Vilnius Quiz: Baroque Churches and Old Town of Lithuania
This Vilnius quiz explores the capital of Lithuania, with questions on the Gate of Dawn, Gediminas Tower and the legend of the iron wolf, one of the largest medieval old towns in Europe, Vilnius University, St. Anne's Church and Napoleon, the Frank Zappa monument, the Baltic Way, hot-air balloons, the Jerusalem of the North and the Kaziukas Fair. Ten questions.
Start Vilnius Quiz
🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds
Gates
Which city gate in Vilnius holds a famous chapel with an icon of the Virgin Mary?
Legends
Grand Duke Gediminas is said to have founded Vilnius after dreaming of what?
Old Town
Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO site, is known as one of the largest surviving what in Northern and Eastern Europe?
Universities
Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Central and Eastern Europe, was founded in which year?
Churches
Which emperor is said to have wished he could carry St. Anne's Church back to Paris in his hand?
Monuments
Vilnius has a monument to which American musician, who never visited Lithuania?
History
In 1989, Vilnius was one end of the Baltic Way. What was it?
Balloons
Vilnius is one of the few European capitals where what is allowed over the Old Town?
Heritage
Because of its rich Jewish history, Vilnius was once known as what?
Fairs
What is the Kaziukas Fair, held in Vilnius every March?
Your score
0/10
Scroll down to see the explanation for each question.
Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions
- Q1: Which city gate in Vilnius holds a famous chapel with an icon of the Virgin Mary?
Answer: The Gate of Dawn
It is the only one of the old city wall's original gates still standing. Pilgrims from Lithuania and Poland come to pray before the icon.
- Q2: Grand Duke Gediminas is said to have founded Vilnius after dreaming of what?
Answer: An iron wolf howling on a hill
A priest explained that the dream meant a great city would be built there. Gediminas Tower now stands on the hill above the Old Town.
- Q3: Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO site, is known as one of the largest surviving what in Northern and Eastern Europe?
Answer: Medieval old towns
It is filled with Baroque churches, courtyards and narrow streets. Some visitors call Vilnius the city of Baroque.
- Q4: Vilnius University, one of the oldest in Central and Eastern Europe, was founded in which year?
Answer: 1579
Its old campus has 13 courtyards. The Church of St. Johns and its bell tower are part of the university.
- Q5: Which emperor is said to have wished he could carry St. Anne's Church back to Paris in his hand?
Answer: Napoleon
The Gothic church is built from 33 different kinds of brick. Napoleon passed through Vilnius in 1812 on the way to Russia.
- Q6: Vilnius has a monument to which American musician, who never visited Lithuania?
Answer: Frank Zappa
It was put up in 1995 by fans who saw it as a test of new freedom after Soviet rule. A sculptor who had made Soviet statues created it.
- Q7: In 1989, Vilnius was one end of the Baltic Way. What was it?
Answer: A human chain linking three capitals
About two million people held hands from Vilnius through Riga to Tallinn. A tile marked Stebuklas, or miracle, on Cathedral Square marks its end.
- Q8: Vilnius is one of the few European capitals where what is allowed over the Old Town?
Answer: Hot-air balloon flights
On calm summer evenings, colorful balloons drift above the churches. Flights usually take off from parks around the city.
- Q9: Because of its rich Jewish history, Vilnius was once known as what?
Answer: The Jerusalem of the North
It was a major center of Jewish learning, home to the scholar known as the Vilna Gaon. Most of the community was destroyed in the Holocaust.
- Q10: What is the Kaziukas Fair, held in Vilnius every March?
Answer: A huge crafts and folk art fair
It honors Saint Casimir, Lithuania's patron saint. Stalls sell wooden toys, woven palms called verbos and gingerbread hearts.
Vilnius Quiz – Lithuania's Baroque Capital
Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, located where the Vilnia and Neris rivers meet. Its Old Town is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern and Eastern Europe and is listed by UNESCO. With dozens of Baroque churches, red rooftops and green hills, Vilnius is often called the city of Baroque.
According to legend, Grand Duke Gediminas founded the city after dreaming of an iron wolf howling on a hill. Vilnius became the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, once one of the largest states in Europe. Over the centuries, it was home to Lithuanians, Poles, Jews, Russians and Belarusians, giving it a rich mix of cultures.
The Old Town has many treasures. The Gate of Dawn holds a holy icon, St. Anne's Church is a Gothic gem and Vilnius University, founded in 1579, has 13 courtyards. Gediminas Tower overlooks Cathedral Square, where the Baltic Way human chain ended in 1989. Vilnius was also a great center of Jewish life, known as the Jerusalem of the North.
Modern Vilnius is creative and playful. The Užupis district is full of artists, a statue of Frank Zappa stands in a courtyard and hot-air balloons float over the Old Town in summer. The Kaziukas Fair fills the streets with crafts each March.
Food lovers try cepelinai, cold pink beet soup called šaltibarščiai and dark rye bread.
Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, and Vilnius played a key role. In January 1991, unarmed civilians defended the TV Tower and the parliament against Soviet troops, and these events are remembered every year on January 13.
This quiz covers the history, churches, legends and culture of Vilnius.
What This Quiz Teaches
This quiz is perfect for travelers, history fans and architecture lovers.
- The Gate of Dawn and Gediminas Tower
- The legend of the iron wolf
- Vilnius University and St. Anne's Church
- The Frank Zappa monument and hot-air balloons
- The Baltic Way and the Jerusalem of the North
- The Kaziukas Fair
Quick Facts About Vilnius
- The Vilnius TV Tower is the tallest structure in Lithuania.
- Trakai Island Castle is about 30 kilometers from the city.
- Vilnius was a European Capital of Culture in 2009.
- The Palace of the Grand Dukes was rebuilt and reopened in 2013.
- Vilnius is one of the greenest capitals in Europe.
- The city celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2023.
Related Quizzes
Ready for another round?
Jump to a random quiz from the archive.