The Bastion of the Vilnius Defence Wall

The history of the Bastion of the Vilnius Defence Wall is linked to the history of the development of Vilnius itself. As the city expanded, a defensive city wall was built in the early 16th century, of which the Bastion, consisting of a tower, a horseshoe-shaped fortification for artillery, and a tunnel linking them, was part. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of how cities were defended during the 16th through 18th centuries. These were the ages when the first artillery weapons such as bombards, mortars, and mobile guns first appeared. You will be able to see all of these in the Bastion. However, it offers so much more than just guns and fortifications. The Bastion of the Vilnius Defence Wall is also full of intriguing stories. Make sure to visit the museum with a guide. They’ll tell you why, back in the days of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, hussars rode into battle with wings on their armor, who wrote Europe's first artillery manual, what was the purpose of the image of the Virgin of Aušros Vartai on the soldiers' armor, and many other interesting facts.