Naujasis arsenalas

The New Arsenal in Vilnius is a historic building of national importance that stands in the Lower Castle area. Located north of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and west of the Old Arsenal, it now houses a department of the National Museum of Lithuania. The history of the site goes back to the 14th century, when a Gothic stone building with a tall tower stood here; it later served as the private residence of Grand Duke Sigismund Augustus. Over the centuries, the building served various purposes, including as a courthouse, as an arsenal under the direction of Mykolas Kazimieras Oginskis in the late 18th century, and for a time as a prison. Architecturally, the Neoclassical style shapes its appearance. The two-story building with a hipped roof and a basement level is distinguished by a striking portico on the northwest side, supported by six Doric columns. Today, visitors can tour the restored rooms, which were converted for museum use in the 20th century, as well as the building's historic fabric, which also includes fragments from the 16th century.