Venue

All sessions of the Kolleg and Welcome party will be held at Hotel Courtyard by Marriott Vilnius City Center(Rinktinės st. 3, Vilnius, Lithuania)

The hotel is set in the business district of Vilnius, Lithuania overlooking the famous landmark, Gediminas’ Castle. The hotel is ideally positioned just steps away from the medieval Old Town, business centres and local attractions.

The capital of Lithuania was first mentioned in written sources of the 12th century. It becomes famous after the invitation letter written by Gediminas, the Grand Duke from 1316 to German merchants. And in 1323 Vilnius was named a city and was given Magdeburg Rights. The prosperity of Vilnius city is symbolised by a legend about a dream of the Grand Duke Gediminas, in which he saw a roaring iron wolf on one of the numerous Vilnius hills. The oldest prophet explained the dream to the ruler meaning that the town’s reputation would spread far and wide.

In the 16th century, the Lithuanian Rulers’ Palace was a famous hearth of science and culture with treasures that, according to a Papal Nuncio in 1560, were hardly surpassed by the treasures of Venice and the Vatican. One of the greatest scientific libraries was established there. Later the books were handed over to the Jesuit Collegium, founded in 1570, and finally to the library of Vilnius University (the first university in Eastern Europe founded in 1579). Throughout a couple of centuries, Vilnius became a constantly growing and developing city, due in large part to the establishment of Vilnius University.

The first university of this type in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania soon developed into an important scientific and cultural centre of Europe. Functioning for a long time as the only school of higher learning in Lithuania, it was a preserver of cultural and scientific traditions and has played a significant part in the cultural life not only of Lithuania but the neighbouring countries as well. During more than four centuries of its existence, Vilnius University has seen periods of growth and decline, revival, and closure. The University is a unique witness to the history of the Lithuanian state.

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