About Lithuania
Information about Lithuania
Lithuania is the biggest of the three Baltic countries with the population of 3 707 000, of them 81% Lithuanians. It borders on Latvia in the North, Byelorussia in the East, and Poland and Russia in the South. The coastline to the West totals the 99 km. The territory of Lithuania covers 65, 300 square kilometres, that means twice the size of Belgium, one and a half times the size of Denmark, and a little smaller than Ireland.
The Lithuanian language is the most archaic of all the living Indo-European languages, alive reference language for students of language history all over the world.
More and more countries are signing visa-free travel agreements with Lithuania. Call your local consulate or the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania (236 26 07) for a more detailed information. If you have got a visa, it is valid within all three Baltic states.
Information about Vilnius
Vilnius, the capital city of the country, is the largest city in Lithuania. It is located at the distance of 300 km from the Baltic Sea. Lithuania's main airport is situated in Vilnius, and there are regular daily flights from London, Copenhagen, Frankfurt/Main, Rome, Paris, etc. Several railway lines meet in Vilnius, joining all the three Baltic capitals, St.Petersbourg, Moscow, Warsaw and Berlin. Ferries operate between Klaipeda and ports in Denmark, Germany and Sweden.
According to statistical data of of 2001 the population of Vilnius is 542.287. Of them 57.8% are Lithuanians, 18.7% Poles, 14% Russians, 4% Byelorussians, 0.5% Jews and the remaining 5% comprising some other nationalities.
The accepted date for the founding of Vilnius is 1323, when the name of Vilnius was first mentioned in written sources, and it was in the letter of Grand Duke Gediminas inviting European merchants to the capital of Lithuania.
Current area of Vilnius is 392 square kilometres. Buildings cover 20.2% of the city and the remaining area is prevailed with the greenery (43.9%) and waters (2.1%). The County of Vilnius covers the regions of Vilnius, Elektrėnai, Šalčininkai, Širvintos, Švenčionys, Trakai and Ukmergė totalling to 965,000 ha.
The Old Town, historical centre of Vilnius, is one of the largest in Eastern Europe (360 ha). The most valuable historic and cultural heritage is concentrated here. The buildings in the old town - there are about 1.5 thousand of them - were built in a number of different centuries, therefore, it is a mixture of all European architectural styles. Although Vilnius is often called a baroque city, here you will find some buildings of gothic, renaissance and other styles. The main sights of the city are the Gediminas Castle and the Cathedral Square, symbols of the capital. Their combination is also a gateway to the historic centre of the capital. Because of its uniqueness, the Old Town of Vilnius was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Vilnius is also the largest administrative centre in Lithuania with all major political, economic, social and cultural centres.