Vilnius city wall in the 16th c.

Subačius gate in the 18th century

Vilnius city wall was built between 1503 and 1522. It was a key element of the defensive system of Vilnius, and was paid for by the city's landowners. The wall is built from stone and brick. It contained nine gates and an artillery bastion.

• Subačius gate was built at the end of what is now Holly Spirit street.
• Spas gate was built near the river Vilnia at the eastern side of city.
• Wet gate stood near [Cathedral Square in Vilnius|Cathedral Square]].
• Tatar gate stood at the corner of Liejyklos and Totorių street.
• Vilija gate stood at the corner of Vilnius and Bernardinai street.
• Trakai gate was built at the corner of Trakų and Pylimo streets. It was the main gate of the city and contained (as did the Gate of Dawn) a chapel.

An artillery bastion was built to protect the eastern side of the city. It is currently a museum of militaria from Vilnius and is under renovation.

After the Russian occupation most of the wall and all the gates, except the Gate of Dawn, were torn down. Some parts of it are still visible or are going to be restored and shown.

References

• (Lithuanian) Ragauskienė, R.; Antanavičius, D; Burba, D.; ir kt. Vilniaus žemutinė pilis XIV a. – XIX a. pradžioje: 2002–2004 m. istorinių šaltinių paieškos. Vilnius. 2006

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