Professors' House
Constructed in 1938 based on architect Mojżesz Cholem’s design for engineer Dawid Strugacz, this modern four-story apartment building stood out for its spacious and functionally planned four-room apartments. Its significance grew in the 1940s when it became home to Lithuanian intellectuals after the Faculty of Humanities of Vytautas Magnus University relocated to Vilnius. Over the years, notable residents included writers Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, Balys Sruoga, and Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, as well as historian Konstantinas Jablonskis, literary scholar Kostas Korsakas, signatory Mykolas Biržiška, chemist Kazys Daukšas, architect Vytautas Landsbergis- Žemkalnis, and many others. Thus, the building evolved beyond being just a center for academics and professors; it became a silent witness to the complex historical upheavals of the 20th century – times of resistance, adaptation, persecution, and exile. Today, the Professors’ House, listed in the Register of Cultural Heritage, invites visitors to explore the authentic living spaces of writers Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, Balys Sruoga, and Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas.
Edukacijos
Vilnius is a city of literature for me primarily because studied literature here at the University. This is where metaphors became flesh. I saw Onė Baliukonytė, expecting a baby, wearing an elegant dress made of a fabric that resembled a sack. And Judita Vaičiūnaitė buying a cake in Žibutė cafe. Marcelijus Martinaitis, horrified by our “leaky”, as he would call them, sentences in our dissertations. The author of Tūla dropping by the residence hall to borrow money. Jonas Strielkūnas with jacket sleeves as long as time. And other unofficial individuals.
Your favourite quote about Vilnius, or a passage from a literary work.
Let it be a line from “it was all a long time ago”: “moonlight above Vilnius how wondrous the moon and the snowflakes”.
Giedra Radvilavičiūtė
Because a great deal of litterateurs have lived here, big and small. They have sung praises to this city, each in their own way, capturing its territories with their poems.
Your favourite quote about Vilnius, or a passage from a literary work.
I will wait by Vilnius, by the fairy tale city, where Neris flows in a red glow (Paulius Širvys) But this one might be cited by many, so here’s a backup: I could never leave you, my city (Czesław Miłosz).
Giedrė Kazlauskaitė
Vilnius is a city whose streets are covered in literary quotes, both literally and metaphorically, a city delightfully rife with multilingual literary tradition and people who read, write and love books. I’m surprised every time at how much is happening here. It’s a city which serves as a source of inspiration, a city which contains every literary genre. The status of Vilnius as a city of literature is probably merely a confirmation of something that literary Vilnians have always been aware of.
Your favourite quote about Vilnius, or a passage from a literary work.
„Nuo Vilniaus niekur nepabėgsi. Nėra pasauly kito tokio miesto...“ “There’s no running away from Vilnius. There’s no other city like it in the world…” (Ričardas Gavelis, Vilnius Poker)
Akvilina Cicėnaitė
Professors' House
Tauro g. 10-1, 10-3, LT-01114
Vilnius, Lietuva
profesoriu.namas@vilniusliterature.lt
+370 678 83651
Opening Hours:
II, 12:00 – 20:00
III–V, 9:00 – 18:00
VI, 10:00 – 15:00