Industrial suburb of Vilnius, whose workers were entertained by many taverns. The bravura of a prosperous brewer and a Swiss garden with fountains, in the neighborhood of which are the estates of a very progressive tanner, which stretched several hundred years ago. And today it is already the outskirts of the old town, where the reviving area surrounded by legends is increasingly inviting the townspeople to get acquainted with its multi-layered history.
This is how the guides who will soon organize excursions around the area for the residents of the capital city and reveal more than one interesting story describe Paupis, which is washed by the rushing river of Vilnius.
From fabrics to computers
In the last century, Paupys lost its bustling charm when it turned into a one-sided industrial place, especially stagnant at the end of the Soviet era. The ice cream moved when one of the largest conversion projects of non-functional spaces in Lithuania started in this area, included in the 2010-2020 municipal strategic plan "Architektūros parkas".
During the project, the company "Darnu Group" restores the old origins of Paupis on a 7-hectare area - a center of attraction for the townspeople surrounded by nature, where many urban purposes are again intertwined: spaces for living, working, entertainment, culture and public activities.
According to Gabija Lunevičiūtė, the author of the guidebook of the capital, the book about Vilnius, together with the renaissance of Paupia, the stories of Vilnius residents who once lived and worked here are being revived.
"Paupys was an industrial district for many centuries - a suburb of Vilnius, through which Vilnelė flowed with its canals. The geographical location created the conditions for the creation of many businesses that needed water as a source of energy.
Leather and fur processing, as well as fabric factories operated here for three hundred years, a large brewery was established in the 19th century, workers lived in modest conditions in small houses among the industrial facilities, and for their entertainment, many taverns also operated in the area. Therefore, in the now-revived district, the elements of industrial style applied in a historically reasonable manner, without emphasized luxury, seem to naturally continue the old narrative of Paupis", says G. Lunevičiūtė.
She notes that the industrial line of Paupios is very strong - it continued even after the war: for most older citizens, this area is associated with the electricity meter factory established there during the Soviet years. By the way, even computers were produced there. The factory operated here until 2008. crises.
"Over the past decade, Paupia has been the most popular choice for lovers of sharper sensations and abandoned places, who were fascinated by abandoned factory buildings, the wind howling through broken windows, bushes climbing on ghostly buildings and the documents, posters and other relics of factories that operated in the past," says G. Lunevičiūtė. .
There are unexpected stories
According to the guide, there is more than one somewhat unexpected story hidden in Paupy, which should intrigue citizens interested in the past of Vilnius.
"Lipskis, the brewer who worked here, really deserves a separate story: judging by his turnovers, we can safely say that he was very successful in serving the Vilnius Governorate," laughs an expert on the capital's history.
According to G. Lunevičiūtė, the brewer in Paupy had not only a bravura with a summer terrace and a theater, but also installed a Swiss garden and a fountain - in such a working-class district, these must have been objects of exceptional attraction.
"Holstein, a tanner who worked nearby, was also a very progressive person: he processed the remains of skins and furs so that they were suitable for use as fuel!" And where is the fact that Vilnelė meandered like ribbons - they should be called canals - and that the main one was drained only in the 19th century", reveals G. Lunevičiūtė.
One of the most important is the element of nature
Guide Asta Cicėnienė, who invites Vilnius residents and city guests to discover Paupis, says that it is a rich corner of nature and surprises, full of gurgling, rushing and splashing water. At the same time, it is a district that brings natural wonder to those who remember how it used to be and who can compare it with the present, sit in the cozy central square or take a walk in the newly appeared connections between Paupios and Aukštaičiai streets.
"I promise to tell the tour participants why the old-timers prefer the old name of Paplaujas, where the locals' beach was and where to look for "papiloma". Of course, there are also many other, modern stories about the pulling of the leaves' furs, frequent fires and the new harmonious identity of the territory", reveals A. Cicėnienė.
She notes that one of the most important elements accompanying the history of Paupis for centuries is its unchanging close relationship with the Vilnius River and the surrounding "canyon" landscape.
According to G. Lunevičiūtė, historical and modern cities are now successfully sharing the same space and place under the sun in Paupy.
"To me, they are like two people living together: finding compromises, sometimes competing, often complementing each other, respecting differences and understanding that both have the right to be here." Both these cities are united by people: some are remembered only by their legacy, others live in the city now. The most important thing is to let its guests and residents feel that the city, its streets, entire blocks are the history of people", G. Lunevičiūtė notes.