DISCOVER KAUNAS

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania with about 300 thousand population. Kaunas is located in the central part of Lithuania on the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers – Nemunas and Neris. Kaunas is located 100 kilometres from the capital Vilnius and 212 kilometres from the country’s major seaport Klaipeda.

Kaunas is an attractive centre of business and industry as well as science, studies and culture. Famous music, dance, visual art festivals and exceptional projects are held in Kaunas. It is the provisional capital of Lithuania, famous for its colourful history, cosy parks, remarkable and wonderful Old Town and interwar spirit. Visit KAUNAS.

Culture

George Maciunas name square in Kaunas. Probably Everyone of you have heard of FLUXUS. The founder of this movement is George Maciunas and he was born in our city.
Kaunas is a great cultural centre. Kaunas has 7 professional and 10 amateur theatres, 20 folklore ensembles and various other arts and sports groups. The main state theatres in Kaunas are the Musical Theatre, the National Drama Theatre, and the Puppet Theatre. Kaunas State Musical Theatre palace on the central street of Kaunas was built in 1892. The city is also a home to the modern dance theatre Aura, Kaunas pantomime theatre, the Little Theatre, the Chamber Theatre, Kaunas State Choir and Kaunas Symphony Orchestra. Visit the M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of Art.

Architecture

According to The Guardian, Kaunas is a surprising hotspot for art deco. In 2015 Kaunas was granted the sign of European heritage and included into the list of UNESCO design cities. Nowadays – this is an exceptional inheritance, witnessing the golden period of flourishment of the city, when Kaunas as a historical capital of Lithuania developed its modernistic architecture in parallel with other European cities.
In Lithuania, modernistic architecture developed into its own specific form and is therefore called the Kaunas school of architecture.
Do not miss a chance to visit the most important objects in the interwar period – Kaunas Garrison Officer’s Club, Christ’s Resurrection Church, Vytautas the Great War Museum and many more.

Sports

BThe name of Kaunas is inseparable from the legendary basketball team ZALGIRIS and its star Arvydas Sabonis. Go to a basketball game if there is one when you come to Kaunas. Even if you are not a basketball lover, you will have a wonderful experience there. The atmosphere is incredible. Basketball is of an exceptional importance for Lithuanian people. The basketball club ZALGIRIS from Kaunas is the oldest and the most successful men’s basketball club in Lithuania. Arvydas Sabonis, the brightest basketball star in Lithuania, played for ZALGIRIS team. The first official basketball game in Kaunas was held in 1922. Kaunas Sports Hall was built in 1939. In this arena in 1939, Lithuanian men’s basketball team won the gold medal at the FIBA European Championship for the second time.

Old Town

Kaunas Old Town located to the east of the confluence of the rivers, occupies 144 hectares. There are a lot of surviving Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, especially in the western part of the Old Town. Many notable buildings and facilities are located in the Old Town, such as the Kaunas Town Hall, the Kaunas Castle and the Historical Presidential Palace, gothic House of Perkunas, Kaunas Cathedral, the Church of St. Gertrude, Vytautas’ church and many other churches.
Vilnius street is the most beautiful street of the Old Town, meant for pedestrians. Some buildings have survived from the 16th century, some of which have been reconstructed. Even the unique telephone booths are a clear indication that you are walking along the street, which connects the old and the new parts of the city.