In developing the idea of sustainable tourism, from now on, visitors to Vilnius from abroad will be invited to get to know more deeply one of the symbols of the capital - Halle market. The vendors of the market, whose presented products reflect the unique and rich history of the oldest market in Vilnius and the culinary traditions of Lithuania, also contributed to the creation of a special route of the Hall market for foreign tourists to visit on their own.
According to Inga Romanovskienė, head of Vilnius tourism and business development agency "Go Vilnius", culinary tourism is becoming increasingly popular in the world, people are increasingly looking for new experiences. By presenting an authentic route with tasting elements, the aim is to enrich the experience and the unique history and everyday life of the Vilnius Hall market, which can be touched, smelled or tasted.
"The city market is a popular tourist destination that is inseparable from the city's culture and cuisine. Today, when traditions intertwine with modernity, Halle market is exactly the place where, next to usual meat and bread products, you can also find "resurrected" historical traditions - bagels, and more modern cheese or meat products. Hale market has recently become a center of attraction for the townspeople - people come here not only to shop but also to dine, it represents not only the taste of the city, but also a certain culinary evolution," says the manager of Go Vilnius.
The route of the Halle market is intended for tourists, so it is presented in English, German and Polish with more detailed descriptions of several markets and the layout of the market, so that those interested can find the mentioned places and people more easily.
Halle Market and its surroundings have long been a place of attraction for townspeople interested in culinary innovation. This naturally promotes the renewal of this part of the city and gradually becomes a tourist attraction.
According to I. Romanovskienė, bagels, a tradition revived in Vilnius, deserve special mention. Bagels are currently one of the most popular street snacks in metropolises such as New York or London, but many tourists or townspeople are surprised to learn that this recipe "emigrated" from the former Republic of the Two Nations, and was popular in Vilnius as early as the 18th century.
The market is the place where the city's multiculturalism is reflected, people of different nationalities and denominations have met here since long ago: Lithuanians, Jews, Poles, Russians, Belarusians. It shaped the city's unique face, culture and culinary tradition.
Presented in the Halle market route publication tourists you are invited to visit and taste freshly squeezed juices in the "Sulčių bar", bagels rediscovered by Vilnius residents based on old traditions in "Beigelistai", exclusive Lithuanian cheeses in the "Roots" shop, traditional smoked meat products in "Kadaginė" and the salted and smoked products of the farmer Mečislovas Mlečka, the townspeople already for lunch and exclusive products for your table at the popular Halė Deli "Gegios table" and around the corner to visit "Keulė Rūkė" burgers or ribs decorated with iconic graffiti on a global scale.
Culinary experiences are also accompanied by a historical narrative. 1904-1906 the metal structure Halle building that was built has survived to this day with minor changes. At that time, it was one of the most modern buildings in Vilnius, where the new technical solutions of that time were applied - steel and reinforced concrete structures, complex profile arches. The architect and designer of the building, Vaclovas Michnevičius, was inspired by the then recently opened Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is also interesting that this is the only building of this type in Lithuania.
The Hale market route is presented on the website vilnius-tourism.lt. In addition, city guests will be able to pick up publications free of charge at Vilnius tourism information centers.
