On the occasion of Vilnius’ 698th birthday, the Gediminas Castle, the bridges and the TV tower shone spectacularly.

On Monday night, four bridges in the capital, Žvėrynas, Baltasis, Žaliasis and Mindaugas, were illuminated in Vilnius.

On the initiative of the Vilnius Festival of Lights, the Gediminas castle and the sword of the Gediminas monument were especially lit.

The lighting installation was also created for the Vilnius TV tower, and on weekends and Mondays it turned into a fun birthday candle: in the evenings the tower “dances” every hour according to Lithuanian folk songs.

For those who like to celebrate with music, a special Vilnius birthday playlist has been created on the Spotify platform.

The alternative city cognition platform “Part-time Vilnius” has prepared a game knowledge test, a special birthday gift “Vilnius Mood Map”: what the capital would be like if the people of Vilnius chose their colors.

Each baby born on Vilnius birthday will traditionally receive a bib with the inscription “Vilnius loves you”. It is estimated that around 30 babies or more can be born during Vilnius’ birthday.

According to tradition, three flags of the city are raised in the square next to the town hall on the occasion of the birthday. This year, due to the quarantine restriction ceremony, there was no ceremony, but on Monday passersby were able to see a light projection on the facade of the town hall with the flag of the Vilnius municipality.

Vilnius, as a city and capital, was first mentioned in written sources in a letter written by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas to the Christians of Western Europe on January 25, 1323.

The letter invites Christian merchants, soldiers, craftsmen, farmers and clergymen from all over the world, especially from Lübeck, Stralsund, Bremen, Magdeburg and Cologne, to come and settle in Lithuania.

The then Grand Duke of Lithuania also announced his intention to be baptized.

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