In the heart of Vilnius, at the foot of Gediminas Hill, stands one of the most unique witnesses to Lithuanian history – the Castle Keeper’s House. Built in the 16th century, the building had a very important function – to be the administrative centre of Vilnius’ Lower Castle. Over the centuries, it has changed and been adapted for various purposes: castle keepers worked here, the court functioned, confiscated items or property were stored, and in the 19th century, soldiers were housed. Now, revived after restoration, the newest branch of the National Museum of Lithuania, the Castle Keeper’s House, delights visitors with a short and engaging story about the ideas that shaped Lithuania’s identity.
Readers are treated to a story about Vilnius as the residence of the grand dukes, about the castle guards who looked after the castle, and about the people who worked, lived, and adjudicated court cases here.
The house where destinies were decided
In the mid-16th century, as the residence of the Lithuanian rulers expanded in Vilnius, the administrative importance of the Lower Castle also grew. The castle governor – one of the most important castle officials, appointed by the ruler for life – was responsible for the maintenance and construction of the castle and presided over court proceedings. This was an extremely important position, requiring both administrative skills and legal knowledge.
“The castle guard's house became a symbol of this high position – it housed an office, administrative and court documents were stored, and the most important decisions were made in the name of the ruler,” reveals Assoc. Prof. Dr. Birutė Rūta Vitkauskienė, art historian at the National Museum of Lithuania.
The mayor also administered justice - his court dealt with financial, land disputes and criminal cases. The surviving court books contain cases concerning debts, inheritance of property, and sometimes violent crimes.
According to the researcher, among the most famous Vilnius castle guards is Petras Nonhartas, who served in 1619–1633. He was originally from Germany, was captured by the Turks in his youth, and later came to Lithuania with Stephen Báthory: “During his reign, the Castle Guard House performed not only administrative functions, but was also a significant military headquarters. Other castle guards, such as Ulrichas and Jonas Hozijai, contributed to the development of the building and strengthening its role in the Vilnius Lower Castle.”
Trials during historical upheavals
The Keeper's House, built in the Renaissance period, was a two-story brick building with Gothic basements. In the 18th century, the building was somewhat remodeled, with the second floor adapted for residential use. Its vaulted ground floor rooms had direct entrances from the outside, while the second floor was accessible by side stairs. There were stables in the courtyard, and the Keeper's House was connected to other buildings of the Lower Castle by galleries.
"However, history has not been kind to this building. In 1610, Vilnius fire caused significant damage to the city, including the Castle Keeper's House. After this disaster, it underwent changes. Interestingly, while the Vilnius Lower Castle gradually lost its significance at the end of the 1799th century, the Castle Keeper's House remained important, and the judicial institution continued to function. In the XNUMXth century, it was attached to the Vilnius Arsenal, and in XNUMX the galleries and stables surrounding it were demolished,” says B. Vitkauskienė.
In the 19th century, the Russian Empire established a fortress in Vilnius, and the Pilininkas House became a military facility: workshops, barracks, and even a military bakery were set up here. During the Soviet era, the building was adapted for the administration and restoration workshops of the Lithuanian Museum of History and Ethnography. It was not until the beginning of the 21st century that its research and restoration were undertaken.
What has archaeological research revealed?
During archaeological research conducted in 2018–2020 in the courtyard of the Castle House and in the building itself, numerous valuable finds were discovered, which helped to further understand the development of the building and its inhabitants.
Found fragments of bricks testify to the interior decoration of the 17th century, and discovered pipes reveal details of everyday life at that time. In addition, the surviving stonework: door and window frames, pavement fragments - indicate that stonemasons worked in the vicinity of the Castle House, producing decorative details for the ducal palace and the St. Casimir Chapel.
B. Vitkauskienė notes that the underground passages found in the northern part of the cellars received special attention: "Although they were not completed, these tunnels may have given rise to legends about secret passages under Gediminas' Hill. Did tunnels really exist that connected the Lower Castle with other city objects? The answer is still being sought."
Return to life
Several years ago, extensive restoration work was carried out on the Pilininkas House. During the restoration, historical fragments were uncovered, Renaissance architectural elements were restored, and the walls supporting the slope of Gediminas Hill were strengthened. The building was adapted for museum activities - the Lithuanian National Museum's exposition "Understanding Lithuania" was established there.
in 2025 Lithuanian National Museum is celebrating its 170th anniversary and is presenting exhibitions of one exhibit in each department. The Castle House, which is also celebrating its one-year anniversary in March, is exhibiting a special find – a 2021th-century ring, found in XNUMX during the excavation of the first basement of the house, which was flooded during a fire in the XNUMXth century.
Its shape and decor are typical of the jewelry favored by nobles and wealthy townspeople at the time, decorated with enamel and blackening.
“In the 16th century, the castle’s house served several functions – it was not only an administrative headquarters, but also a place to store confiscated items and property left by will. Jewelry is rarely mentioned in court records, but it is known that in the 17th century, famous goldsmiths worked in the Vilnius Castle court, including Kondratas Fresas and Mykolas Tšenskis. The discovery of this ring raises the question: could it have been the subject of litigation, lost in family disputes, or perhaps simply lost in the whirlwind of dramatic events?” – ponders B. Vitkauskienė.
During its first year of operation, the Pilininkas House has already been discovered not only by Lithuanians, but also by foreigners who want to learn about Lithuanian history. Visitors especially appreciate the interactive exposition and the opportunity to explore the spaces of the Renaissance building, which tell of past events.
“We are glad that the Pilininkas House has become a discovery for both Vilnius residents and city guests – it is a place where history is not only told, but also experienced. We see that people return here, bring friends, participate in excursions and events. This shows that interest in Lithuania’s past remains alive and relevant. That is why we are offering even more excursions and even more events on the occasion of the birthday, and the real icing on the cake will be a theatrical court specially organized for the birthday, which was prepared and performed by the Pilininkas House staff under the leadership of B. Vitkauskienė. Participants will become witnesses of the 16th century justice process – a real case will be revived in an authentic historical environment, allowing you to feel how disputes were resolved, verdicts were made and justice was administered in the Vilnius Pilininkas Court,” says Simona Stalilionytė, head of the Pilininkas House.
