One of the most outstanding examples of Vilnius is a sixteenth century Gothic church of St. Francis of Assisi, or the Bernardine Church, located in the Old City. The church was built three times: in 1496 at the request of the Duke of Lithuania Casimir Jagiello on the site of a pagan sanctuary was built of wood. After a fire in 1475, the building burned down, and in its place in 1490 was built a new stone church. However, due to inaccuracies in the calculations during construction in 1500 collapsed part of the roof of the church is almost finished. The third time the temple was built in the period from 1506 for 1516 years. Consecrated the church in the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Again in fires in 1560 and 1564 years the church was badly damaged - burned everything inside the walls and the roof threatened to collapse. During the restoration work, in 1577 the church building was significantly expanded. A little later, three chapels were completed, built a new altar with a sculpture of the Crucifixion.

During the Russian-Polish war, the church was looted and burned. It was restored through the efforts of the hetman Michael Casimir Paz and consecrated in the name of Saint Francisco of Assisi and Bernardine of Siena. Later, the church is still being completed and supplied with new altars, frescoes. In 1864, according to the decree of the authorities of monasteries and temples have been closed in their barracks room were located. In 1949 the church was closed and handed over to the Vilnius Art Institute as a warehouse. Finally, the church has found his master in the face of the Bernardine monks in 1992 and re-consecrated in 1994.

For its size the church is the largest Gothic building in Lithuania. Despite the fact that the temple was rebuilt and renovated several times, it still retained its Gothic style of architecture. And the presence of fortifications in the form of buttresses, three towers and 19 loopholes embrasures give him the appearance of a Gothic church defensive type.

The temple is striking in its majestic simplicity in the external facade. From the south adjoin Attached are two chapels, and is located on the north side Bernardine Monastery, built in the early 16th century.

The appearance of the facade is modest. The composition of the main and side facades is based on the rhythm of the high vertical windows. The lower part of the main western facade stands portal with lancet arch type. The main facade is decorated with a frieze of shaped bricks.

Pinnacle and facade gable top made in baroque style. On the south side adjacent to the church built after the chapel, and on the north side of the Bernardine monastery.

Inside the temple is divided into three naves of the same size, the central nave is separated triumphal arch and a large altar. Eight octagonal pylons support the arch. The main motive of the composition of the vaults of the temple - a polygonal star.

The temple survived 11 of 14 built in the eighteenth century altars and two hours - St. Nicholas, built in 1600, and built a chapel in 1632, consecrated in the name of the Three Kings. Of particular interest is the pulpit with statues, gravestones and monuments in the form of openwork doors in the Gothic style. The body that has suffered during the Second World War and not rebuilt.

The church has long been considered the resting place of prominent people. Artisans and merchants were also buried at the altars on which they were given funds. Burials were halted at the temple after the laying on Bernardine Cemetery District.

Inside the temple there are monuments Petras Veselovkisu, Vladislav Tsishkevich and Kiryalisa tomb of Simon, as well as a monument to Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Stanislav Radvilos. Currently, the temple under reconstruction.