Dating back as far as 1408 and receiving basilica status in 1921, Sts. Peter & Paul's is the largest Gothic structure in Lithuania as well as the country’s only Gothic church with a basilica floor-plan as opposed to the usual cross-shaped design. The breathtaking interior, which stands among one of the most beautiful of its kind in the country, boasts nine separate altars with the high-Baroque main altar being the central focus. The Cathedral is also the final resting place of two politically active, religious writers. Along the south wall find the tomb of Maironis (1862-1932), a priest and poet who some consider one of the founding fathers of modern Lithuanian poetry. Also within the crypt are the remains of Bishop Motiejus Valančius (1801-1875), best known for his contributions to the then illegal printing and distribution of books in Lithuanian. The light Renaissance and Baroque touches are the result of renovations from the middle of the 17th century. Entrance is, somewhat strangely, through sliding glass doors on the Vilniaus side of the building.