The Bernardine church and monastery (the church of St. Francis and Bernard) is one of the largest gothic complexes in Vilnius. It forms a single architectural ensemble with St. Anna's Church, but he is older than the latter and much higher. The first wooden church in this place was erected in 1469 by Bernardine monks. Initially, it was part of the defensive structures, which explains the modesty of the exterior decoration of the cathedral.

After the reconstruction of the 16th-17th centuries . the church acquired the features of the Renaissance architecture, whose architectural element softens the severity of the Gothic lines . Despite the modest appearance, inside the interior the decoration of the church is striking: 14 altars (3 stone and 11 wooden) are decorated with wooden figures . Here is also the oldest crucifix of the 14th century in Lithuania . The frescos created in the 16th century are truly unique: and the manner they are related to the Renaissance, and style closer to the Gothic . Bernardine monks collected a rich library, which holds unique manuscripts and books . In the Soviet era the building was occupied by the Institute of Arts .