Gediminas Avenue (Gedimino prospektas)
-Lukiškės Square, V. Kudirkos Square, NKVD Palace

Gediminas Avenue (Gedinomo prospektas) is the main avenue of central Vilnius, named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. It starts at Cathedral Square, goes some km west and ends at the Neris River. Here you find the government, parliament, Constitutional Court and ministries. You will also find the Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Bank of Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Martynas Mažvydas National Library here. In the evenings Gediminas partly becomes a pedestrian street. Inititally it was called St George Ave, Mickiewicz Street when Vilnius was under Polish rule and Adolf Hitler St during the Nazi occupation! During the Soviet occupation it was called Lenin Ave, and later Stalin Ave. In 2003 the avenue was reconstructed for the 750th anniversary of Mindaugas coronation. Gediminas Avenue has been the name 1939-40 and since 1989.

Lukiškės Square (Lukiškių aikštė) is the largest square in Vilnius. Gedimino Avenue passes by it to the South. In the middle there used to be a Lenin statue during the Soviet era, the square was then called Lenin Square. Today there is a flag. During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in the infamous NKVD Palace (now Genocide Museum) facing the square. Until the 20th century the suare was part of a suburb to Vilnius, called Lukiškės. On V. Kudirkos Square you find the Monument to Vincas Kudirka (1858-99), the poet that composed the Lithanian national anthem. Kudirkos Square passes Gedimino Ave. NKVD Palace , now Genocide Museum and Vilnius Country Court, here seen from Gedinomas Avenue. The beautiful facade hides a dark secret: During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in this building, that is what the Genocide Museum is about, that is presented in an own section.

We walked along the avenue three times, once a Sunday afternoon during Vilnius Marathon. On the avenue children played with balls in some kind of game.An interesting notice is that you find a lot of Swedish bank offices (Swedbank, Nordea, SEB) and Danish (Danske Bank) in the Baltic countries, and Gediminas Avenue is one of the places where you find the largest number of them. At the same time more then half of the banks have closed or are about to close their offices in Sweden.

