Bernardine Garden
Maironio St. Vilnius 01143, Lithuania
- Vilniaus miesto savivaldybė
- Apskritis de Vilnius
This is a special place of the city – the park was established between the antient wooden „Higher City“ that was burnt in 1390 and never rebuilt and the „Lower City“ built from brick in the valley since 13th c.
The southern part of the garden belonged to Bernardine monks and was called a Bernardine Garden since 15th c. The monks drained and cultivated the area, planted fruit trees and vegetable gardens, established ponds. The heritage of 17th c. – the oldest (400 years) Vilnius oak.
The swampy northern part of the area belonged to the Grand Duke of Lithuania. There were several channels and dams of the river Vilnia, mills and workshops were established. This household quarter of the Duke Palace was left unused after 18th c. fires. The Botanical Garden of Vilnius University was established here in 1797. The Garden had collection of several thousands of plants, greenhouses and orangeries. The plan of the Garden was mostly geometrical with some elements of landscape garden design: channels, bridges and summerhouses. The Botanical Garden was closed in 1842 after the first uprising against the Russian Empire in 1831. The Bernardine Monastery was closed in 1864 after the second uprising against the Russian Empire in 1863. The garden was disposed to the local government.
The first public garden of the city was established in 1886 – 1888 according to the design of a designer A. Strauss and engineer Jasinski. The former ponds were used and the complicated neo-baroque plan was created. The park had wooden fence, the main gates and the side gates, parterres, fountains, benches and summerhouses. It became a popular recreation and entertainment place of Vilnius citizens. The modern style Sumer theatre operated there in 1907– 1939.
The park was called Jaunimo (the Youth) Garden after the WWII. The park was redesigned and have got the main central lime-lined boulevard. The cinema theatre was built at the end of the boulevard, attractions for children and dance-floors were established.
The Bernardine Garden has got back its historical name and was renovated by Vilnius City Municipality in 2013 with the partial help of EU funds. The 19th c. planning, rock-garden, rotunda hill, ponds and cobbles of watersides were recreated. Herb garden was planted to commemorate the former monks’ garden and the beds of perennial decorative plants with labels were planted to commemorate the former Botanical Garden. The musical and light fountain, rose beds, parterres, benches, play grounds, chess tables, modern lighting of paths and plants were established. Today this is a popular public recreation place, especially loved by families. The exhibitions, traditional city festivals and public events are organized there.
Access
A bus No 10, a car parking
