi-silk fringes and edgings, but this prohibition was not applied to the said articles produced in manufactures of Naples and Frankfurt.

Many attractions and events were organised in the square such as the performances of bears, travelling acrobats, comedians, and various troupes. The

, or semi-religious performances, were also popular.

The Town Hall Square was the place where various celebrations were announced such as meetings with important guests and foreign rulers and family festivals of local noblemen.

Gallery

• 
  The first reconstruction project by Laurynas Gucevičius
• 
  Retreating French army after unsuccessful

  invasion of Russia

  in 1812
• 
  Marcin Zaleski, Vilnius Town Hall, 1863
• 
  Winter 2023
• 
  Façade, 2023

References

External links

• Official website