One of the most impressive examples of the Vilnius Gothic of the sixteenth century is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, or Bernardine Church, located in the Old town. The Church was constructed three times: in 1496, at the request of Duke of Lithuania Casimir the Jagiellon on the site of a pagan sanctuary was built of wood. After the fire in 1475 the building burned down, and in 1490 was built a new stone Church. However, due to inaccuracies in the calculations during construction in 1500 collapsed part of the arch of the Church is almost ready. The third time the temple was erected in the period from 1506 to 1516. The temple was consecrated in the name of Holy. Francis Of Assisi. And again at fires in 1560 and 1564, the Church was severely damaged – burned everything inside, the walls and the vault was threatened with collapse. During the restoration work, in 1577 the Church building was greatly expanded. A little later, were built three chapels, erected a new altar with a sculptured Crucifix.

During the Russo-Polish war, the Church was looted and burned. Restored it was through the efforts of Hetman michał Kazimierz PAC and consecrated in the name of St. Francisca of Assisi Church and Bernardine of Siena. Later the Church was rebuilt and equipped with new altars, frescoes. In 1864, according to the decree of the authorities of the convent and the Church were closed in their building barracks were located. In 1949 the Church was closed and transferred to the Vilnius art Institute as a warehouse. Finally, the Church has found its master in the person of the Bernardine monks in 1992, and consecrated again in 1994.

For its size the Church is the largest Gothic building in Lithuania. Despite the fact that the Church was repeatedly rebuilt and modernized, it still retains its Gothic style in architecture. And the presence of fortifications in the form of buttresses, three towers and 19 embrasures embrasures give it the look of a Gothic temple defensive type.

The temple is striking in its majestic simplicity in the external facade. From the South to adjoin two attached chapel, and on the North side is located the Bernardine monastery, built in the early 16th century.

The appearance of the facade is quite modest. The composition of the main and side facades is based on the rhythm of the tall vertical Windows. The lower part of the main Western facade is a portal with Lancet arch. The main facade is decorated with a frieze of shaped bricks.

Turrets of the facade and the top of the pediment is made in Baroque style. On the South side adjacent to the Church later built the chapel, and on the North side Bernardine monastery.

Inside the temple is divided into three naves of equal size, the Central nave is separated triumphal arch and the large altar. Eight pylons octagonal shaped arch support. The main motive of the composition of all the vaults of the temple - polygonal star.

In the Church, there are 11 of the 14 built in the eighteenth century altars and two chapels of St. Nicholas, built in 1600 and built in 1632 chapel, consecrated in the name of the Three kings. Special attention is drawn to the pulpit with sculptures, gravestones in the form of monuments and fishnet door in the Gothic style. The body that was damaged during the Second world war and not restored.

The Church has long been considered the final resting place of prominent people. Artisans and merchants were also buried at the altars, on which they gave means. Burials were discontinued in the temple after laying Bernardine cemetery in the District.

Inside the Church there are monuments Petras Veselovka, Vladislav Tishkevich, as well as the tomb of Simon Kiralik, and as a monument to Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Stanislav Radvile. Currently the temple is under reconstruction.