Parliament, Vilnius

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Seimas Palace is home to the Lithuanian parliament. Construction began in 1976 and a new Parliament Hall opened in 2007, leaving the original to be used only ceremonially. In the courtyard outside the palace there is a mysterious sculpture!

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The Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) is a remarkably ugly building hiding at the far end of Gediminas Avenue, long after this beautiful boulevard's glory has faded. The building was so ugly, and its grounds so run down and unkempt, I thought I'd got the wrong address. Thankfully it turns out the government has had the good sence to move out of this communist relic about five years ago, but the building still remains for celebratory purposes (allegedly). I'm usually a big fan of brutalist and Stalinist architecture, but this building has so few redeeming features I can hardly recommend it even for shock value.

I think the unwatered fountain outside sums the place up pretty well.

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The building of the Lithuanian Parliament is a typical example of Soviet style architecture. It was built in 1982 during the Soviet era as the seat for the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Only 8 years later Lithuania's independence from the Soviet Union was declared from here. Nowadays the building is the seat of the Lithuanian Parliament (seimas).

When we visited the building we were lucky enough to get in. The entrance door was open and in the entrance hall was an interesting exhibition about the Lithuanian losses during Soviet and Nazi occupation.

Directions:
The Lithuanian Parliament is situated at the Independence Square (Nepriklausomybes aikste) which can be found at the western end of the Gedimino prospektas.

Address: Lithuanian Parliament, Gedimino pr. 53, Vilnius

Palace of Parliament was built in soviet era and is an example of its architecture. The main political persons works there. The square near it is called the square of Independence. Square is surrounded by interesting fountain, walls to memorise independence, National library, river Neris and Parliament building, of course.

There concerts, national celebrations, political meetings take place.

One of the most important place in Vilnius is Parliament.
In time of excursion you may see old and new meeting halls, President room and guide will tell lot of interesting information about Lithuania.
If you don`t have much time - go around the Parliament - also you will see lot of interesting: barricades, monuments.

If you want to go inside - please contact Vilnius tourism information center: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/topic.php?tid=70&sid=&aid=428&more=y

After so many wonderful old buildings it's time to dedicate some time to one of the ugliest buildings you will find in Vilnius: the Parliament!
Just one word to describe it: "Soviet". It's so ugly that I almost like it! And there's an incredible fountain just in front of it, which is again so ugly that it's nice! ;-)

I was a little bit surpriced that I could enter the courtyard of the Lithuanian parliament and come to this door on my picture and first of all that there was no police or security guards there. The door with "Vitys" - Lithuanian traditionsl coat of arm was surely closed.

I wanted to visit the parliament but... there were only visits for groups and only by written applications arranged at least a week in advance. Details: follow the link below, please.

This building of Lithuanian parliament on my picture offers visitors more history than beauty. It was put up in 1982 and housed the parliament of so called Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Eight years later, on 11th March, 1990, the Supreme Council announced Lithuanian independence restored just in this building. No doubts, it was well seen sign of the incoming downfall of the Soviet Union - empire of evil over more than half of our globe. Lithuanians and Vilnians should be proud that it started just there and thanks to their determination.

The Lithuanian Seimas (Parliament) is open to visitors. There's a huge tapestry of Grand Duke Vytautas in the back which was unfurled in 1991 when Lithuania declared independence.

Make sure to check out the huge concrete blocks with grafitti outside that were used to blockade the Seimas when the Soviets tried to quash the Lithuanian uprising.

Check out their awesome website too! It has a live countdown to Lithuania's accession to the EU (May 1, 2004), and a virtual tour.

Its a nice area of Vilnius where the Parliament building stands. Across the building, there is a huge residence building where the members of the Parliament live.