The King of Poland, Władysław IV Vasa, had a deep admiration for Vilnius and Lithuania. He frequently visited the region and resided in the ornate Royal Palace in Vilnius, where he hosted popes, kings, emperors, and envoys from other lands.

During Władysław Vasa’s reign, the palace and its surroundings became a center of entertainment and culture — the first Italian operas in Lithuania were staged there. The king was also an avid hunter. During a hunting trip in Merkinė, he caught a cold, which led to his death.

His body was buried in the Vasa Chapel in Kraków, while an urn containing his heart was placed in Vilnius Cathedral. In Merkinė, the house where the king died has been preserved, and a memorial plaque now marks this historic event.