Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

The Grand Princely Palace (also Royal Castle ) in Vilnius, Lithuanian: Valdovų Rumai, was a residential castle of the Polish-Lithuanian ruler, which was destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century and reconstructed after the turn of the millennium. A partial opening of the unfinished building on July 6, 2009.

The originally Gothic building was for the most part on Alexander Jagiello and Sigismund I the Old, back. The operating in Poland and Lithuania, the Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci because Pontassieve, Giovanni Cini da Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi were involved in the construction and the transformation in the style of the Renaissance.

In the 17th century there was a Baroque style, at the Castello Matteo, Giacopo Tencalla and others participated.

1655 a Russian army conquered Vilnius. While there six years later came to retake but the plundered and half-destroyed by fire palace was never rebuilt. Parts of the castle, however, remained inhabited. After the incorporation of Lithuania into the Tsarist Empire, the demolition of the remains of the castle was arranged in 1801.

Since 1987 was dug at the site of the old castle; the foundations and many relics such as coins, broken glass, floor tiles and parts of the decoration of the facades were unearthed. The findings exceeded all expectations and suggested a reconstruction. In 2000, the Parliament decided to rebuild.

Since 2002, it comes from the perspective of strengthening the patriotic identity of Lithuania to the reconstruction of the castle - regardless of the reservations of many historians and experts who criticize among others, the use of modern building materials and techniques.

In 2013, the castle is to be opened as a museum and as a place for ceremonial events. For the interior, which was completely lost, and ultimately unknown, were on the international antiques market for millions furniture, paintings, small sculptures and even tableware purchased together in the basement of the castle an archaeological exhibition was set up in which the soil finds and foundations, the only original parts the castle can be visited. In the Lithuanian public, especially the cost of reconstruction were criticized, which also lead to the authentic monuments of the city are also expire in the immediate vicinity of the new castle on.

Stage of construction August 2006

Courtyard

Bird's eye view

Opening in 2009

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