Kaunas Favorites

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Favorite thing: Kaunas... built at the conflience of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the Nemunas and the Neris, it's the second-largest city in Lithuania.. With its nearly half million inhabitants and its prestigious universities, I thought it was be a very vibrant city...

Fondest memory: Kaunas... maybe it was the grey skies, maybe it was because I was expecting something else... but the city centre didn't charm me... I saw many wonderful churches and very little else... in particular, at night (and in April) I found it dead. No people around, very few places to hand out - and this despite Laisvės alėja, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe.

Favorite thing: For those who believe the true measure of civilisation is the condition of public toilets (you know who you are) rest assured Kaunas is likely to meet with your approval. There are facilities adjacent to the Town Hall Square usefully located next door to the Tourist Information Office. For a small fee a slightly fearsome woman will let you use them. Please note that payment does not buy her soul and service with a smile is unlikely to be forthcoming.

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Favorite thing: Some buildings and bridges are beautifully illuminated at night.

I especially liked the blue and red illumination of the Aleksoto bridge (Aleksoto tiltas) which spans the river Nemunas just south of Kaunas' city centre.

Other buildings well worth a visit at night are the Church of St. Gertrude and the red brick Vytautas Church

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Favorite thing: When wandering around Kaunas you will discover quite a few statues.

After Lithuania's independence in 1990 all communist related statues have been moved to Grutas Park which is a sort of sculpture park for tourists.

Information about the Monument to Vytautas the Great and the Monument to Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas can be found in seperate tips.

Other important statues include the following ones:

The naked figure of A Man is the work of sculptor Petras Mazuras and has been erected in 1991. It can be found outside the Mykolas Zilinskas Art Museum.

The Monument to Antanas Smetona was installed in 1996 and is located near Vilniaus gatve 33. He was the first President of Lithuania (1919-1920).

The Monument to Motiejus Valancius can be found near the Church of the Holy Trinity. He was a well known bishop and died in 1875 in Kaunas.

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Favorite thing: Kaunas is situated at the confluence of Lithuania's two longest rivers: the Nemunas and the Neris.

Both rivers arise in Belarus and in Kaunas the Neris becomes a tributary of the Nemunas river. The Nemunas flows into the Curonian lagoon and then into the Baltic Sea.

The region where the two rivers meet is said to be the point where Kaunas originated in the 14th century.

Favorite thing: If you want to develop your pictures in Kaunas, no worries, look for world known, photo labs like Kodak or Fuji (on my picture at Town Hall Square 1; Rotuses aikste 1). There were a few photo labs located at Laisves aleja as well (including 1 hour service).

Keep in mind that developing pictures both from classical camera films and from digital sources was a little bit more expensive in Kaunas than in Poland or, say Berlin (in 2004).

Favorite thing: Church was built in XV century in honour of that Vitautas the Great was alive after battle with Tatars. It seems it is only one church that has a name of the person who is still not canonized. In XVII century the church was completely damaged by Swedish troops, but later reconstructed. Till the end of XX century the church was partly broken several times and has been reconstructing only in last years. The Church is situated on the ban of Neman River.

Favorite thing: Holy Trinity Church is situated near of Rotusesquare (behind Rotuse if you're staying on the square). It was built in 1624-1634 and after 1668 was renovated after gret fire. Last restoration works were in 1899. Theological seminary is located in the courtyard of the church.