(Un)lost Vilnius: a hike through the history of the hills

Vilnius, like Rome, rose on seven hills – and this is not just a catchy phrase. Did you know that in the heart of Vilnius there are five mounds located right next to each other? And the oldest part of the city is not the Old Town, but the area that many know as Kalnų parkas.

More than 600 years ago, the Crooked Castle (Kreivoji pilis) stood here with a city nearby, and real games of thrones took place: arrows flew upwards, heads rolled downwards, and even a future King of England raised his flag here.

Over the centuries, Vilnius left its defensive hills and descended into the valleys. The Crooked Castle decayed, and manors and gardens began to be established on the mounds, while botanical garden paths stretched in a serpentine pattern. When Vilnius fell under Tsarist oppression, a military fortress rose on these hills – another attempt to control this strategically important place.

During the interwar period, Jozef Piłsudski established a modern sports base in the territory of the former Crooked City. Shouts and passions echoed on the hills again – only this time, they were sporting ones. When the Soviets occupied the city, they decided to concrete over history – creating a socialist "Disneyland" instead of the Crooked City. Thus, the former Crooked City, later called Altarija, vanished from memory and turned into Kalnų parkas, and the oldest part of the city was finally overgrown with trees. But in the Vilnius Castles Reserve, seven hills, five mounds, numerous valleys, and stunning city views still stand.

A tour of this place is a journey into the heart of a lost city, and it will be a bit different from our usual ones: we will be climbing hills, so wear comfortable shoes, choose clothes suitable for hiking, and bring water. And we, as always, will awaken your imagination with true, impressive stories.

Start of the tour: monument to the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas;

Duration ~2.5-3 hours.

End of the tour: near Užupis Gymnasium.

Please do not be late and have a saved copy of your ticket on your phone. If you are late, the possibilities to join are limited; guides' phones are on silent mode during the tour.

What if the weather is bad? The tour will definitely take place, and we suggest you simply bring umbrellas and dress appropriately 😊