Užupis Republic Constitution

Vilnius

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The 'Republic' of Užupis's Constitution is engraved in English, French, Lithuanian and several other languages on plaques running along Paupio gatvė. It guarantees citizens, among other things, the right to hot water, to be free, to be happy (or unhappy) and to love. Cats, on the other hand, have the right not to love their owners. Death, however, is not an obligation.

The self-declared, unofficial Republic of Užupis (Užupio Republika) came into existence in the late 1990s, when the neighbourhood was growing into a hive of artistic and counter-culture activity. The tongue-in-cheek micronation continues to celebrate its 'Independence Day' annually on 1 April.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

    0.49 MILES

    If you only see one museum in Vilnius, make it this one. On a site that has been settled since the 4th century AD stands the latest in a procession of…

  • Vilnius Cathedral

    Vilnius Cathedral

    0.52 MILES

    Stately Vilnius Cathedral, divorced from its freestanding belfry, is a national symbol and the city's most instantly recognisable building. Known in full…

  • Vilnius University

    Vilnius University

    0.41 MILES

    Founded in 1579 during the Catholic Counter Reformation, Vilnius University was run by Jesuits for two centuries. During the 19th century it became one of…

  • Lithuania, Vilnius, Names Of Victims On Wall Of Museum Of Genocide Victims, Formerly KGB Headquarters

    Museum of Genocide Victims

    1.16 MILES

    This former headquarters of the KGB (and before them the Gestapo, Polish occupiers and Tsarist judiciary) houses a museum dedicated to thousands of…

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    Cathedral Bell Tower

    0.53 MILES

    Climb the creaky stairs into the free-standing belfry of Vilnius Cathedral, once part of the city's 13th-century defences. Towering 57m high, it's one of…

  • Trakai Castle

    Trakai Castle

    14.66 MILES

    Stepping across the wooden walkway to Trakai's Gothic castle is like tripping into a fairy tale. The castle is estimated to date from around 1400, when…

  • Europos Parkas Sculpture Park

    Europos Parkas Sculpture Park

    10.58 MILES

    Some 21km north of Vilnius, off the Utena road, is Europos Parkas. Leading contemporary sculptors, including Sol LeWitt and Dennis Oppenheim, show over…

  • Cathedral Square

    Cathedral Square

    0.51 MILES

    Katedros aikštė buzzes with local life. In the 19th century markets and fairs were held here and a moat ran around what is now the square’s perimeter so…

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Nearby Vilnius attractions

1. Užupis Angel

0.04 MILES

Since its erection in 2002, this statue of a trumpeting angel has come to symbolise Vilnius' quirkiest district.

2. Užupis Art Incubator

0.11 MILES

One of two branches of the creative powerhouse of the Užupis Republic, the Galera shows exciting temporary exhibitions by local talent and invites artists…

3. Cathedral of the Theotokos

0.15 MILES

An Orthodox church has stood here since Lithuania's late pagan days of the 14th century. Over the years it was burned, abandoned, rebuilt, transferred to…

4. Bernadine Church & Monastery

0.23 MILES

The massive buttresses and towering walls of this, one of the most impressive churches in Vilnius, are capable of providing defence as well as worship…

5. Artillery Bastion

0.24 MILES

This revamped 17th-century fortification houses a rich collection of weaponry and armour through the ages and the atmospheric tunnels are a joy to wander.

6. St Anne's Church

0.24 MILES

Flamboyant and Gothic St Anne's Church, a vision of undulating lines and red-brick arches, was built in 1500 on the site of a wooden church that burned to…

7. Subačiaus Gate

0.24 MILES

This restored section of the city walls gives a sense of their original scope.

8. St Michael the Archangel Church

0.24 MILES

This grand early-17th-century chuch, built by the Sapiega family, now houses a wonderful museum of sacral art. The building itself, with its single Gothic…