Lecture: “30 Years on the UNESCO Heritage List: The Historic Center of Vilnius”
Date: October 14 at 6:00 PM
We look forward to seeing you at the lecture on 30 YEARS ON THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST: THE NARRATIVE OF VILNIUS HISTORICAL CENTER AND ITS GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE.
Lecturer: Architectural historian Renata Vaičekonytė Kepežinskienė
Thirty years ago, in December 1994, at the 18th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Phuket, Thailand, the first Lithuanian heritage site—the Historic Center of Vilnius—was inscribed on the World Heritage List. This was an important global recognition for the Lithuanian state, marking not only cultural acknowledgment but also political significance, leading to further collaboration with the international heritage community and the global dissemination and understanding of Lithuanian heritage.
The Historic Center of Vilnius was one of the first sites among the Baltic States to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is an outstanding example of a Central European city formed during the Middle Ages, where a strong interaction between Eastern and Western cultures occurred. The city retains a medieval street network and urban structure, showcasing multilayered panoramic views of Vilnius and groups of buildings that testify to the rich historical styles of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicism.
In the lecture, we will discuss the exceptional value of the Historic Center of Vilnius and explore what this UNESCO status means for us today and what added value it creates for the city and the state.
The lecture series CULTURAL FOUNDATION OF VILNIUS is funded by the Department of Cultural Heritage.
