Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania

Located in the heart of Vilnius Old Town, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania traces its origins back to 1773, when the Commission of National Education—considered the first Ministry of Education in Europe, using today’s terminology—was established.

In the early 19th century, on this very site—marked by the history of religious conflict between Catholics and Evangelical Reformers—the College of Chemistry of Vilnius University was built, based on a design by architect Mykolas Šulcas. The building once housed and served as a workplace for prominent Vilnius University professor Andrius Sniadeckis, as well as Franciszek Smuglewicz, one of the most renowned Lithuanian Neoclassical painters. After World War II, the building became home to the Ministry of Education.

The 19th-century palace is arranged around an irregularly shaped enclosed courtyard. The architecture combines elements of Late Classicism and Neoclassicism. One of its highlights is the beautiful rotonda hall, featuring a domed ceiling adorned with trompe-l’œil coffered painting. The hall’s renovated interior was enriched in 1976 with an impressive chandelier by artist Kazimieras Simanonis. The building’s windows offer picturesque views of Vilnius Old Town.