The Minister of Culture promises to find money to maintain Gediminas Hill

“There will be money. Last year, when discussing this year’s budget, that circumstance was assessed,” the minister told BNS on Thursday.

According to him, this year’s budget did not include funds for the management of Mount Gediminas, because at that time there was neither a project nor a contractor.

“Until now, the specific amount, the project and other things have been unclear. Today we have a good situation, when the project is finally finished, the selection of the contractor is not stuck in any courts. Now we will just have to return to the question”, said S. Kairys.

According to him, it is still being calculated how much funds will be needed this year, because so far only the total value of the three-year project is clear – 13.4 million. euros.

“We’re looking at what we predict this year, how we line up the others and those questions will gradually be answered.” But the process is ongoing,” the Minister of Culture emphasized.

Due to the state of Mount Gediminas, since the end of 2017, a state of emergency has been declared in a part of Vilnius. In the event of an emergency, the law allows necessary works to be financed from the Government’s reserve.

The National Museum of Lithuania has signed a preliminary contract for the final renovation of the southeastern part of Mount Gediminas with the company “Rekreacinė statyba”.

According to the museum, work will begin once the necessary funding is received and then a final contract is signed with the contractor. They will last for three years, the total value of the contract is 13.42 million. euros.

Long-term management works are planned for the southeastern part of the mountain, as its condition is currently the most difficult – the southeastern slope and the remains of the Upper Castle Palace show signs of danger.

It is also intended to begin maintenance of part of the main path to Gediminas Hill, which has been closed to visitors since 2017, to strengthen and highlight the castle period artifacts found on the slope during archaeological research.

After the implementation of the planned works, the southeastern slope would be finally repaired, its total area is about 5 thousand square meters.

The foundations of part of the south-eastern defensive wall (80 meter long section) and the remains of the Upper Castle Palace (occupying an area of ​​about 670 square meters) would also be strengthened.

According to the museum, after the completion of these works, the second phase of long-term repair work would await Gediminas Hill, which would include the remaining unmaintained slopes. Their approximate area is 29 thousand. square meters.

According to the institution, currently the condition of Mount Gediminas is stable, but it remains dependent on weather conditions, it may deteriorate during the rainy season or during summer rains.

The state of the mountain is concerned after the large landslides that occurred in February 2016. Then it was temporarily forbidden to visit it, an emergency was declared.