See & Do

Vileišis Palace

A Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau palace built for Petras Vileišis in 1904–06, cradle of the first Lithuanian art exhibition and today home to the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore.

Updated Jun 20262 min read·2 sections

A narrow cobblestone alleyway in Vilnius Old Town lined with outdoor restaurant tables where people are dining under colorful flags.

The short version

✓An elegant Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau ensemble with an ornate fence and gates
✓Built in 1904–1906 for the engineer, publisher and patriot Petras Vileišis
✓Hosted the first Lithuanian Art Exhibition in 1907, with works by M. K. Čiurlionis
✓Richly preserved interiors with ornate ceilings, a grand staircase and Dutch tiled stoves
✓Now the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore — public access is limited

What you're seeing

The Vileišis Palace is one of Vilnius's finest early 20th-century buildings, an ensemble that blends Neo-Baroque grandeur with Art Nouveau detail. It was built in 1904–1906 for Petras Vileišis — engineer, industrialist, publisher and one of the great patrons of the Lithuanian national revival, who also founded the first Lithuanian-language daily newspaper, Vilniaus žinios. The complex was conceived as more than a private home: it became a centre for Lithuanian language and culture at a time when both were under pressure.

Its place in cultural history was sealed in 1907, when the palace hosted the first Lithuanian Art Exhibition — the public debut of the painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, who showed his work and helped organise the show. Inside, the well-preserved rooms are famous for their ornate ceilings, a grand staircase and a remarkable set of thirteen decorative tiled stoves imported from Holland, along with an Art Nouveau green fireplace from the original lady's boudoir.

Architecture: Neo-Baroque ensemble with Art Nouveau interiors, built 1904–1906
Built for Petras Vileišis (1851–1926), engineer, publisher and philanthropist
Site of the first Lithuanian Art Exhibition, 1907 — featuring M. K. Čiurlionis
Interior highlights: ornate ceilings, grand staircase, 13 Dutch tiled stoves, an Art Nouveau fireplace
Address: Antakalnio g. 6, in the Antakalnis area near the Old Town
Now home to the Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore

Good to know

Because the palace is a working research institute, the interior is not a regular tourist attraction and public access is restricted — you can admire the exterior, the gates and the ornate fence freely, but to see inside you'll usually need to come during a special event. The annual Open House Vilnius weekend is the most reliable opportunity, when guided tours open the historic rooms to visitors. Check opening arrangements before you go, and treat the courtyard and grounds with the quiet they deserve. It pairs well with a wider walk through Vilnius's heritage architecture.