LT-468778 St. Anne’s Church in Vilnius, Lithuania

St. Anne's Church (Šv. Onos bažnyčia) is a Roman Catholic church in Vilnius' Old Town, on the right bank of the Vilnia River. It is a prominent example of both Flamboyant Gothic and Brick Gothic styles. Aided by this prominent landmark, the entire district of the Old Town of Vilnius was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The first church at this site, constructed of wood, was built for Anna, Grand Duchess of Lithuania, the first wife of Vytautas the Great. It was destroyed by a fire in 1419. The present brick church was constructed on the initiative of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander I Jagiellon in 1495–1500; the exterior of the church has remained almost unchanged since then. A reconstruction of the church was carried out following severe fire damage in 1582. In 1747, the church underwent a repair and in 1762, side arches of the main portal were hidden in order to strengthen the support for the facade. The most recent reconstruction was in 2009 when the roofing was replaced, the facade elements were reinforced and the long-missing side spires were rebuilt.

The main façade, designed in the Flamboyant Gothic style, is its most striking feature. Traditional Gothic elements and shapes were used in unique ways; Gothic arches are framed by rectangular elements dominating a symmetrical and proportionate façade, creating an impression of dynamism. The church has one nave and two towers. It was built using 33 different kinds of clay bricks and painted in red. The interior is decorated in the Baroque style, as is its altar. The imitative neo-Gothic bell tower, constructed in the 1870s stands nearby.

This postcard came from Inga (16 October 2015) Postcrossing.