Travel to Kaunas potx

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Kaunas
© 2009 Stig Albeck & Ventus Publishing ApS
Translation: Frances østerfelt
All rights and copyright relating to the content of this book
are the property of Onlibri, and/or its suppliers. Content from
ths book, may not be reproduced in any shape or form
without prior written permission from Onlibri.
Quoting this book is allowed when clear references are made,
in relation to reviews are allowed.
ISBN 978-87-7061-266-1
1st edition

Pictures and illustrations in this book are reproduced according
to agreement with the following copyright owners
Stig Albeck.
The stated prices and opening hours are indicative and may
have be subject to change after this book was published.
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A visit to Kaunas
www.kaunas.lt
www.travel.lt
The history of Lithuania has been dominated by the
two large cities, Vilnius and Kaunas, which, despite of
the short distance between them, sometimes have
been on opposite sides of a country border. In the
20th century, Kaunas has mostly been in Lithuanian
hands, and between World War I and II, it was the
capital of the country. Because of this, many consider
Kaunas the most Lithuanian of the two cities.
Kauna’s Old Town is dominated by houses in
Gothic and Renaissance style. Small cosy streets
radiate from the Town Hall Square, but not far to
the east, the newer parts of the city are located, with
modern boulevards and beautiful buildings from the
last couple of centuries.
There are many beautiful and fascinating places in
the vicinity of Kaunas. The Open Air Museum takes
visitors back to the historic Lithuania, and the city
of Elektrenai shows typical Soviet city planning at its
height. On the way to Vilnius, one finds the unique
water castle in Trakai.
Have a nice trip!
A visit to Kaunas
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Historical Outline
Kaunas is situated at the confluence of the rivers
Neris and Nemunas, and it was mentioned for the
first time in 1361. However, a settlement had already
been established in the 10th century due to the
strategic significance of the place. In the 14th
century, Kaunas primarily functioned as a first-line
defence against the Teutonic Knights, who would
frequently attack the area. The Teutonic Knights
conquered the town in 1361.
When the Polish-Lithuanian forces, commanded by
Vytautas the Great, won the battle of Grunwald in
1410, Kaunas’ cultural and commercial heyday began.
Kaunas had a large harbour on the river where
several trade routes met, and trade with Western
Europe increased throughout the 15th century. In
1441, Kaunas became a member of the Hanseatic
League, which opened its offices in the city.
By the 16th century, many large buildings and
institutions had been established in Kaunas and
made it one of the main cities in the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania.
The architectural style of the Baroque period is
predominant in many Lithuanian cities, including
Kaunas, which is seen in the style of its many
church buildings. The Baroque period was Kaunas’
golden age.
In 1665, the Russians attacked Kaunas, and in 1701

Swedish armies invaded the area, including Kaunas
itself. The plague ravaged the city in 1657 and in
1708, and fires destroyed parts of the city in 1731
and 1732.
When the Polish-Lithuanian state was split in 1795,
Kaunas became part of the Russian empire. In 1812,
Napoleon invaded Russia, and his armies came
through Kaunas twice, causing great destruction.
During the 19th century, when Kaunas was still part
of Russia, there was steady cultural and industrial
development. The building style was Russian
inspired, an example being the Byzantine church
built for the Russian garrison that was stationed in
Kaunas in the mid-19th century.
Between World War I and World War II, Vilnius
became part of Poland and Kaunas became the new
capital of Lithuania. A number of new institutions
and administrative buildings were established in the
city, for example the Presidential Palace.
In the 1920s, Kaunas expanded to more than double
its former size. Thousands of residential buildings,
bridges, roads, sewer systems, transportation
systems etc. were constructed, and the city was
thoroughly modernized.
In the decades after World War II, Kaunas, along
with the rest of Lithuania, was part of the Soviet
Union. This meant new growth as power plants and
various industries were established in the area.
When Lithuania became independent in 1991, a new
round of construction works began.

