Presidential Palace
Presidential Palace is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Vilnius audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Vilnius Vilnius guide
About Presidential Palace
The official seat of Lithuania's president, a neoclassical palace on Daukanto Square that spent centuries as the bishops' residence and briefly housed Napoleon during his 1812 campaign.
The Presidential Palace (Prezidentura) on Daukanto Square is the official residence and office of the President of Lithuania. The site dates to the fourteenth century, when Grand Duke Jogaila donated the land to the Vilnius Diocese for the bishop's residence, and for centuries the palace served as the home of the Bishops of Vilnius. The present Empire, or neoclassical, palace was rebuilt in 1824-1834 by the St Petersburg architect Vasily Stasov, with work supervised by Karol Podczaszynski.
The palace has hosted a remarkable roll of guests. The future King Louis XVIII of France stayed in 1804; during the 1812 invasion of Russia both Napoleon Bonaparte and Tsar Alexander I lodged here, and after Napoleon's defeat Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov received Russia's highest military award at the palace. In 1997 the building became the official seat of the President of Lithuania, with Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas the first president to use it. Guided tours are offered on weekends by advance registration, and the surrounding park opens to the public outside office hours. The palace lies within the Vilnius Old Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Did you know? The palace stands on land that Grand Duke Jogaila gave to the Vilnius diocese in the fourteenth century; for centuries afterward it was home to the Bishops of Vilnius.
How long should you spend at Presidential Palace?
Plan about ~60 min at Presidential Palace. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Presidential Palace worth visiting?
Presidential Palace is one of the 21 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Vilnius, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Vilnius
Day 2 of the Vilnius in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Presidential Palace
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