It is planned to allocate 15 million for the next three years to strengthen the Gediminas mountain in Vilnius, which has become a symbol of the country. EUR - this amount is provided for in the 2025-2027 draft state budget.
The funds are planned among the expenses of the National Museum of Lithuania. Another 8 million The museum is asking for the reconstruction of the elevator that takes visitors up the mountain.
According to the Minister of Culture Simon Kairis, 15 mln. euros should be enough for the first stage of work.
"That first phase is crucial because it addresses the main problems on the slope, which is the most dangerous." Foundation strengthening is also included in this amount. These are essential works, because without them we will soon start going round that mountain in the second round while dealing with landslides," the minister told BNS.
According to him, management works could be started already this year.
"The situation is such that maybe it will be possible to start part of the works already this year, if we are talking about normal management of the mountain, and not about management after a landslide," said S. Kairys.
"The work is carried out using a different technology, so that the solutions are long-term and that we simply do not spend money on solving the same problem every time, but manage it fundamentally, this is a very important start," he emphasized.
At the beginning of October, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated more than 436 thousand from the reserve fund to manage Gediminas mountain. euros. These funds were needed to pay for the monitoring system work done in the summer, the repair of temporary stairs, the results of the landslide on the south-western slope after the heavy rain in July, and the work to eliminate the immediate danger of an accident.
The National Museum, for its part, is asking for another 8 million. euros to reconstruct the lift that takes visitors up the mountain.
According to him, the lift to Mount Gediminas has been operating for almost 20 years and is completely worn out.
"Operation is very difficult, since the necessary worn parts cannot be found, the lift can break down irreparably at any time," states the museum's letter to the Seimas Culture Committee.
It states that the museum cannot ensure the lifting of official state delegations due to the constantly broken or stuck lift, which greatly damages the image of Lithuania.
"It is also important to mention that the lift services are always used by groups of foreign tourists whose tours around Vilnius include a visit to Mount Gediminas and who have limited time for this. If the lift to the mountain breaks down, the visit to Gediminas Hill and the castle is removed from the program of tourist visits," the museum says.
According to his data, over 179 thousand people used the lift last year. visitors, including 48,7 thousand were disabled, seniors and young families with strollers or small children.
This year, the lift broke down 21 times and was out of service for 65 days as a result.
The Culture Committee of the Seimas approved this request and proposed to distribute the financing for the lift reconstruction works during the years 2025-2027, with 725,7 thousand allocated next year. EUR, in 2026 – 3 million. and in 2027 - 4,2 million. euros.
Due to the state of Mount Gediminas, since the end of 2017, a state of emergency has been declared in a part of Vilnius. In the event of an emergency, the law allows necessary works to be financed from the Government's reserve.
Lithuanian National Museum has signed a preliminary contract for the final repair of the southeastern part of Gediminas mountain with the company "Rekreacinė statyba". They are expected to last for three years, with a total contract value of $13,42 million. euros.
Long-term management works are planned for the southeastern part of the mountain, as its condition is currently the most difficult - the southeastern slope and the remains of the Upper Castle Palace show signs of danger.
It is also intended to begin maintenance of part of the main path to Gediminas Hill, which has been closed to visitors since 2017, to strengthen and highlight the castle period artifacts found on the slope during archaeological research.
After the implementation of the planned works, the southeastern slope would be finally repaired, its total area is about 5 thousand. square meters.
The foundations of part of the south-eastern defensive wall (80 meter long section) and the remains of the Upper Castle Palace (occupying an area of about 670 square meters) would also be strengthened.
According to the museum, after the completion of these works, Mount Gediminas would face the second phase of long-term maintenance works, which would include the remaining unmaintained slopes. Their approximate area is 29 thousand. square meters.
The state of the mountain is concerned after the large landslides that occurred in February 2016. Then it was temporarily forbidden to visit it, an emergency was declared.
The author is Jūratė Skärytė
[email protected], +370 5 239 64 16, Lithuanian news department
