Kaunas
About
Discover the history of Kaunas
Lithuania's second-largest city, Kaunas stretches across the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers. Its well-preserved old town blends Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, dominated by Kaunas Castle. Laisvės Alėja, a long pedestrian avenue lined with cafés and shops, connects the main cultural sites. Serving as Lithuania's temporary capital during the interwar period, the city preserves this heritage through its museums and galleries. Street art and a creative scene fueled by a large student population bring energy to the city center. In winter, the historic district's streets take on a hushed atmosphere, perfect for museum visits, cozy cafés and Christmas markets along the pedestrian avenue. Surrounding parks complete this urban experience.
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Discover the best attractions in Kaunas and its surroundings
Trakai Island Castle
A red-brick Gothic fortress begun in the 14th century on an island in Lake Galvė, linked to the shore by timber footbridges and now home to the Trakai History Museum. It sits about 80 km east of Kaunas, on the road to Vilnius.
Hill of Crosses
A mound carrying well over a hundred thousand crosses left by pilgrims, bulldozed several times by Soviet authorities and rebuilt each time as a symbol of resistance. It stands near Šiauliai, about 140 km north of Kaunas.
Oak Grove Park
Sprawling sports & recreation site with forests of native trees including a notable number of oaks.
Kaunas Ninth Fort Museum
Part of the Kaunas fortress ring and completed in 1913, the fort became a mass execution site under Nazi occupation, where close to fifty thousand people were killed. The museum fills the original casemates below the concrete memorial raised in 1984.
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