Vileišis Palace

The Vileišis Palace in Vilnius is an impressive Neo-Baroque complex built in 1904 for the Lithuanian engineer and philanthropist Petras Vileišis. The architect August Klein deliberately designed the building in this style so that it would blend harmoniously with the nearby Baroque Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Construction was completed in 1906 and stood out for its innovative materials, including reinforced concrete and lime mixed with milk instead of water. The estate consists of the main building, a guesthouse, and an annex, which were originally surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and well-kept gardens.

Today the palace houses the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore. You can admire the historic interior, which is distinguished by Neoclassical and Rococo-style elements such as stucco work and pastel tiles. The guesthouse, which once housed the editorial office of the first legal Lithuanian daily newspaper in Vilnius, hosted the first Lithuanian art exhibition in 1907, which featured works by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Following a comprehensive renovation completed in 2007, the building is open to visitors again and offers insight into Lithuania's cultural and political history; numerous historical documents were also discovered inside the walls during the restoration work.