Historical Outline
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Tour 1. Kaunas
1. Kaunas Fortress/Kauno Pilis
Papilio gatvė
Kaunas Fortress was built in the 13th century as
Lithuania’s first real defence works. The original
walls were 13 metres high and more than 2 metres
thick, but after a siege in 1362, the fortress was
conquered and the walls were torn down.
Six years later, in 1368, the fortress was reinforced.
Kaunas Fortress originally had four towers, but they
had been destroyed over the course of the centuries
because of the proximity to the River Neris, which
has also washed away the north wall.
Following the Battle of Tannenberg in 1410, the
threat from the Teutonic Order disappeared, and
with it the military importance of the fortress. For a
period it was used as a prison, but in the 19th
century it gradually fell into disrepair. Today, the
ruins have been restored and a historical museum
has been created in the tower.
Tour 1. Kaunas
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2. Church of St John /Sv. Jurgio
BažnyĀia
Papilio gatvė 9
The Church of St John was built in Gothic style at
the end of the 15th century. It was built in
connection with an old Bernadine monastery and
the complex has been destroyed several times by
fires and acts of war. But the church has been
rebuilt on each occasion. After having been used as
a storage facility for a period, Church of St John
came to serve its religious purpose again in 1993,
and restoration work was begun.
3. Town Hall Square/Rotušŝs aikštŝ
Rotušės aikštė
www.maironiomuziejus.lt
Kaunas’ Town Hall Square is the centre of the Old
Part of Town. The cosy Square was built in 1542,
and it is a popular meeting point among Kaunas’
citizens.
There are a number of old German grocery stores
from the 16th and 17th centuries lining the square.
One of them (Rotušės aikštė 13) functions as a
Museum of literature (Maironio lietuviŧ literatşros
muziejus), dedicated to the popular Lithuanian
author, Maironis, who lived there from 1910 to 1932.
3a. Kaunas Town Hall/Kauno rotušė
www.muziejai.lt

The 53-metre-tall Town Hall is centrally situated at
Kaunas’ City Hall Square. The white building was
built in the years 1542-1562 in a Late-Baroque style.
The building’s top floor and tower was added at the
end of the 16th century. Apart from housing the
city’s Administration, the building also functioned as
storehouse and prison.
Today, the 16th century cellar houses a ceramics
museum - Keramikos Muziejus (Rotušės aikštė 15).
3b. The Jesuit Church/Jėzuitŧ bažnyÿia
Rotušės aikštė 7
On the south side of the Town Hall Square stands
the beautiful Jesuit Church, built in Baroque style in
1666. The Church burned down in 1732 but it was
rebuilt and reopened in 1759. A monastery and a
student hall of residence were added in 1761-1768.
At the beginning of the 1770s, the Pope closed
down the Jesuit order in this area, and in 1887 the
monks converted to the Franciscan order to avoid
closing the monastery.
Tour 1. Kaunas
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In 1825, the church became Russian Orthodox. It
has since served various purposes, mainly as a
school, until in 1990 it became a Jesuit church once
more. The Jesuits had returned to Lithuania after

World War I, but the church’s beautiful Baroque
interior had been preserved during their absence.
4. Perkƈnas House/Perkƈno namas
Aleksoto gatvė 6
Perkşnas’ House is one of Lithuania’s most
beautiful secular houses. It was built in Baroque
style by merchants from the Hanseatic League at the
end of the 15th century. In the 16th century, it was
sold to Jesuit monks, who built a chapel there.
In the 19th century, the building housed a school
and a theatre. It was named after the Baltic God of
Thunder, Perkşnas, whose image was found on the
spot when preparing for construction.
5. Church of Vytautas the Great
/Vytauto Didžiojo BažnyĀia
Aleksoto gatvė 3

This Gothic-style church was built at the beginning
of the 15th century. It got its name from its founder,
Vytautas the Great, who built it in honour of the
Virgin May, whom he believed had saved his life
when he was defeated in the battle of Vorskla on 12
August 1399.
In 1812, the church was burned down by French
troops, but it was later rebuilt. In 1845, the Catholic
church was closed and the church reopened as
Orthodox church. At the beginning of the 20th
century, the building served as a barracks, and for a
period it was used as storehouse. In 1919, it became
a Catholic church once more.

