Church of St. Anne, Vilnius

Church of St. Anne, Vilnius tickets: which one to buy

Saint Anne's Church stands at the eastern edge of Vilnius Old Town, beside the larger church of Saint Francis and Saint Bernardine, and entry is free. It is one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in the Baltic region and a symbol of Vilnius, and its red brick facade is among the most photographed sights in Lithuania. Walking tours of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, always include it, together with the Cathedral, the Gates of Dawn, the university and the bohemian district of Uzupis, across the river nearby.

The church is small and often busy with visitors in summer. The park and square in front are a popular place to sit. The church keeps limited opening hours, closing during services. A monument to the poet Adam Mickiewicz stands in the square beside it. Guided tours of the Old Town in English leave from the Town Hall square most mornings.

Visiting Church of St. Anne, Vilnius: what to see

Saint Anne's was built at the end of the fifteenth century, probably around 1500, in the late flamboyant Gothic style, and it has survived fires and wars remarkably intact. Its facade is a masterpiece of brickwork: thirty-three different kinds of shaped bricks were used to create slender towers, pointed arches, vertical lines and delicate tracery, giving the front a lace-like lightness. Legend says that Napoleon, passing through Vilnius in 1812, admired it so much that he wished he could carry it back to Paris in the palm of his hand. The bell tower next to it was built in the nineteenth century in neo-Gothic style. Inside, the church is simple, with a baroque altar.

The neighbouring church of Saint Francis and Saint Bernardine, a large Gothic church with frescoes, forms an ensemble with Saint Anne's, and together they make one of the finest Gothic corners in Eastern Europe. The interior has a narrow nave with a star vault and a baroque altar dedicated to Saint Anne. Organ concerts are held in the church in summer. The bell tower beside the church was built in imitation of Gothic style. The brick patterns on the facade include niches, arches and pinnacles that create a sense of movement. The church was used as a warehouse during Soviet times. Its restoration has preserved the original brickwork. The Bernardine monastery complex nearby includes a garden. The Vilnia river flows just beyond the church.

Church of St. Anne, Vilnius opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open during the day, with limited hours out of season and closed during services. Summer brings long evenings and many visitors to Vilnius, while winter is cold, snowy and dark, though the Old Town is beautiful under snow and the Christmas tree in Cathedral Square is famous. Morning light is best on the facade, and evening floodlighting makes it glow.

The Kaziuko fair in early March fills the Old Town with crafts. Uzupis, across the Vilnia river, celebrates its independence day on 1 April with humour. Allow about fifteen minutes for Saint Anne's, and visit the Bernardine church next door. The Uzupis district across the river has cafes, galleries and its humorous constitution posted on a wall.