4 Pilies Street

The Gothic building that had belonged to the Vilnius Cathedral Chapter from the 14^th century acquired a Renaissance style following its reconstruction in the early 17^th century. Some of its appearance has survived to this day – the building’s uniqueness is accentuated by the high attic, decorated with pilasters and arches. The building was periodically renovated from the early 19^th century yet the old facade remained intact. The residential dwellings were rented out to burghers and the Homeopathy Society, which installed a pharmacy and treatment clinic inside, and the Catholic Labourers Society. The Bishop of Vilnius Kazimierz Mikołaj Michalkiewicz lived here from 1918 until his death in 1940. Its premises had been rented out by a printer, sculptor, teacher, musician, farmers, there were shoe and fur retailers, a confection store, photography studio and various workshops. The building was nationalised in the Soviet period, and was transferred to the Vilnius State Art Museum in 1945 (the present-day Lithuanian Art Museum). Restoration work on the building in which people continued to live for a long time continued for 40 years. It was finally returned to the Vilnius Archdiocese in 1990, which it rents out to various organisations.