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Historical Prison in Vilnius will be Open for Visitors This Christmas

Tourists, who have already booked their hotels in Vilnius and now searching for unique entertainment in the Lithuanian capital, have an opportunity to explore an interesting landmark that is normally not open for the general public. The Lukiškės prison will be open during the Christmas period.

The prison is open in a century-old building that once was a maximum-security prison in Vilnius. The prison’s building was built by Russian tzars. Visitors during the Christmas period will enjoy a special decoration with stunning light installations, experimental art, and an unusual Christmas tree made of water. All artifacts are dedicated to one thing – the topic of metamorphosis.

Don’t forget to explore the prison’s courtyard. Only during this Christmas, guests and residents of Lithuanian capital have an opportunity to see the Alternative Christmas Yard. The Lukiškės prison in the central part of Vilnius will be the location of interesting installations that symbolize the search for a new identity and transformation of the space. The alternative Christmas tree is a transformation of a typical meeting point and traditional Christmas markets. A similar art object appears in Vilnius every year. For example, there was an experimental Christmas hotspot at one of the non-operating platforms of the Vilnius’s railways station at the end of 2018.

Built in 1902, the Lukiškės prison was one of the least popular places in the capital city in the past. It appeared in Vilnius when it was yet under the rule of Russian tzars. The prison was a place to keep prisoners before the trial and after the sentence. Lukiškės could provide space for up to 300 prisoners simultaneously. The Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church was added to the complex a bit later, in 1905. At different periods of time, it was an administrative building and a residential area for officers.

Not many years ago, the Lithuanian government decided to close the prison and relocate all prisoners. This process ended in summer 2019, and so now the city’s authorities are going to transform the gloomy place into a home of art. Everyone wishing to see the new landmark should book a Vilnius hotel during the holiday season because the prison will stay open only during a limited period of time – from December 20, 2019, to January 5, 2020. The working hours of the Alternative Christmas Yard are the following – from 4 pm to 10 pm.

11.12.2019

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