The mysterious beauty of Vilnius
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The joy of living in Europe is that you can visit neigbouring countries by car, train or plane without back-breaking logistics.
This is why I visited Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania twice last year. I have taken long to talk about this place because its beauty remains elusive. What draws me to Lithuania, and to Vilnius in particular?
When we moved to Poland in 2010, my husband often expressed the wish to visit our neighbour, Lithuania. At some point, he even looked for apartments and found some gorgeous places for a reasonable price. However fate took us elsewhere and it was only in 2024 that we finally took the plunge.
Our first trip was in February 2024. We travelled as a couple. Since we wanted to take our dog, we opted for the car. It took us eight hours to drive from Warsaw to Vilnius because there were many patches of the road that were being repaired or improved. Our second trip would require less time.
I remember being unimpressed by Vilnius when I first set my eyes on it. Had we made the right choice to visit this place? The old city looked unimposing with several buildings looking as if they needed a major overhaul. The grim weather did not help much and my spirit sank. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement.
The first glimmer of sunshine appeared at our hotel. I was relieved to discover that the room was spacious and flooded with light during the day.
Another pleasant surprise came from the food. What a culinary experience! Each and every dish that I tasted was a testimony of care and love for food. The ingredients were seemingly fresh and healthy. Everything that I ate was delicious and I am not exaggerating. It didn’t matter whether the dish was Lithuanian or from another European country. I was mesmerised! Simply put, the food was good.
What blew my mind the most was the city’s constant attempts at creativity whether it be through food, decorations and daily activities. It was truly a unique experience to walk through the narrow streets of the old city and come across originality at every turn. My creative mind was fed constantly and I just couldn’t have enough.
I felt very alive upon discovering what the city had to offer. The gloomy weather became an inconsequential backdrop to the jewels we encountered. The churches begged to be captured in our lenses. We had little time to visit every monument but we got our money’s worth visiting some of the most famous features of the city: the Vilnius Cathedral and its Bell Tower, the Gediminas Castle Tower, St Anne’s Church, the Hill of the Three Crosses and much more! We were able to see all this thanks to the short distances between these iconic places.
During this first trip, we continued to be captivated by creativity in the shop windows or the fashion that sometimes turns Vilnius’s streets into improvised catwalks. People dress uniquely and it was a real pleasure to watch these unusual fashion trends.
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Our second trip in December took us on the other side of the Neris River where you can find the city’s financial centre and modern buildings. It was pleasant to walk along the banks and observe what daily life means for Vilnians. We continued to be drawn by the creativity in the shop windows or the food scenery. It seemed as if enough was never enough. It was as if the city’s inhabitants were always one step ahead. It was thrilling to be part of that.
The Christmas decorations did not disappoint and I always looked forward to take footage of incredible ornaments. I imagined how the houses would be decorated inside. My mind wandered to the food that would grace Vilnians’ tables. I love Vilnius because it kick-starts my creative process.
During these two visits I kept on asking myself these questions: why is there this constant need for creativity in Vilnius? Why can’t they just do the bare minimum? I have been to other European cities but Vilnius seems to stand out in this field, why?
Then I got my answer after visiting the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles, formerly called the Museum of Genocide. There I saw what life had been like in Lithuania during Soviet occupation. As a matter of fact, the building that houses the museum was designed for torture. For example, the basement comprised of a prison and an execution chamber.
It was a bone-chilling experience to see how prisoners had lived in such a place. My heart was heavy with sorrow as I visited each and every room of this prison where many Lithuanians had lost their lives. How was this possible?
Suddenly, a ray of sunlight shone in these dark rooms where despair had sank its roots. Art. Fleeting and unseizable art in the most unlikely place. Then, I understood more about the power of the human spirit. It dawned on me that art had probably saved this prisoner, if not, it had given her strength to endure the unbearable. Art had broken her chains and had kept her beautiful mind unfettered.
Later on, in the comfort of my hotel room, I discovered more and more horrifying facts about Vilnius. I learnt that more than 90% of the 250,000 Jewish population had been massacred during the German invasion and occupation of Lithuania from 1941 to 1945. The more I read, the more my brain could not take in all this disheartening information. What pushes a human being to take the life of another human being in such grim circumstances?
Hence, the image of that incredible piece of art that I had previously seen in the prison was balm to my soul. It became the symbol of resistance to evil.
The following day I saw Vilnians with new eyes. I saw their resilience and willingness to forget the horrors of their past through a constant push for creativity, for rebirth. I saw what beauty could do to one’s heart. Not only has beauty the power to erase the hideous parts of our history, but also beauty has the power to heal broken hearts.
Most of all, I understood why Vilnius held a special place in my heart. I was drawn to its beautiful soul. The treasure in Vilnius lies in its ability to rise from ashes and rebuild anew. Vilnius strengthens me and makes me believe that everything is possible!
Listen to the audio:
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Further Exploration: Vilnius—A Well-Guarded European Treasure Waiting to be Explored—A Pleasure for the Senses! (Level B1-B2)
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About the Author
Thandi Ngwira Gatignol is the founder of Learn English With Africa. She was born on June 11th, 1981 in Blantyre, Malawi. When she was 19, she left her country of birth for France. She currently lives with her two daughters and husband in Poland.
Thandi holds a Bachelor’s degree in English studies obtained at the Université Paris X Nanterre in France and a Certificate in Journalism from Malawi. She has taught English as a French Ministry of Education certified teacher both in France and in Poland. She speaks six languages fluently, including French, Polish and Italian. She is now learning Kiswahili, German and Spanish. Salt No More is her debut novel and you can find her other books here on the website or on Amazon.
Blog Article: Vilnius—A Well-Guarded European Treasure Waiting to be Explored—A Pleasure for the Senses! (Level B1-B2)© Learn English With Africa, March 2025
