banknotes. Marked in numbers: 1.
Vilnius Cathedral 2. Cathedral's Belfry 3.
Gediminas Tower 4. Hill of
Three Crosses 5. Monument to Grand Duke
Gediminas 6. Location where
Royal Palace is being reconstructed. So the view is somewhat outdated The cathedral square was founded as late as 19th century, during the reconstruction and refurbishment of the cathedral. Previously, the area was densely populated and built up with medieval and renaissance houses. Parts of the area were also occupied by the Lower Castle. Following the creation of a new square it became the main open space of the city's centre. It was there that the Russian
military parades were held and where the annual
St. Casimir's Fair was held. In 1905 a monument to
Catherine the Great (by
Mark Antokolski) was erected. After the city was occupied by Germany in 1915 and the local Polish administration was allowed to govern the city, the monument was destroyed and the
St. Casimir's Fair was moved to the Łukiszki Square (
Lukiškės Square). In modern times, fairs and festivities are regularly held at the site. It is there that the tallest
Christmas tree in the city is erected, as well as a number of other Christmas decorations, including outdoor
nativity scenes. It is also there that the yearly public celebrations of
New Year's Eve are held. One of the most distinctive features of the square is the cathedral's
bell tower, situated several yards from the cathedral itself, a thing uncommon outside of
Italy. According to many scholars, the tower was in fact one of the towers of the ancient
city walls of the mediaeval
Lower Castle that once stood near the modern square. According to another version, not supported by modern historians, the base of the tower was in fact a small pagan temple, demolished and then turned into the bell tower. Regardless of its origins, the lower parts of the tower are mediaeval, with several small loop-holes preserved. Its oldest underground square section was built in the 13th century on the bottom of the old riverbed. Upper parts of the tower were added in the 18th century while the neo-classical finish was added in the 19th century, during the reconstruction of the cathedral. Another notable feature of the square is the monument to
Gediminas, one of the first rulers of
Lithuania, by
Vytautas Kašuba, uncovered in 1996. The
bronze used for the monument was donated by Lithuanian border guards who confiscated it on the border. The marble pedestal was a gift from the government of
Ukraine, while the sculpture itself was cast free of charge in
Tallinn. Nearby is a
magical place, a small stone marking the place where, according to a local
urban legend, the human chain of
Baltic Way was started linking Vilnius with
Riga and Tallinn, an event that marked the beginning of national liberation of the
Baltic States. It is said that if a person steps on this stone and turns around three times, their wish will be granted. Additionally, a footprint tile is found at the location. The paving of the square was extensively renovated in 2000. The new tiles were made of light
granite. Excavated remains of former fortifications of the Lower Castle have been highlighted in the paving by using red-coloured granite. == References ==