Lukiškės Prison

Built in the early 20th century, the prison buildings were once referred to as a “modern prison fortress”. For a long time, operating as an autonomous, a world surrounded by a high fence in the very heart of Vilnius, Lukiškės Prison was a complex that served not only as a place of punishment but also for work, prayer, and healthcare functions.

Designed by G. Trambickis, the project included a prison for those serving fixed-term sentences, a detention center for detainees, an administrative building with apartments for the prison warden and supervisors, service and utility buildings, and a brick wall surrounding all the buildings. The unique “Y” shaped plan of the prison buildings had a purpose – this arrangement limits the ability of prisoners to communicate with inmates in adjacent wings.

The icon of the complex is the prison church – it was the first point of contact for those entering the prison. In the 19th century, it was believed that such places could improve the mental state of prisoners.

Lukiškės Prison is now creating a new history. The iconic building, now open to the public, bears witness through its architecture to a very different kind of closed life that once existed here, and recalls the dramatic stories of the people who were held within its walls.