Vilnius
Capital and largest city of Lithuania / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Vilnius (/ˈvɪlniəs/ VIL-nee-əs, Lithuanian: [ˈvʲɪlʲnʲʊs] ⓘ; previously known in English as Vilna, see other names) is the capital of and largest city in Lithuania and the second most populous city in the Baltic states. As of January 2024[update], Vilnius' estimated population was 602,430, and the Vilnius urban area which extends beyond the city limits had an estimated population of 708,627.[14]
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Vilnius | |
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Nickname(s): | |
Motto(s): Unitas, Justitia, Spes (Latin: Unity, Justice, Hope) | |
Coordinates: 54°41′14″N 25°16′48″E | |
Country | Lithuania |
County | Vilnius County |
Municipality | Vilnius City Municipality |
Capital of | Lithuania |
First mentioned | 1323 |
Granted city rights | 1387 |
Elderships | |
Government | |
• Type | Mayor–council government |
• Body | Vilnius City Council |
• Mayor | Valdas Benkunskas |
Area | |
• Capital city | 401 km2 (155 sq mi) |
• Urban | 350 km2 (140 sq mi) |
• Metro | 9,730 km2 (3,760 sq mi) |
Elevation | 112 m (367 ft) |
Population (1 January 2024)[6] | |
• Capital city | 602,430 |
• Rank | (35th in EU) |
• Density | 1,560/km2 (4,000/sq mi) |
• Urban | 716,856[7] |
• Urban density | 2,000/km2 (5,000/sq mi) |
• Metro | 853,656[8][9] |
• Metro density | 93/km2 (240/sq mi) |
Demonym | Vilnian |
GDP | |
• Metro | €29.4 billion (US$31 billion) (2022) |
• Per capita | €35,300 (US$37,200) (2022) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Postal code | 01001–14191 |
Area code | (+370) 5 |
City budget | €1.3 billion |
HDI (2021) | 0.913[12] – very high |
Climate | Dfb |
Website | vilnius |
Official name | Historic Centre of Vilnius |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | ii, iv |
Designated | 1994 (18th session) |
Reference no. | [13] |
UNESCO region | Europe |
Vilnius is notable for the architecture of its Old Town, considered one of the largest and best-preserved old towns of Europe. Vilnius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.[15][16][17][18] The architectural style known as Vilnian Baroque is named after the city, which is the easternmost Baroque city and the largest north of the Alps.[19][20]
The city was already noted for its multicultural population in the time of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with contemporary sources comparing it to Babylon. Before World War II and the Holocaust, Vilnius was one of the most important Jewish centers in Europe. Its Jewish influence has led to its nickname "the Jerusalem of Lithuania". Napoleon called it "the Jerusalem of the North"[21] as he was passing through in 1812.
In 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with Linz in Austria.[22] In 2021, Vilnius was named one of fDi's 25 Global Cities of the Future.[23] Vilnius is considered one of the major world financial centres, ranked 76th globally and 29th in Europe, according to the Global Financial Centres Index.[24] In 2023, Vilnius hosted the 2023 NATO Summit. Vilnius is a member of Eurocities[25] and the Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).[26]
The name of the city originates from the Vilnia River, from the Lithuanian for ripple.[27] The city has also had many derivative spellings in various languages throughout its history: Vilna was once common in English. The most notable non-Lithuanian names for the city include Latin: Vilna, Polish: Wilno, Belarusian: Вiльня (Vilnia), German: Wilna, Latvian: Viļņa, Ukrainian: Вільно (Vilno), Yiddish: ווילנע (Vilne). A Russian name from the time of the Russian Empire was Вильна (Vilna),[28][29] although Вильнюс (Vilnyus) is now used. The names Wilno, Wilna and Vilna were also used in older English-, German-, French- and Italian-language publications when the city was one of the capitals of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and an important city in the Second Polish Republic. The name Vilna is still used in Finnish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Hebrew: וילנה. Wilna is still used in German, along with Vilnius.
According to legend, that is presumed to be recorded c. 1530's, Grand Duke Gediminas (c. 1275–1341) had been hunting in the sacred forest near the Valley of Šventaragis, near where the Vilnia River flows into the Neris River. With the successful hunt for a wisent having lasted longer then expected, the Grand Duke decided to settle in for the night in the valley. He fell soundly asleep and dreamed of a huge Iron Wolf standing at the top of a hill, howling as strongly and loudly as a hundred wolves. Upon awakening, the Duke asked the krivis (pagan priest) Lizdeika to interpret the dream. The priest told him:
"What is destined for the ruler and the State of Lithuania, is thus: the Iron Wolf represents a castle and a city which will be established by you on this site. This city will be the capital of the Lithuanian lands and the dwelling of their rulers, and the glory of their deeds shall echo throughout the world."
Therefore, Gediminas, obeying the will of the gods, built two castles - the Lower Castle in the valley, and the Crooked Castle on the Bald Hill. He moved his court there, declaring the place his permanent seat and capital, transformed the vicinities around into a city, to which he gave the name Vilnius, after the Vilnia River.[30][better source needed][31]