Vilnius Castle Complex, Medieval castle complex in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Vilnius Castle Complex is a group of three connected fortifications in central Vilnius: the Upper Castle, the Lower Castle, and the Crooked Castle. The Upper Castle stands on a natural hill, while the other two sections occupy the lower ground along the Neris River.
Grand Duke Gediminas established the site in the 14th century as the seat of power for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Over the following centuries, successive rulers rebuilt and expanded parts of the complex, leaving layers of construction from different periods still visible today.
The tower on the hill flies the Lithuanian flag, which can be seen from many parts of the city below, making it a visible daily symbol for locals. On national holidays, people tend to gather around the hill and look up toward the tower.
The complex is easy to reach on foot from the Vilnius old town, which borders it directly. Sturdy footwear is helpful for the climb up to the Upper Castle, as the path to the hilltop can be steep and uneven in places.
The Upper Castle was almost entirely demolished in the 19th century, and the Gediminas Tower visible today is largely a 20th-century reconstruction built over the original foundations. What many visitors assume to be a medieval original is in fact a later rebuild.
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