The Presidential Palace on Daukanto Square is the official working residence and office of the President of Lithuania. The building dates from the 16th century but was substantially rebuilt in neoclassical style in the early 19th century. Before independence it served various functions under Russian and Soviet administration; since 1997 it has been the presidential seat.
The palace exterior and the small Daukanto Square in front of it are accessible freely; the interior is open to the public on limited occasions, primarily during national holidays and specific open-house days. The square itself, flanked by the palace and the back of Vilnius University, is one of the more attractive in the old town — quieter than Cathedral Square and surrounded by well-preserved historic buildings.