Gediminas Tower: history, design features, meaning

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Ancient Gediminas Tower (Lithuania, Vilnius) is the only surviving fortification on the famous Castle Hill. The building is considered a majestic example of medieval architectural Gothic. This is a symbol of Vilnius, a place where tourists and guests of the city flock to touch its history.

Gediminas' Tower (Lithuania)

The historical and cultural monument in Vilnius bears the name of the city's founder, Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania. By his order, a fortress was laid on the Castle Hill. From its upper part, in its current form, a massive twenty-meter tower, built of natural stone and brick, remained.

The building survived many wars, withstood battles, although it has survived to our time thanks to several restorations. Time changes the landscape, the rock of the mountain crumbles. In 2010, serious work was carried out to prevent landslides, which pose a threat to the destruction of a historical and cultural monument.

At one time, the tower was part of an internal fortress complex built as the last line of defense against invaders. Of the two towers and the ring fence, only the Western structure has been preserved. Massive building incurrently has three floors. The tower is made in the form of an octagon with loopholes typical for those times. The rise to the floors is carried out by a spiral staircase embedded in the wall.

Legend

There is a mention that a fortification on this site existed before (XIII century). Nevertheless, it is believed that Gediminas' tower and the entire Vilna Castle appeared after a vision to the Lithuanian prince Gediminas. Hunting with his retinue in those places, while resting in a dream, he saw a huge wolf standing on a hilltop. He howled invitingly and defiantly, fearing no one. The prince allegedly tried to hit him with an arrow several times. But the hits did not harm him, since he was dressed in armor. The arrows simply bounced off his armor.

The interpretation of the dream by the priests came down to one thing: such a vision can only be a sign from above. They suggested that in place of the wolf it would be good to put a fortress. Gediminas decided to do as the priests advised, because they assumed that the majestic castle and the future city around it should glorify the Principality of Lithuania. Some time later, on a high hill with steep slopes, the construction of a fortress began. And the symbol of Vilnius is a wolf in armor.

History

According to the surviving evidence, the castle complex already existed in 1323. The stone walls of the upper citadel and both towers were presumably built in the first half of the 14th century. During the sieges of the crusaders at the end of the century, the fortress was heavilysuffered. After a strong fire (1419), the citadel and the tower of Gediminas were restored by Prince Vytautas (grandson of Gediminas).

Castles and defensive structures gradually ceased to be a decisive factor in battles, since artillery during a siege could negate their protective function. Nevertheless, in 1960 the Upper Castle withstood the offensive of the Polish-Lithuanian troops. The Russian garrison, who took refuge there, withstood the siege for a long time (16 months). Thanks to the dominant heights and the possibility of shelling from cannons, it was possible to contain the attackers. The upper castle, which was seriously damaged after the assaults, was never completely restored in its original form.

Gediminas Tower: address, location

In the panorama of the city, Castle Hill and the only tower on it occupies a dominant position. From its observation deck, the valley of the Vilnia River is perfectly visible, buildings in the historical quarter against the backdrop of modern buildings. The mountain itself is located in the area of the Cathedral Square, near the church of St. Stanislav. Steep slopes rise to a height of almost 50 m (143 m above sea level).

From the Lower Castle to Gediminas' Tower you can take a funicular, admiring the surrounding landscapes, or walk along a path in the form of a spiral. Nearby are the ruins of the Upper Castle. The foundation of the second (South) tower and a section of the fortress fence have been preserved. Having overcome 78 steps along the spiral staircase, equipped in the thickness of the wall, you can get to the observation deck, located another twenty meters higher.

Application

The fortifications of the Upper Castle were used in non-war times as auxiliary premises. An arsenal was stored there, a pantry for ammunition and equipment was equipped. Gediminas Tower was used as an observation stronghold. There was a time when the Upper Castle was used as a prison. The remains of the fortress walls and ruins were gradually dismantled. The surviving two floors of the tower in the 30s of the XIX century were adapted for the accommodation of soldiers. A two-story superstructure was installed on the upper tier. An optical telegraph beacon was set up there.

After the withdrawal of the fortifications on the Castle Hill from the number of defense structures (1878), all structures became available for visits. The tower was equipped with a fire tower. On its lower tiers there was a coffee shop. The wooden superstructure was dismantled after the end of the First World War, and the third floor was restored in its place. Since 1960, exhibits of the Lithuanian National Museum have been exhibited in the restored tower. Rising to the observation deck of the upper tier, tourists and everyone can view the panorama of the city. There is also a flagpole on which the state flag flutters.

Meaning

After several restorations, the Gediminas Tower in Vilnius has become a place of visit for tourists and guests of the city. Inside it, everyone can get acquainted with the exposition of the National Museum (its branch is located there). You can look at the models of ancient castles in different periods, see the battle dress of Lithuanian knights during battles inXIII–XVIII centuries.

The tower is associated with the tradition of raising the flag every year. Back in 1919, on January 1, volunteers and patriots for the first time raised the current national tricolor on the flagpole (yellow, green and red on the flag). The Gediminas' Tower is not only a place of pilgrimage for tourists and a center for rallying patriots of the state, it is also a significant monument of history, architecture, medieval architecture, a miraculously preserved heritage of the Lithuanian people.