The Lithuanian author, Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas,
lies buried in the Crypt.
Tour 1. Kaunas
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6. Aleksota’s funicular/Aleksoto
funikulierius
Veiveriŧ gatvė/Amerikos lietuviŧ gatvė 6
Aleksota’s funicular is located just south of the old
part of town, on the far side of the river Nemunas.
The funicular was built in 1935, and from the top on
Aleksota Hill there is a nice view of the Old Town.
7. St Peter and Paul Cathedral
Kaunas/Kauno Šv. apaštalƌ Petro ir
Povilo arkikatedra bazilika
Vilniaus gatvė 1
Kaunas Cathedral is the largest Gothic-style building
in Lithuania. The precise year it was founded is not
known, but it was mentioned for the first time in
1413. During the following centuries, the Cathedral
was expanded until it stood finished in 1624.
Tour 1. Kaunas
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The church was partly destroyed by acts of war in
1655, but it was rebuilt in 1671, including some new
Renaissance features. In 1732, it was damaged by
fire, and only one of the towers was rebuilt. The
interior of the Cathedral is primarily from the 1770s.
The building measures 84 metres in length, 34
metres in width and the tower is 42 metres tall.
8. Vilnius Street/Vilniaus gatvŝ
Vilniaus gatvė

This street is the old road leading east to Vilnius
from Kaunas Old Town. It is lined by beautiful old
buildings, which give a harmonious and picturesque
impression.
9. The Historical Presidential
Palace/Istorinŝ Prezidentƈra
Vilniaus gatvė 33
www.muziejai.lt
This beautiful building was the presidential palace in
Lithuania in the period between World War I and
World War II. It was constructed in 1846 by a local
aristocrat, and in 1866 a garden was laid out in front
of the building. In 1876, it was bought by the
Russian government and used as residence for the
Russian governor in Kaunas.
When Lithuania declared its independence in 1918,
the building became state property. Since Vilnius
was still under Polish rule, Kaunas became the new
capital, and the building was chosen as Presidential
Palace – a status it kept until 1940. At the beginning
of the 1990s, the statues of three Lithuanian
presidents who had lived there were erected in the
Palace Garden: Antanas Smetona, Aleksandras
Stulginskis and Kazys Grinius.
Today, the palace functions as part of the Art
Museum, named in honour of the painter and
author Mikalojus Konstantinas þiurlionis.
Tour 1. Kaunas
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Tour 2. Kaunas
10. Kaunas Synagogue/Kauno
Sinagoga
E. Ožeškienės gatvė 13
Kaunas Synagogue was built in 1871, and in the first
half of the 20th century it was one of no less than
36 synagogues in Kaunas, but most of them no
longer exist. Kaunas Synagogue was partly destroyed
during World War II, but it has now been rebuilt.
11. Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological
Museum/Kauno Tado Ivanausko
Zoologijos Muziejus
Laisvės alėja 106
www.zoomuziejus.lt
The zoological museum offers a roundtrip in the
world of Zoology. Mammals, birds, fish, insects are
among the countless exhibits, and the many stuffed
animals are especially popular.
Tour 2. Kaunas
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12. Church of St Gertrude/Šv.
Gertrƈdos bažnyĀia
Laisvės alėja 101a
The Church of St Gertrude was built in the 15th
century. In 1503 it was converted into an ordinary
parish church by the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and in
the mid-16th century a church tower was added. The
small, beautiful church building is situated just behind
the front row of houses on the street Laisvės alėja.
13. Kaunas Musical Theatre/Kauno
muzikinis teatras
Laisvės alėja 91
www.muzikinisteatras.lt
Kaunas Musical Theatre was established in 1891 and
the first performance took place the following year.

The theatre is built in an exquisite style, and when
Kaunas was capital of Lithuania between World War
I and II, it became the country’s leading theatre for
drama, ballet and opera. In 1948, the Ballet and the
Opera moved to Vilnius, and Kaunas Theatre
became a musical theatre.
14. Freedom Avenue/Laisvŝs alŝja
Laisvės alėja
Laisvės alėja is an elegant pedestrian street, running
centrally through the modern city centre. It was built
at the end of the 19th century as part of a
comprehensive expansion of the city. Laisvės alėja is
Kaunas’ major shopping street; it has a cosy
atmosphere with fountains, trees and benches.
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15. Vytautas den Stores
Krigsmuseum/Vytauto Didžiojo karo
muziejus
K. Donelaiÿio gatvė 64
www.muziejai.lt
This museum is among Lithuania’s most famous.
The history of the country is depicted, from the
earliest period to present-day. Among the museum’s
many exhibits is the wreck of the plane Lituanica,
which crashed in Germany in 1933 en route from

