On September 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM, a lecture-discussion will take place in the Chamber Hall of Vilnius Town Hall, introducing the audience to the discoveries of Gothic architecture in Vilnius Old Town during the Soviet era, the work of restorers, and the importance of heritage preservation.
In the first part, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Salvijus Kulevičius will give a lecture titled “How Vilnius Old Town Changed Its Outfit During the Soviet Era: Behind the Discovery of the Gothic City.” As early as the 1950s, it was claimed that Vilnius had no brick Gothic residential buildings predating the Baroque period. Such an assessment did no favors for the capital. However, research on one house on Pilies Street transformed disappointment into pride. In the 1960s, buildings preserving Gothic elements were discovered one after another in the Old Town. Thanks to the efforts of restorers, these discoveries became not only visible but tangible. By the 1970s, Vilnius, previously presented as a Baroque city, began to be called a Gothic city. This shift changed the narrative of the city’s history and the Lithuanian self-perception. Each time the new image was threatened, it was feverishly defended against doubt and criticism.
The second part will feature a discussion on the preservation of Vilnius Old Town and the importance of heritage protection, moderated by cultural journalist Laisvė Radzevičienė. Participants will include architect Jonas Rimantas Glemža, architect Giedrė Filipavičienė, and restoration architect Gražina Juknevičienė. The discussion will cover how protecting Vilnius Old Town became a means of defending culture and national identity: the history of preservation, inclusion in the UNESCO list, past threats of demolition of parts of the Old Town, and other protection measures. It will explore whether urban preservation can be considered a quiet yet effective form of resistance against state ideology.
This lecture is part of European Heritage Days, an annual program of free events dedicated to exploring cultural heritage. This year, special attention is given to Vilnius Old Town and current issues in heritage preservation.
The event is also the fifth lecture in the series “Culture Against the System: Vilnius Resistance During the Soviet Era,” organized in 2025 by Vilnius Town Hall to mark the 35th anniversary of Lithuania’s restoration of independence. The series invites audiences to explore how culture became a quiet yet powerful form of resistance during the Soviet era. It presents lesser-known stories of the capital’s cultural resistance: art, theater, cinema, heritage preservation, subcultures, and everyday urban spaces—all serving as tools of resistance. The discussions encourage not only listening but also drawing parallels between past experiences and today’s challenges.
Series topics include:
- Subcultures and national identity
- The contribution of theater to cultural resistance
- Lithuanian cinema against Soviet ideology
- Protest art in Soviet Lithuania
- Preservation of Vilnius Old Town as a form of resistance
- Bohemian life and Vilnius cafés
