The official residence of the President of Lithuania, this gleaming white palace started life in the 14th century as a much smaller structure. Gaining its Classical appearance much later, it remained the home of the cream of the city’s Catholic clergy until the 1795 Partition when it became the residence of Vilnius’ tsarist governors. Many illustrious figures have spent the night in the building over the centuries, among them Tsar Alexander I, Napoleon Bonaparte and Józef Piłsudski to name but a few. Assuming its current role in 1997, the presidential flag can be seen flying over the building when the president's in residence or in the city. Between 12:00 and 18:00 from spring until the beginning of October it's possible to enter the rear courtyard without being part of an excursion.