Thousand years of history as a laser show.

As the first city in a former Soviet republic Vilnius bears the title "Cultural Capital of Europe". 2009, the Lithuanian capital of their past, celebrate the present - and starts with a gigantic light and laser show into the new year.
  Vilnius - The year 2009 is for Lithuania's capital Vilnius and doubly noteworthy: The largest of the Baltic country celebrates the first written mention of the name Lithuania in the annals Quedlinburger 1000 years ago. And first to bear the capital Vilnius with a former Soviet Republic of the title of "Cultural Capital of Europe". Country and city want to deal with authenticity and openness present - and look forward to as many cultural travelers.

"It is important to Europe and the world to remember our past. And it is no less important to present our presence, so that all of us Europeans Lithuania interested in rediscovering their neighborhood," says President Valdas Adamkus the importance of the Year . Lithuania has always been a European country, albeit due to the Soviet occupation of almost 50 years behind the Iron Curtain.
With nonviolent resistance, the Lithuanian population but at the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet rulers and troops for centuries - even today by the "Singing Revolution" is spoken. And was not even 20 years, behind only Christmas celebrated Counterparty curtains, so now there are all kinds of Christmas paraphernalia in the soil from the sprießenden giant supermarkets and shopping centers.
The lightness of Vilnius' Baroque School
Many, though not all the wounds of the Soviet era in architecture and infrastructure are in the Old Town of Vilnius healed. Since 1994 it belongs to the Unesco World Heritage Site. Many of the communist regime misuse Catholic churches meet now return to their original destination - for example, the St. Bernard Church, together with the bricks from 33 species Anne Church built the impressive ensemble Gothic forms.
Over nearly 70 stages can be restored to the Bernardine-bell tower climb comfortably. From top offers a view over an astonishing variety of tips steeple.
About 30 prayer houses in the downtown - predominantly Catholic, but also a synagogue and Orthodox - will contribute significantly to the flair of the 544,000-inhabitant city. Artist of the Italian, southern Germany and Austro-Hapsburg Baroque once dominated here together with regional champions the Baroque Vilnius school.
Their lightness combined with the graceful Gothic architecture to a soothing symphony, complete with jewels of classicism as the Old Town Hall and the Cathedral of whites.
The "light architect" Gert Hof visualized in the New Year night with a 20-minute light and laser show, the thousand-year history of Lithuania. Culture around 120 projects with about 900 events under the motto "Live Culture" should be the arc between national and international, between traditional and modern cultural margins. He goes from the "First International Opera Festival Vilnius on an exhibition with the main works of Georgian painter Nikolos Pirosmanaschwili up to a fashion gala at the" Europe's longest catwalk "entangled Gedimino prospektas, the link road between Cathedral and Parliament.
Admission free
Formats such as the "culture night", the "Street Music Festival" and the rock and alternative music festival "Be2gether" at the Belarussian border, more than 2009 out of tradition. With two-thirds of culture bid is free. Up to 30 million euros available for the Cultural Capital program and 55 million euros for infrastructure measures. The renovation of the former Revolution Museum on the National Gallery, the transformation of a former printing plant at a cultural center and the reconstruction of the former Palace of the Grand Duke of Lithuania are Vilnius' Mayor Juozas Imbrasas the top priority construction projects.
Not only for Imbrasas, the state holiday on 6 July, the most significant millennium date: In addition to the opening of the palace as a symbol of Lithuanian state sovereignty takes place on this day, the great singer and dance festival from 1 to 6 July its conclusion. It is also a choir of 30,000 voices to be heard. On the evening of National Day on the initiative of the Society for the beautification of Lithuania also registered at 1000 Castle mountains in the country 1000 fire ignited.
Lithuania is not a mighty country, no intrusive Vilnius city - both want to be discovered. This goes on foot, by bus - and with the balloon. "Vilnius is one of the few cities where a balloon ride over the city center is allowed," said Aurimas Vengrys, a local balloon pilot.