Published: 20260709
Date:
2026-07-02
Photographer:
M. Kaminskas and V. Abramauskas
The Palace of the Grand Dukes, along with the Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collections (Zamek Królewski na Wawelu – Państwowe Zbiory Sztuki) and Polish Institute in Vilnius (Instytut Polski w Wilnie) present the international exhibition “From Enemy to Ally. Lithuania and Poland, and the Ottoman Empire in the 14th–19th Centuries”.
It showcases more than five centuries of relations between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. It covers topics ranging from the Battle of Chotyn and the Battle of Vienna to lesser-known aspects of diplomacy, trade, cultural exchange, and unexpected alliances. The highlight of the exhibition is a legendary Ottoman tent, which is said to have belonged to Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa. One of the few surviving 17th-century oval, double-pole Turkish tents in Europe, it is an exceptionally rare example of the Ottoman Empire’s textile heritage.
The exhibition will be open until December 6, 2026.
