Beautiful in it's own right, the Vilnius Bastion also offers gorgeous views of the city from its terrace. Consisting of a tower rising from the city wall, underground gun ports and a 48-metre long tunnel connecting them, the bastion was constructed in the 17th century to defend the city from the pesky Swedes and when-will-they-stop Russians. According to local legend, a basilisk (one of those ambiguously deadly mythological critters) lived in the bastion, before the structure became a home for gruel-guzzling orphans (just as lethal). Next it was a garbage dump for years until the Soviets used it to store veggies (a seamless transition to be sure). Today it holds a collection of cannons and medieval armour, and is a popular place for sledding in the winter. Open 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday.
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