Kaunas Off The Beaten Path

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Tatars were taken to Lithuania (together whith the Karaites) by Duke Vytautas, about 14th century. They preserved their Muslim faith, but lost their language. They switched to the state administrative idiom, which was Bielorussian. It is just in the last years that they start to learn Tataric or Turkish again. Before they spoke just that old Bielorussian besides Lithuanian (Russian/ Polish).
The building is of the 19th century.

Another mosque is to be found in Alytus, in the South of Lithuania.

I'd say it's more a must see, thus it's out of the "center". Pazaislis cloister is a wonderful masterpiece of barocco, built by italian architects in XVII th century, situated in wonderful green surroundings at the Kaunas Lagoon. Sisters of congregation of St. Kazimier live there now, but it's open for visitors tue-fri from 11am to 5pm, in winter it closes a little bit earlier. You can get there by taking a minivan no.27 from the Alley of freedoom (in Donelaits street) and go till the end of this minivan route.

If you're there already and have some time, take a walk to a Yacth club too.

There was Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius Memorial Exposition in this house (the Kaunas Palace of Bishops), on my picture. There were pictures and writings by the famous Lithuanian displayed in rooms where he lived till his death in 2000. It could be interesting exhibition but exclusively for fans of Lithuanian history, in my opinion. Hmm... it was closed in a weekend when I was in Kaunas.

The museum wasn't mentioned in any travel book I read on Kaunas (including "up-to-date" Kaunas/Klaipeda guide from series "In your pocket") and easy to skip as the building was hidden behind huge structure of Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.


Address:
M. Valanciaus gatve 6, Kaunas, 3000 Lithuania.

Directions:
From northeastern corner of the Town Hall Square (Rotuses aikste) walk northwards Valanciaus gatve, the building on your right when you pass Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

Hours
Tuesday - Friday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm
Mon, Sat, Sun - closed.

Cardinal Vincentas Sladkevicius (1920 - 2000) Memorial Board was put up on southern wall of the Kaunas Palace of Bishops where he lived. He became the first Lithuanian cardinal for 400 years in 1988 and played important role in struggle for Lithuanian independence.

The memorial was nothing special but I found biography of the cardinal very interesting. It was typical story of Lithuanian priest persecuted for convictions by Soviet authorities. Read more here, please.

You may wish to seek out this rather bold statue of the Greek god Nike by Petras Mozuras. I know Nike was a goddess...I am writing what I was told by the guidebook. I'd like to know who he really is (or perhaps he's a male version of Nike?).

It apparently became quite a point of discussion amongst the citizens of Kaunas when it was first unveiled in 1989. :-)

You'll find it at the side of the Mykolas Zilinskas Art Museum, on the side which faces Nepriklausombyes Square (where the Church of St Michael the Archangel is, at the end of alisves Aleja).

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I c noticed the surrounding wall and entrance to this church first of all....the two cherubs posed above the doorway.

When I walked through I found myself in a Benedictine convent. The sisters there have posted one or two bits of information about the history of the church and the convent.

The original St Nicholas Church was built at the end of the 1400s, although what you see today is largely the reconstruction of the 19th century. The church was given to the Benedictine sisters in 1621, when a new convent house was built.

In 1938 'eternal adoration' began (a sister is praying within the church at almost all times), to mark the 550th anniversary of Lithuanian Christianity and the 20th anniversary of Lithuanian independence.

In 1940 the church was closed and in 1948 it became a library storehouse.

The sisters were given back their church in 1989, restored and reconsecrated. It celebrated its own 500th anniversary in 1995.

A lovely, calm and quiet spot within a busy city. Well worth a visit.

You'll find it on Sv. Gertrudos, near the Old Town and the bridge across the Neris.

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To the rear of the synagogue (and you will have to enter the gated area to see it ) stands a memorial to the children of the Holocaust.

Its sculptor, Robertas Antini, also created the monument to Romas Kalanta (see tip below).

Difficult to take a clear photograph on such a gloomy grey day, I'm afraid.

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I wouldn't have spotted this memorial in the City Garden if it hadn't been mentioned in my guidebook.

Romas Kalanta was a 19-year-old student. On May 14th 1972 he set himself on fire as a protest against Soviet rule.

I can remember seeing this type of thing, more than once and in more than one country, and for more than one reason. I am horrified that things should be so bad that anyone should feel strongly enough to do this, and amazed by their courage.

The memorial is by sculptor Robertas Antini. 19 rust-red slabs lie across the grass, one for each year of Kalanta's life.