Lithuania

Lithuania, officially

the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states. Situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea.Its population is 3.4 million. Its capital and the largest city is Vilnius. The first written mention of Lithuania is found in 1009.

Vilnius

Gediminas Castle

   The history of the castle

is closely connected with

the formation of the city.

According to the legend found in the Chronicle of Lithuania, the castle on the Castle Hill was founded by Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas, who once had a prophetical dream. In his dream he saw an iron wolf standing on this place and howling like a hundred wolves. The pagan priest Lizdeika interpreted this dream as gods' will. Gediminas should build a castle and a city that would soon become famous and prosperous, and would be unassailable for enemies.

According to other historical facts, in the 5-6th centuries there had already been large settlements on the banks of the Vilnia River and Gediminas chose this place for the construction of the new town because of its favorable geographical position. About 1230 the castle was built

and soon the capital

was moved from Trakai

to the new town named

after the Vilnia River.