City Wall of Vilnius, Defensive wall in Old Town Vilnius, Lithuania.
The City Wall of Vilnius surrounds the Old Town with a partially preserved fortification made of stone and brick. It originally extended over several kilometers and had nine gates, of which only the Gate of Dawn still stands.
The wall was funded by local landowners between 1503 and 1522 to protect the city from attacks during Lithuanian wars. The fortification was part of the defense system against various external threats of that period.
The Gate of Dawn was the last remaining city gate and is now a sacred space where visitors light candles and pray.
The best time to explore is during daylight hours when the structure and surroundings are clearly visible. Some sections of the wall are easy to access, while other parts require climbing stairs or navigating uneven terrain.
An artillery bastion section displays early gunpowder weapons and the first European artillery textbook by Kazimieras Simonavičius from the 17th century. This collection shows the fortification's role in advancing military technology.
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