Historic places in Kaunas

Historic places in Kaunas

1. See

   9th Fort Museum

   Kaunas Fortress was a military defensive complex encircling the city, with ten forts built by the Russians 1882-1915 to protect their empire from the growing power of Germany. But when World War I came, after 11 days of assault the forts surrendered, so the Fortress had impeded the enemy advance but proved far from impregnable. From 1920 much of it was demolished or turned over to other state use. The Ninth Fort was the best preserved and was put to horrific use during the Nazi occupation of 1941-44. You enter via the Exposition of Occupations which has the ticket office, and documents the wartime terrors, and the ensuing Soviet terror under Stalin. You then visit the 9th Fort and the 32-m-high memorial to the victims; the fort tunnels can only be seen by special tour.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·Adult €8, conc €4, child 0-6 free

2. See

   Cathedral of Sts Peter & Paul

   This is first documented in 1413, in the reign of Vytautas the Great, but construction dragged on to 1624, nicely in time to get smashed up by the Russians and Swedes. It's 84 m long by 34 m wide and mostly red-brick Gothic, but refurbishment added Renaissance and Baroque features. It was promoted to a cathedral in 1895: notable burials include bishop and author Motiejus Valančius (1801-1875), poet Jonas Mačiulis (1862-1932) and Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevičius (1920-2000).

   Daily 08:00-19:00·Free

3. See

   Church of St George

   A wooden church was built outside the castle in 1471, then rebuilt in Gothic redbrick from 1492. It's been much bashed about over the years.

   24 hours

4. See

   Galaunė House-Museum

   The house was built in 1932 for soprano Adelė Nezabitauskaitė-Galaunienė (1895–1962) and art historian Paulius Galaunė (1890–1988). The architect was Arnas Funkas (1898–1957).

5. See

   Historical Presidential Palace

   Lithuania was first independent from 1918 until 1940, when the Soviets crushed the "First Republic". This neo-baroque palace was home to its presidents. It houses furniture, artwork and other material from the period.

   Tue Wed Fri–Sun 10:00-17:00, Thu 11:00-19:00·Adult €5, conc €2.50

6. See

   Kaunas Castle

   The first castle was built mid-14th century at the confluence of the rivers Nemunas and Neris. It was destroyed in 1401 and the new castle was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is the oldest building in Kaunas. Today the round tower houses an art gallery, and the castle hosts occasional festivals. The tip of the confluence is Santakos Park.

   Sep-May: Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 10:00-17:00; Jun-Aug: Tue-Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-16:00·Adult €4, conc €2, child free

7. Drink

   Kauno Alus Brewery

   Tours available. They also have a taproom at Laisvės al 21 in front of St Michael Cathedral.

   Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00

8. Do

   Legionas Paintball Club

   Combat games on the lakeside site of the former 5th Fort, where you splatter your opponents with paint blobs or airsoft guns.

   Mon-Sat 11:00-18:00

9. See

   Lithuanian Officers' Palace

   Grandiose chunk of interbellum architecture, built at huge cost in 1937. Part of the "Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919–1939" UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main façade is adorned by the granite sculpture Three Giants (Trys Milžinai) that became a symbol of the Club. The second floor is the piano nobile with the Grand Hall, Hall of Vytautas, Hall of Dukes and Hall of the President, festooned with chandeliers, paintings, frescoes, furniture, and stained glass. It's now an events venue.

   Mon-Thu 08:00-17:00, Fri 08:00-16:00

10. See

    Pažaislis Monastery

    Built from the 17th century as a Camaldolese monastery, this is a riot of Baroque thanks to its Italian architects and sculptors. During the 19th / 20th centuries the complex was variously a military stables, psychiatric hospital and art gallery but restored as a convent in the 1990s. The main sight is the Church of the Visitation.

    Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 10:00-15:30·Adult €6, conc €3, child free

11. See

    Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum

    Old-style natural history museum with thousands of stuffed animals and skeletons.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00·Adult €6, conc or child €3

12. Buy

    Urmas

    Urmo bazė

    A place with history from the soviet times, today this "shopping town", a hybrid of a marketplace and a mall, contains more usual retailers together with mom-and-pop shops and places to eat for cheap, alongside the central market of Kaunas.

    Work hours varies with different retailers

13. See Not mapped

    Kaunas City Hall

    Built in renaissance style in the mid-16th century, when Kaunas was a flourishing city of merchants, and nowadays dubbed The White Swan. In 1836 it was reconstructed as a residence for Russian czars. The Wedding Hall (marriage registration office) was opened on the ground and first floors in 1973. The cellars house the Kaunas Ceramics museum' with hand-crafted crockery, tile stove ornaments, and roof tiles of impressive size The city history museum has of archaeological findings from the Old Town and surroundings of Kaunas. The exposition also reflects the lifestyle of the townsmen of the time.

    Tue Wed 10:00-17:00, Thu-Sun 12:00-18:00·Adult €10, conc €5, child free

14. See Not mapped

    Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature

    This is within Siručiai Palace and came to be the residence of poet and priest Jonas Maironis. It has a huge collection of books, manuscripts, artworks, and memorial items.

    Tue-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00

15. See Not mapped

    Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy

    Houses a huge collection of skulls, herbs, medical items and other relics.

    Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00·Adult €2, child €1. Cash only. Tours in English €15

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Kaunas (CC BY-SA 4.0).