Boksto Artillery Bastion

The artillery bastion "Bokšto" is located on an ancient street, in the Old part of the city of Vilnius, in Lithuania. There are many, worthy of attention, historical and cultural buildings with beautiful architecture, as well as several cafes and hotels. But the most interesting historical building of the street is the artillery bastion "Boksto".

At the end of Boksto Street, on the open site are restored parts of the former city wall with loopholes about 150 meters long. Adjoining the wall is the Barbakan – once an active artillery bastion, which today is the Bokšto Museum. The artillery bastion was built by the royal architect Friedrich Getkant in 1640. During the war with the Moscow state in 1655-1661, the fortification was destroyed. At the end of the XVIII century, a city dump was arranged on this place. During the First World War, the Barbakan was put in order by the Germans: they strengthened the vaults, concreted the floors, made equipment with ventilation. During the Second World War there were warehouses of ammunition, after the war - vegetable warehouses. In 1985-1986, the Barbakan was renovated and in 1987 a museum exposition was opened here.