The Three Crosses Monument on Crooked Hill

The Three Crosses monument stands on Crooked Hill (Trijų Kryžių kalnas) in the historic center of Vilnius. The hill is located in a high point where the rivers Nėris and Vilnia meet, and it served as the site of the Kreiva Castle, one of the defensive castles of Vilnius.

The hill is a historical archaeological site. Excavations conducted in 1988-1989 and 1991 revealed remains of wooden defensive walls, markings, and pottery. One type of defensive wall from the beginning of the first millennium was made of logs, while later fortifications from the end of the 14th century featured walls plastered with lime.

In the southern part of the hill, three crosses were erected on a mound in 1916. These crosses were destroyed in 1948 and restored in 1989. The area surrounding the monument features a rectangular clearing and various terraces formed by erosion and historical activity. Additionally, Professor Prana Dundulienė suggests that there may have been a temple dedicated to Mildas on this hill in the past.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons