Photos

MONUMENT TO GRAND DUKE GEDIMINAS, stands more or less on the spot where the howling iron wolf that inspired the moving of the country’s capital from Trakai allegedly appeared in his dream.

Created by the Lithuanian American Vytautas Kašuba and Mindaugas Šnipas. 1996

Besides being the founder of Vilnius and Trakai, Gediminas was also one of the most famous rulers of Lithuania. His fame can only be compared to the fame of his grandson Vytautas the Great.

Gediminas lived between 1275 and 1341 and ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for 25 years. He moved the capital of Lithuania from Trakai to Vilnius. He was better known as a diplomat who attracted the attention of Europe to Lithuania than as a military chief. It was in the letters of Gediminas to Western Europe that the name of Vilnius was mentioned for the first time in 1323. This year is considered to be the year of the founding of Vilnius.

www.vilnius-tourism.lt

WS: Another shot from opposite side!