On 1 March 2026, a scientific monograph Gediminas’ City and Its Hill will be presented at the Vilnius Book Fair. Dr. Jonas Satkūnas, a researcher at Nature Research Centre, contributed to the preparation of this monograph.
The monograph was prepared by highly qualified scientists and professionals in various fields, who attempted to summarize the latest scientific and engineering research data from the last decade on the Vilnius Castle site – the Gediminas Hill, the Upper Castle, and the Lower Castle. The publication examines the natural environment, geological structure, architecture, historical development, and the current condition of this historically and nationally significant site.
The book is dedicated to the memory of Kazimieras Monstvilas, a renowned engineer and geologist who spent many years investigating the geological environment of Vilnius castles.
The first chapters of the monograph provide encyclopedic data on the Gediminas Castle Hill, discuss the origin of the erosional hillocks of Vilnius castles, and analyze the major changes in the landscape of Vilnius since the 14th century based on archaeological data. The later chapters use the results of the latest research to describe in detail the geological structure of the hill, the dynamics of its slopes, present a model for predicting slope behaviour, and justify the concept of managing the structures and slopes of Gediminas Hill. The final chapter presents a vision for the restoration of the Upper Castle.
The authors of the monograph invite the general public and decision-makers to understand the significance of the restoration of the Upper Castle for Vilnius and the entire country as one of the most important symbols of Lithuania.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20334/2025-058-M
