Palace of the Grand Dukes

The palace of the grand dukes of Lithuania stood at the foot of Gediminas Hill from the fifteenth century, was rebuilt in Renaissance and early Baroque form, and was demolished by the Russian administration in the early nineteenth century. Excavation from the 1980s exposed the foundations, and a decision to rebuild the palace above them produced the building that opened in stages from 2013, a reconstruction based on the archaeology, on inventories and on comparable buildings. Inside, one route runs through the excavated cellars with original masonry, tiles and finds displayed in place; another runs through recreated ceremonial rooms furnished in the styles of successive periods. Whether reconstruction of this kind is the right approach is argued about; the underground archaeology is not in dispute.

What you actually see

• The excavated foundations - original masonry and finds shown in the cellars.
• Recreated state rooms - ceremonial interiors in successive period styles.
• Archaeological displays - tiles, stove ceramics and objects from the site.
• The Cathedral Square setting - the palace rebuilt at the heart of the city.

When to go

Year round; the museum is indoors and suits any weather. It closes on Mondays. Vilnius is at its most pleasant from May to September, when the square outside is busiest.

Honest expectations

The building is a modern reconstruction, completed in the 2010s, not a surviving palace, and opinions on that divide sharply. The two routes are ticketed separately or combined, which confuses arrivals. Allow more time than expected; the underground section is the more rewarding half.

Nearby

Vilnius Cathedral is next door; Bernardine Gardens lie east.