Gediminas Avenue (Gedinomo prospektas) is the main avenue of central Vilnius, named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. It starts at Cathedral Square, goes some km west and ends at the Neris River. Here you find the government, parliament, Constitutional Court and ministries. You will also find Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Bank of Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Martynas Mažvydas National Library here. In the evenings it is a pedestrian street. It passes the Lukiškės Square. Inititally it was called St George Avenue, Mickiewicz Street when Vilnius was under Polish rule and Adolf Hitler Street during the Nazi occupation! During the Soviet occupation it was called Lenin Ave, and later Stalin Ave. In 2003 the avenue was reconstructed for the 750th anniversary of Mindaugas coronation. Gediminas Avenue has been the name 1939-40 and since 1989. Gediminas Avenue (Gedinomo prospektas) is the main avenue of central Vilnius, named after the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. It starts at Cathedral Square, goes some km west and ends at the Neris River. Here you find the government, parliament, Constitutional Court and ministries. You will also find Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Bank of Lithuania, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and Martynas Mažvydas National Library here. In the evenings it is a pedestrian street. It passes the Lukiškės Square. Inititally it was called St George Avenue, Mickiewicz Street when Vilnius was under Polish rule and Adolf Hitler Street during the Nazi occupation! During the Soviet occupation it was called Lenin Ave, and later Stalin Ave. In 2003 the avenue was reconstructed for the 750th anniversary of Mindaugas coronation. Gediminas Avenue has been the name 1939-40 and since 1989. The police stops a car at Gedimino Avenue. Segways at Gedimino Avenue Side street to Gedimino Avenue Gedimino Avenue 006 Novotel, V. Kudirkos Square, Gedimino Avenue. Gedinomo 9 shopping center, Gedimino Avenue. Gedinomo 9 shopping center, Gedimino Avenue. Monument to Vincas Kudirka (1858-99), composer of the Lithanian national anthem,V. Kudirkos Square, Gedimino Ave. Monument to Vincas Kudirka (1858-99), composer of the Lithanian national anthem, Gedimino Ave. Novotel at V. Kudirkos Square, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 014 V. Kudirkos Square, Gedimino Avenue. V. Kudirkos Square, Gedimino Avenue. Side street to Gedimino Avenue V Café V Café V Café Strange balcony, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 022 Gedimino Avenue. Typical old fashioned trolley bus from the Soviet times passes Mark & Spencers. Gedimino Avenue 024 One of few McDonald's can be found on Gedimino Avenue. Fastfood chains are not allowed to have big signs in Lithania. Olympic Casino, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 027 Gedimino Avenue 028 Side street to Gedimino Avenue. Church of Archangel St Raphael seen from Gedimino Avenue. Olympic Casino, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 032 Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Gedimino Avenue. Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Gedimino Avenue. Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Gedimino Avenue. Vilnaus Mazasu Teatras (Vilnius Little Theater), Gedimino Avenue. NKVD Palace , now Genocide Museum and Vilnius Country Court, here seen from Gedinomas Avenue. The beautiful facade hides a dark secret: During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in this building, that is what the Genocide Museum is about. NKVD Palace (dubbed KGB Bldg), now Genocide Museum and Vilnius Country Court, here seen from Gedinomas Avenue. The beautiful facade hides a dark secret: During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in this building, that is what the Genocide Museum is about. Names of victims from torture during the oppression of Soviet communism (KGB) and Nazis can be seen on the exterior of NKVD Palace, nicknamed "KGB Building". Gedimino Avenue 033 Funkis building, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 035 Statue of Zemaite, a Lithuanian writer, at a small rundown square at Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 017 Gedimino Avenue 037 Gedimino Avenue, at Lukiškės Square. Side street to Gedimino Avenue, looking towards the skyscrapers across the river. Lukiškės Square (Lukiškių aikštė) is the largest square in Vilnius. The flag stands where the Lenin statue stood. The flag stands where the Lenin statue stood. St Philip and St Jacob's Church, just North of Lukiškės Square. The church has recently been repainted from yellow to red. Lukiškės Square (Lukiškių aikštė) is the largest square in Vilnius. Gedimino Avenue passes by it to the South. In the middle there used to be a Lenin statue, and it was called Lenin Square during the Soviet era. The Genocide Museum face the square. Until the 20th century it was part of a suburb to Vilnius, called Lukiškės. Lukiškės Square (Lukiškių aikštė) is the largest square in Vilnius. Gedimino Avenue passes by it to the South. In the middle there used to be a Lenin statue, and it was called Lenin Square during the Soviet era. The Genocide Museum face the square. Until the 20th century it was part of a suburb to Vilnius, called Lukiškės. Gedimino Avenue 047 St Philip and St Jacob's Church, just North of Lukiškės Square. The church has recently been repainted from yellow to red. To the left in the background is Europa Tower, Vilnius tallest skyscraper. A mix of modern and new, Gedimino Avenue. Skyscrapers seen from Gedimino Avenue. The neo-classicist tower to the left is the Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania. Gedimino Avenue 051 Gedimino Avenue 052 Gedimino Avenue 053 Martynas Mažvydas National Library, Gedimino Avenue. Martynas Mažvydas National Library, Gedimino Avenue. Seimas Palace, the Parliament building, Gedimino Avenue. Built in 1982. Freedom pyramid at, the Parliament building, Gedimino Avenue. Seimas Palace, the Parliament building, Gedimino Avenue. Columns outside Seimas Palace, the Parliament building, Gedimino Avenue. Seimas Palace, the Parliament building, Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue 061 Gedimino Avenue 062 Gedimino Avenue 065 Russian orthodox church at the other side of the river seen from Gedimino Ave. Gedimino Avenue 066 Gedimino Avenue 067 Gedimino Avenue 068 Gedimino Avenue 069 Gedimino Avenue 070 NKVD Palace , now Genocide Museum and Vilnius Country Court, here seen from Gedinomas Avenue. The beautiful facade hides a dark secret: During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in this building, that is what the Genocide Museum is about. Gedimino Avenue towards Cathedral Square. Gedimino Avenue towards Cathedral Square. NKVD Palace (dubbed KGB Bldg), now Genocide Museum and Vilnius Country Court, here seen from Gedinomas Avenue. The beautiful facade hides a dark secret: During the Soviet era, opponents were tortured and killed in this building, that is what the Genocide Museum is about. Lukiškės Square (Lukiškių aikštė) is the largest square in Vilnius. Gedimino Avenue 081 Marks & Spencer, Gedimino Avenue. A British department store. Gedimino Avenue 083 Gedimino Avenue, towards Cathedral Square, during Vilnius Marathon. Gedimino Avenue 085 Vilnius Marathon 2015 (children section), Gedimino Avenue. Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Gedimino Avenue. Vilnius Marathon 2015 (children section), Gedimino Avenue. Vilnius Marathon 2015 (children section), Gedimino Avenue. Vilnius Marathon 2015 (children section), Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue towards Cathedral Square. Vilnius Marathon 2015 (children section). Vilnius Marathon 2015, Cathedral Square/Gedimino Avenue. Vilnius Marathon 2015, Cathedral Square/Gedimino Avenue. Gedimino Avenue ends at Cathedral Square. Gedimino Avenue seen from the Cathedral Belfry.