Fortresses Medieval period consisted of a closed fence in the form of walls and towers. The main role of protection against attacks by playing exactly the tower - they were strongholds of resistance. But with the advent of artillery of these funds it was not enough to protect, and the walls were strengthened with additional buildings, first built Bastia or roundels, then they evolved into bastions.

City Wall in Vilna began to build on the orders of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander in 1503 to build a wall all the inhabitants of the city, laid masonry, set the stockade. The construction has been 19 years and is a structure approximately 3 kilometers in length with two defensive towers protecting an area of ​​approximately 100 hectares - the area of ​​the present Old City, the average height of the wall was about 6, 5 meters. Initially, the wall had five gates, but the beginning of the XVII century. their number reached ten.

Development and growth of the city outside the castle, as well as the maturing of the war between the Russian kingdom and the Commonwealth of the land of the Great Duchy of Lithuania in the first half of the XVII century demanded the strengthening of the city's defense. Then the Vilnius defensive wall has undergone restructuring and, at the gate on the hill Bokshto Subaciaus was built further fortified fortification of earth and masonry - Basteja.

It was intended to help with artillery weapons to ward off the enemy from the city. Basteja had the appearance of the tower connected to the horseshoe-shaped part of the tunnel. The project is supposed to have belonged to Friedrich Getkantu military engineer. It is difficult to determine the exact time of the construction of the strikers, but the archaeological site and plans of the city in different years show that at the beginning of the XVII century. it already existed. There is a record of Vilnius magistrates Jan Yundzilla on August 9, 1627 on the inspection and verification of the technical condition of buildings strengthen, where mention is made of the strikers, but makes no mention of her condition, which implies that the structure was still quite new.

In 1655 during the Russian-Polish war, the Russian army fled enemy forces defending the approaches to Vilna, and took the city, smashing a small garrison in the town castle. Defensive wall and Basteja suffered considerable damage during that period. Restore damage was only in 1661 when, after a 16-month siege of the Polish-Lithuanian army was able to storm the city. But the Great Northern War in the early 18th century once again brought the destruction of fortifications Vilnius.

In the middle of the XVIII century. Basteja still existed, its symbol is on plan Fürstenhof in 1737, but later in the plans of the city from 1793 to 1862. not even a trace of it, only the tower is visible on the map 1793 It follows that Basteja is not of interest as a defensive structure and it is not restored.

In the XVIII century., Suffered from wars and fires, Vilnius city wall began to crumble quickly. In it there were numerous passages, climbing, do the townspeople around her began to accumulate garbage. No one cared about its restoration. The stones from the ruined walls of the residents were used as building material for houses and monasteries.

In 1799 the Russian tsar issued a decree on the demolition of the outdated and dilapidated fortifications of the city of Vilnius in order to "health and expansion of space." Soon most of the defensive walls and moats were razed to the ground.

In 1966, thanks to archaeological and architectural research work began on the restoration of the strikers. To rebuild the tower, restored interior, cannon and tunnel connecting them.

In 1987, a museum was opened Bastia. It exhibited samples of ancient weapons, and from the observation deck offers a beautiful view of the Old City.