Photo by H Padleckas's mother / Public domain
📜 Historic CuriositiesVilniusEasy access
Geographical Center of Europe
Vilnius district, Vilnius1-2 hoursBest: Year-round
The official geographical center of Europe, as calculated by the French National Geographic Institute — marked by a monument and sculpture park 26 km north of Vilnius.
In 1989, the French National Geographic Institute calculated that the geographical center of Europe lies at coordinates 54°54'N, 25°19'E — a spot about 26 km north of Vilnius. A monument marks the exact location, and the site has been developed with a visitor center and the adjacent Europos Parkas sculpture museum.
The monument itself is a modest granite pillar surrounded by a star-shaped ground mosaic. Visitors can receive an official certificate confirming they've stood at the center of Europe. The claim is somewhat contested — other calculations place the center elsewhere — but Lithuania's enthusiastic promotion of the site has made it one of the country's most visited landmarks.
Why Visit
Stand at the calculated center of Europe and get your certificate. The nearby Europos Parkas sculpture museum makes this a worthwhile half-day excursion from Vilnius.
Address
Purnuškės, Vilnius district
54.9000, 25.3167
Visitor Tips
- 1Certificates are available at the information center
- 2Combine with Europos Parkas sculpture park next door
- 3Easy drive from Vilnius (26 km)
- 4The claim is contested but fun to visit regardless
