Church of St. Nicholas, Vilnius

St. Nicholas' Church – one of the oldest surviving Gothic churches in Lithuania – stands on St. Nicholas Street in the Vilnius Old Town. Built in the early 14th century by the German burgher community, it is a living testament to the multicultural nature of medieval Vilnius. The Oldest Church in Vilnius The church was founded around 1320, making it one of the oldest stone sacred buildings on the territory of present-day Lithuania. It was built by the German merchant and craftsman community resident in Vilnius, who needed their own parish church. St. Nicholas – patron of sailors and merchants – was the natural protector for this community. The church retained its Gothic character even as most of the Vilnius Old Town was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Gothic Architecture The modest red brick facade, rectangular floor plan, and pointed-arch windows speak a Gothic language that has become rare in Vilnius. Most Old Town churches were reconstructed in the Baroque style in the 16th–18th centuries, making St. Nicholas' one of the few authentic Gothic architectural examples left in the city. Inside, the vaulted ceiling and surviving period fragments preserve the atmosphere of a much earlier era. A History of Changing Hands Over the centuries the church changed owners and purposes several times. During the Reformation it passed to the Lutherans; later it was returned to Catholics. Under Russian Imperial rule and again during the Soviet period it was closed and reopened. Each era left its mark on the architecture or interior – this is a church where Vilnius history can be read in layers. Practical Information The church is located on the small St. Nicholas Street, near St. Johns' Church and Vilnius University . Entry is free. For mass times and events, see the official website mikalojus.lt .

Adresas: Šv. Mikalojaus g. 4, 01133 Vilnius, Lithuania

Telefonas: (0-5) 262 3069

Svetainė: https://mikalojus.lt/

Darbo valandos: Antradienis: 3:30 – 18:30 · Pirmadienis: 3:30 – 18:30 · Sekmadienis: 07:15 – 15:00 · Penktadienis: 3:30 – 18:30 · Trečiadienis: 3:30 – 18:30 · Šeštadienis: 3:30 – 18:30 · Ketvirtadienis: 3:30 – 18:30

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