Vingis Park
| Vingis Park | |
|---|---|
| Vingio Parkas | |
Location in Vilnius | |
| Type | Public park |
| Location | Vilnius |
| Coordinates | 54°41′0″N 25°14′23″E / 54.68333°N 25.23972°E |
| Area | 157 ha (390 acres) |
| Operated by | Vilniaus miesto parkai |
| Open | Open, year-round |
| Status | Existing |
| Website | www |
Vingis Park (Lithuanian: Vingio parkas) is the largest park in Vilnius, Lithuania, covering 162 hectares (400 acres). It is located in the Vilkpėdė eldership near a curve of the Neris River, hence its Lithuanian name "vingis" which means "bend" or "curve". A pedestrian bridge connects the park with Žvėrynas. It is used as a venue for various events, especially concerts and sports competitions. It contains a stadium, an amphitheater, and a department of the Botanical Garden of Vilnius University.
History
The park's history dates back several centuries.
Palace in Zakret
Vingis also has a historical Polish name for the location: Zakręt (with the same meaning). It was the site of a Palace in Zakret, that was eventually bought by the local Russian governor general of Vilna Governorate, Levin August von Bennigsen, in 1801. Prior to his purchase, it was a Jesuit palace built on a design by Johann Christoph Glaubitz.[1]
Bennigsen's palace in Zakret is where, during a ball that took place on the night of 24/25 June 1812,[2] Tzar Alexander I of Russia received the first news about the French invasion of Russia by the Grand Army of Napoleon Bonaparte.[1] As Vilnius was close to the frontier where the invasion took place, Alexander and his entourage left the area in a hurry.[3] This event was immortalised in Tolstoy's account of it in War and Peace (Book 9 Chapter 3).[4]
Later that year, during the invasion, the palace was used as a French military hospital, until it caught fire and was badly damaged. After the war, it was not renovated, and in 1855, the remains were demolished.[1]
Redevelopment as an amphitheater
In 1965, the park was redeveloped and adapted to the needs of mass events, such as concerts or political rallies. The amphitheater was built using a modified design of the Estonian Song Festival Grounds in Tallinn. Several major rallies and demonstrations were held there during the course of the Lithuanian independence movement of the late 1980s; a rally on August 23, 1988 drew 250,000 people.[5]
Events
Many celebrities have performed at this venue, including Andrea Bocelli, Elton John, Björk, Sting, Rod Stewart, Depeche Mode, and famous Lithuanian music groups like Foje and Antis. The record for most attendants was set in 1997, when Foje performed their last concert - over 60,000 fans were there.
Lady Gaga performed at this venue for her first concert in a Baltic country on August 21, 2012, as a part of her The Born This Way Ball Tour, in front of 14,853 people.
On November 7, 2016, Robbie Williams announced that he will be performing at the venue on August 16, 2017.[6]
German band Rammstein announced they would start their European stadium tour there on the 22nd of May 2023.[7]
On October 9, 2025, it was announced that tickets for the concert of Lithuanian artist Jessica Shy had sold out within 24 hours during the pre-sale period. On October 10, an additional concert was announced. This was the first time in the history of Vingis Park that an additional concert had been held. [8]
Concerts
| Concerts at Vingis Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Artist | Tour | Attendance |
| 17 May 1997 | Foje | Foje Farewell Concert Tour | 60,000 |
| 9 May 1998 | Naktines personos | Atvirai | 30,000 |
| 1999 | Hiperbolė | — | — |
| 31 August 2001 | Depeche Mode | Exciter Tour | 20,000+ |
| 1 September 2006 | Elton John | Elton John 2006 European Tour | 30,000+[9] |
| 13 July 2008 | Björk | Volta tour | — |
| 31 July 2008 | Andrea Bocelli | Andrea Bocelli in Concert Tour | 18,000+ |
| 10 June 2010 | Rod Stewart | Soulbook Tour | — |
| 27 June 2011 | Sting | Symphonicity Tour | — |
| 21 August 2012 | Lady Gaga | The Born This Way Ball Tour | 14,853 |
| 27 July 2013 | Depeche Mode | The Delta Machine Tour | 23,794 |
| 16 August 2017 | Robbie Williams | The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour | about 30,000 |
| 11 June 2022 | ba. | ba. 10 | — |
| 22 May 2023 | Rammstein | Rammstein Stadium Tour | 33,290 |
| 9 June 2023 | Andrius Mamontovas | 20,000+ | |
| 16 August 2023 | Imagine Dragons | Mercury World Tour | 42,013 |
| 2 September 2023 | Justinas Jarutis | about 10,000 | |
| 7 June 2024 | Leon Somov & Jazzu | One Night Only | about 20,000 |
| 2 August 2025 | Armin van Buuren | The ORB | |
| 13 September 2025 | Lilas ir Innomine | about 20,000 | |
| 28-29 August 2026 | Jessica Shy | ||
Sports
- Vingis Park Stadium, seen on the map of the park (a.k.a. Vilnius Gintaras Stadium, to distinguish from the older, but abandoned Gintaras Stadium) formerly belonging to the sports club Gintaras
- Vingis Park Rugby Stadium
- Archery field
- Tennis court
- Basketball court
Notes and references
- ^ a b c Museum staff (19 September 2015). "The Period of French Rule in Vilnius". National Museum of Lithuania (lnm.lt). Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Leo Tolstoy recounts that it was on 13 June, because that was the date by Julian Calendar which was in use in Russia at that time (see Old Style and New Style dates).
- ^ Antanas Klimas, ed. (Spring 1984). "Napoleon's Lithuanian Forces". Lituanus: Lithuanian Quarterly Journal of Arts and Sciences. 30 (1). ISSN 0024-5089. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ Tolstoy, Leo. . War and Peace – via Wikisource.
- ^ Vytas Stanley Vardys, Judith B. Sedaitis (1997). Lithuania: The Rebel Nation. Westview Press. ISBN 978-0-8133-1839-4.
- ^ "Britų superžvaigždė Robbie Williamsas antrąkart koncertuos Lietuvoje". 15min.lt. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ Rammstein. "Rammstein - Europa Stadion Tour 2023 - Tickets jetzt erhältlich!". Rammstein - Europa Stadion Tour 2023 - Tickets jetzt erhältlich!. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ LRT.lt (9 October 2025). "Bilietai į Jessicos Shy koncertą Vingio parke – išgraibstyti per parą". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ DELFI.lt (24 July 2013). "Lietuvoje vėl planuojamas sero E. Johno koncertas". www.DELFI.lt. Retrieved 17 August 2023.