Verkiai Palace (Vilnius)

Lithuania / Vilniaus / Vilnius
 estate (manor / mansion land), interesting place, green area, Cultural heritage of Lithuania

Verkiai Palace became widely known after bishop Ignotas Masalskis took over it in 1780. He hired two famous architects, Marcin Knackfus and Laurynas Stuoka-Gucevičius, to rebuild the palace in the Neoclassical style. The general plan and maintenance buildings were designed by Marcin Knackfus. The main palace building, the stables and several other buildings were designed by Gucevičius. The building was called "the Versailles of Vilnius".
The palace was severely damaged during the Napoleon's invasion of Russia. Eventually, the central building of the palace was pulled down on the order of a new owner, prince Ludwig Wittgenstein, who bought Verkiai in 1839. After World War II, the remaining palace buildings were used as educational institutions and an art museum. Since 1960 the ensemble belongs to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany. Verkiai Palace complex is an important cultural and historical landmark in Verkiai Regional Park.
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Coordinates:   54°44'56"N   25°18'1"E
This article was last modified 11 years ago