The Old Town of Vilnius, which in December 1994 was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is an urban district of tremendous cultural and historic value from an international as well as a national point of view. It has the potential to become a major asset for Lithuanian tourism and service industries, and will be the heart of the economic development of the city.

Nowadays the historic centre of Vilnius comprises the area of the Castle and a wider area that had been encircled by a wall in the Late Middle Ages. The plan is basically circular, radiating out from the original site of the Castle. The street pattern is still typically medieval, with small streets dividing it into irregular blocks, but with some large squares inserted in later periods. Historic buildings represent a wide spectrum of historical styles. Nearly 40% of them are of the highest category of architectural and historical importance. They constitute a townscape of great diversity and yet at the same time one in which there is an overarching harmony.

The site has been intermittently occupied from the Neolithic Period onwards. A wooden castle was built ca. AD 1000 to fortify a hill at the confluence of Neris and Vilnia rivers, a natural feature in an overwhelmingly picturesque landscape.

In 1323 during the reign of the Grand Duke Gediminas, Vilnius (Vilnia) was mentioned for the first time in written sources as the capital of the State of Lithuania. Gediminas granted more rights to the citizens, and invited merchants, artisans and monks from abroad (mainly from West Europe).

In 1387, Lithuania became the last Eastern European pagan state to convert to Christianity after the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Jogaila, became king of Poland on his marriage to the Polish Queen. A process of gradual integration into Central Europe began. On the site of the former pagan temple a new cathedral was started.

In the 14th century the growth of the town was hampered by the attacks of the Teutonic Order. The defeat of the Order at the Battle of Grunwald (1410) created favourable conditions for the further growth of the town. The 15th century was marked by a more rapid construction of brick Gothic buildings, and the formation of monasteries and Guilds which had a great impact on the appearance of the town. In this period Vilnius acquired its Town Hall and a few Gothic Orthodox churches.

After the fire of 1471 a number of new streets were laid out, and in 1503–1522 a defence wall was erected with five gates, which girdled the most densely inhabited part of the town (approx. 90 ha) and protected the town from possible Tartar invasions.

During the 16th – early 19th centuries, many great fires and wars caused constant rebuilding of the city. However, the basic street pattern did not change, although with the emergence of new streets, the blocks got smaller. The reconstructed and new buildings of a great many churches and palaces featured a full sequence of new architectural styles from late Gothic to Classical, achieving their peak in the late Baroque period, when the Vilnius style was established in such churches as St. Catherine, St. George, the facades of St. Johns and the Missionary church. In 1579 Vilnius University was founded and later educated a great many world-famous scientists and figures of culture from many nations. In the course of the 16th and 17th centuries Vilnius established itself as the metropolis of a great state – one of the biggest cities in Eastern Europe; it adopted and mastered the values of European culture and re-created them according to the needs of the people of the Great Duchy of Lithuania.

Following the third and final Partition of the Lithuanian-Polish State in 1795, Lithuania as well as its capital Vilnius, was annexed to Russia and Vilnius became the centre of the Governor-General’s province. The appearance of the town lost some of its charm when the greater part of the Lower Castle as well as all the town defence wall with its gates, were pulled down by the Russians in 1799–1805. The only gate that survived is the Aušros (Medininkų) Gate. Thus the structure of the town’s lay-out acquired some alterations.

Construction work was particularly intensive in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, however the new "brick style" eclectical and modern buildings did not radically change the character of the Old Town. In the early 20th century Vilnius became the centre of the Lithuanian national revival. On February 16, 1918 the restoration of the independent State of Lithuania was proclaimed.

In 1920–1939 Vilnius and its region were occupied by Poland and the town lost its significance as an administrative centre. During this period very few houses were built in the Old Town of Vilnius. However, mention should be made of some research, conservation and restoration works to significant architectural monuments which was carried out.

In the six-hundred year period up to the Second World War, Vilnius had developed to a built urban structure of nearly 360 hectares, flourishing as a very important hub of the Lithuanian, Polish, Jewish and Belarussian cultures and economies. Outstanding philosophers and authors made it a focal point of Eastern European culture and its centres of learning were internationally recognised.

During the Second World War the Old Town suffered great losses. Entire blocks were burned down, especially in the area of the Jewish ghetto. However, a majority of the most valuable monuments survived: all the Catholic and the Orthodox churches, the Lutheran and Reformed Evangelical Churches as well as nearly all the noblemen’s palaces. After the war, some of the buildings underwent repairs and others, in worse condition, were pulled down.

Since 1960 a few examples of modern architecture have been built, which were successfully arranged and suited their historical surroundings. The restoration of a great many significant architectural monuments and complexes revealed many faded or damaged historical elements. In addition, parts of valuable buildings (churches, palaces, etc.) were not being used for their proper purposes; this reduced their authenticity, though in a physical sense the buildings survived.

In the Soviet period, however, the government did not allot enough resources for the maintenance and repairs of housing, therefore, in 1990 – the period of the restoration of independence of the Lithuanian State – many of them were very dilapidated.

Vilnius is again the capital of the State and part of its functions have to be performed by the Old Town. A large part of the town’s cultural and spiritual life is concentrated there. Private capital has started gradually participating in the process of the Old Town’s restoration. The restitution to their original purpose of the churches and part of the monasteries makes it possible to gradually re-create the character of their surroundings.

The designated Vilnius World Heritage site contains three zones. They are as follows:

1. The Vilnius Castle zone, to which the territories of the Lower and Upper Castles with their surroundings are attached.

2. The central part of the Vilnius Old Town which in older times had been girdled by the town defence wall (the historical nucleus).

3. The Vilnius suburban zone dating back to the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It embraces an area whose urban structure was formed in the late 18th century, and on the basis of this structure these suburbs were built up in the 19th century and the early 20th century.

The Old Town is surrounded on all its sides by other historical urban areas or protected natural zones (e.g. Pavilnio regional park). The Old Town and its surroundings offer a lot of natural panoramic observation spots – the hill of the Upper Castle and the Tower, the Hill of Three Crosses and Bekešo Hill, the Arsenal in Bokšto street, Mindaugo street, and the right bank of the River Neris.

5. The historically accumulation of important administrative, cultural, religious and also everyday objects, the heritage of the state’s capital and the city centre.