Šnipiškės is a historic suburb of Vilnius; for centuries, it used to be the only densely populated place on the right bank of the Neris.
The impetus for the growth of Šnipiškės was the construction of the first bridge over the Neris in the first half of the 16th century, which led to an important road to Ukmergė and Riga, and, a little bit later, to another branch leading to Verkiai. Between these two streets – today’s Šnipiškių and Kalvarijų – the suburban core was formed. The place got its name from the surname of Povilas Šnipka, who had a manor near Ukmergės Street at the end of the 16th century. The suburb eventually became famous for its brick buildings, and the clay-rich soil provided the building material for many of the brick buildings of old Vilnius that still stand today. Today, this part of the city is characterised by stark contrasts, with glass towers rising up from the wooden shacks and the daily juxtaposition of slow and fast paces of life.
What you’ll learn/see on the route:
- What is special about the post-war block of individual houses in Šnipiškės?
- Where did the names Piromont and Skansen come from?
- Where did the early numbering of the buildings on Ukmergės Street disappear?
