Royal treasures hidden in Vilnius during World War II have been discovered.

A hidden stash of treasures was discovered in the underground crypt of the cathedral in Vilnius. Since 1939, it had housed burial crowns and insignia belonging to medieval rulers. This is reported by 15min.

No one heard about the stash from the Vilnius Cathedral in Lithuania since the onset of World War II in 1939.

Among the treasures found is a crown that belonged to Alexander Jagiellon (or Alexander Jogailaitis), the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, who lived from 1461 to 1506.

Other artifacts include a crown, a chain, a medallion, a ring, and a gravestone plaque associated with Elisabeth of Austria, or Elżbieta Habsburżanka, who lived from 1436 to 1505.

There were also a crown, a scepter, an orb, three rings, a chain, and gravestones linked to Barbara Radziwiłł, or Barbora Radvilaitė. She was married to Sigismund II Augustus, or Žygimantas Augustas, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and passed away in 1551.

"The discovered burial regalia of the monarchs of Lithuania and Poland are invaluable historical treasures, symbols of the ancient tradition of Lithuanian statehood, markers of Vilnius as the capital, and magnificent works of jewelry art," said Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas.

According to the statement, the artifacts were placed in the royal sarcophagi when buried, and the crowns were not worn but made after death to become part of the burial tomb.

"This reflects the burial and veneration practices of that time. This discovery holds special significance for our statehood, as it highlights the location of the Vilnius Cathedral as the necropolis of the elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania," noted officials in Vilnius.

The items were first discovered in 1931 when the cathedral was cleared after a spring flood, revealing a crypt with the remains of Lithuanian rulers.

They were displayed to the public until the beginning of World War II in 1939, when they were hidden away. Several fruitless searches were conducted before researchers turned their attention to the crypts in September 2024.

In late December, the artifacts were finally discovered using an endoscopic camera. They had been hidden in metal boxes, wrapped in newspapers dated September 1939.

"In the future, they will be examined, restored, and presented to the public," reported the archdiocese.