Verkiai Palace

The neoclassical Verkiai Palace in Vilnius served as the summer residence of the Bishops of Vilnius until the end of the 18th century. Beginning in 1780, under Bishop Massalski, the architects Knackfus and Gucevičius remodeled it in the neoclassical style, and it became known as the "Versailles of Vilnius." The ensemble once had a theater, a large library, and a weapons collection. After suffering heavy damage during Napoleon's invasion and the demolition of the main building in the 19th century, the east wing served as the new residence. Today the complex belongs to the Lithuanian Botanical Institute and is an important historic site in Verkiai Regional Park, where you can explore the surviving buildings and the parklike grounds.