Treasury

On foot

The Treasury is easily accessible on foot from any location in the Old City or downtown.

By public transport

You can use the Vilnius city public transport, bus routes 10, 11, or 33. The nearest stop to the Treasury is “Art Academy” (“Dailės akademija”).

By car

For those arriving by car, a paid parking lot can be found near the Treasury at the intersection of Maironio and O. Šimaitės streets (yellow zone).

The Vilnius Cathedral’s extraordinary treasures find their home in the Treasury, the earliest and most opulent among all the church treasuries in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Since the 14th century, rulers, nobles, and bishops enriched it with their generous gifts.

 
During the war years, the treasury was safeguarded with utmost care. On the eve of the Second World War, it was concealed so securely that it remained virtually missing for almost half a century, until its rediscovery in 1985. Within its confines, you’ll encounter golden liturgical vessels dating back to the 14th century, adorned with pearls and gemstones – true masterpieces of goldsmithing. The treasury also unveils magnificent examples of church textiles, whose intricate patterns and captivating stories are sure to attract even our youngest visitors.

Delve into the rich history of Vilnius’s active and historical religious orders in the Treasury. Uncover the heritage and treasures of seventeen religious orders in the former Bernardine Convent, from a miraculously preserved 18th-century painting depicting the betrothal of the Virgin Mary and Joseph to the great monstrance of the Bernardine Church, concealed from the Russian army in the convent’s garden in 1655.

The Treasury is nestled in the Vilnius Church of St. Michael the Archangel and the former Bernardine Convent. The church’s façade bears the completion date of construction: “AD 1625”. However, the church’s vaults unexpectedly collapsed in 1627, prompting the subsequent reconstruction and consecration of the current church building in 1629. The construction and decoration efforts were financed by one of the most esteemed nobles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lew Sapieha. Beneath the church lies the Sapieha family burial crypt, while the church houses four ornate marble tombstones commemorating Lew Sapieha and his wives, his oldest son Jan Stanisław, his wife, and the youngest son Krzysztof Michał. 

The church still boasts its original Renaissance high altar of coloured marble. One of the four side altars destroyed during the Soviet era held the famous miraculous painting of the Virgin of the Sapiehas, which is currently in the Vilnius Archcathedral. In 1937–1948, the world-famous miraculous painting of the Merciful Jesus used to hang in the church.

Adjacent to the Church of St. Michael the Archangel stands the former Bernardine Convent, once home to Bernardine sisters adhering to a strict cloister rule (separation from the outer world). Despite its tumultuous past, the convent to a large extent maintains its original Renaissance and early Baroque architecture – a rare gem in Vilnius.

Make the most of your Treasury experience with our complimentary audio guide, available in Lithuanian and English. During a 90-minute immersive journey, the audio guide will unfold information about the museum’s exhibits, the Vilnius Archcathedral’s Treasury, key historical dates and events, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, and its endower Lew Sapieha. 

Audio guide

Guided tours to the Treasury

Educational activities in the Treasury