The Illustrious Cultural Centre of Lithuania

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Kaunas, which is the second largest city in Lithuania after the capital city, Vilnius, is located at the confluence of the Rivers Nemunas and Neris, two of the largest rivers in Lithuania. Situated near the Kaunas Reservoir, the city according to a legend is supposed to have been founded by the Romans. However, according to written documents, the city is said to have established in 1361. The city was constantly under attack by the Teutonic Knights and a stone wall was erected to stop these invasions, but Kaunas was finally captured and the Kaunas Castle badly destroyed. The castle was rebuilt again at the start of the 15th century

In the middle of the fifteen century it became an important trading centre and was occupied by the Hanseatic merchants. The Russians took over the city in 1665, followed by a Swedish invasion in 1701 and again a Russian occupation in 1795. The city was badly damaged when Napoleon’s French army stormed into the city, destroying most parts of it. Kaunas also became the temporary capital of Lithuania when Vilnius was annexed to Poland. Even after several invasions and occupations, Kaunas managed to develop and today makes for one fourth of the country’s industrial output.

Kaunas is a beautiful city and has several places of tourist interest, while the city’s modern infrastructure is brilliantly blended with its historical architecture. Some of the most significant places of interest include the 14th century Kaunas Castle, the Vytautas Church, one of the oldest in Lithuania, the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica with its Gothic exterior and a Baroque interior. The magnificent St Michael the Archangel, a Neo-Byzantine Church, the Baroque style Pažaislis Abbey, Kaunas Fortress, Napoleon Hill and the Kaunas Town Hall are also interesting places to see. One can also visit the Kaunas Botanical Garden and the Kaunas Zoo.

There are several museums that can be visited such as the Historical Presidential Museum, the War Museum of Vytautus the Great and the very intriguing Devil’s Museum to name just a few. Kaunas is renowned as a rich cultural centre, as it hosts musical concerts and a variety of theatre productions, music and jazz festivals and a number of other cultural events. There are several theatres in Kaunas that include Drama, Musical, Pantomime, Puppet and Dance theatres among a variety of other theatres.

Apart from being well-linked with the other cities in Lithuania, Kaunas can also be accessed by road from Prague and Helsinki through Poland. The Kaunas International Airport is the largest in the Baltic, while there is a good rail network too. Within the city, a ride on the Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway is worth taking. There is a plethora of other things that one can do at Kaunas, which is a great holiday destination, not only for Europeans, but also for those visiting from countries outside Europe.