New York to Kaunas.
Outside the museum there are three monuments: the
Statue of Liberty/Laisvės Statula was erected in 1989,
and the Independence Monument/Nepriklauso
mybės Paminklas is from 1990. The third monument
is a re-creation of the bronze statue of Vytautas the
Great, who established Lithuanian power. Vytautas is
resting on four fallen soldiers from the neighbouring
countries. The monumental museum building was
constructed by the architect Dubeneckis.
16. Mikalojus Konstantinas ÿiurlionis
National Art Museum/Nacionalinis
Mikalojaus Konstantino ÿiurlionio
Dailŝs Muziejus
V. Putvinskio gatvė 55
www.muziejai.lt
This branch of the National Art Museum focuses on
the works by Mikalojus Konstantinas þiurlionis,
whom many regard as the most famous Lithuanian
artist. þiurlionis painted
around 300 paintings and composed 250 pieces of
music, most of which can be seen in this museum.
þiurlionis’ created his works around the year 1900,
and he was inspired by traditions such as fin de
siècle and art nouveau, as well as being a source of
inspiration for other artists in these traditions.
17. Devil Museum/Velniƌ Muziejus
V. Putvinskio gatvė 64
www.muziejai.lt
The Devil Museum is, as the name suggests, a museum

exhibiting devils as various artists have conceived of
them. The museum holds several thousand depictions
of devils from all over the world.
18. Žaliakalnis funicular/Žaliakalnio
funikulierius
V. Putvinskio gatvė
This funicular is named after its top station, located
on the Green Hill/Žaliakalnis. It was constructed by
the German company AEG in 1931 as the first of
its kind in Lithuania.
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19. Christ’s Resurrection
Church/Kristiaus prisikŝlimo bažnyĀia
Žemaiÿiŧ gatvė 31
Christ’s Resurrection Church is one of Kaunas’
most characteristic buildings. It is located at the top
of the Green Hill/Žaliakalnis.
The church was built following World War I to
thank God for Lithuania’s newly won independence.
Kaunas was chosen because Vilnius belonged to
Poland at that time. An architectural competition
was announced in 1926, and it was won by Karolis
Reisonas with a design submitted in 1928.
Construction began in 1933, and the first corner

stone was brought to the city from Jerusalem’s
Mount Olive in 1934.
The church was nearly finished in 1940 in a
monumental functionalistic style, but further work
was suspended due to World War II. In the Soviet era,
until 1988, the building was used as a factory hall, but
in the 1990s the original work was continued, and the
church was finally completed in 2004.
The tower has a height of 70 metres, and on top of
the nave there is a terrace with a terrific panoramic
view of Kaunas.
Tour 2. Kaunas
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20. Kaunas Picture Gallery/Kauno
Paveikslƌ Galerija
K. Donelaiÿio gatvė 16
www.muziejai.lt
This museum has, among other things, a collection

of 20th century paintings by Lithuanian artists and a
collection of North American Indian art. The Indian
collection was donated by the Lithuanian immigrant,
Juozas Kaributas.
21. Independence
Square/Nepriklausomybŝs aikštŝ
Nepriklausomybės aikštė
Independence Square lies at the end of the beautiful
Laisvės alėja. It is the central square in the new part
of the city. Independence Square is dominated by
the beautiful Church of the Catholic
Garrison/Ĭgulos bažnyÿia.
21a. The Garrison Church/Ĭgulos bažnyÿia
This church was built in 1895 for the Imperial
Russian Garrison, and it is a typical Baltic Russian
Orthodox church building. The inspiration is
Byzantine, and the church has the traditional five
domes.
The 50-metre-tall church was for a period used as
museum, but today it serves its religious purpose
under the Catholic Church. It is dedicated to the
Archangel Michael and is also known under the
name “St Michael the Archangel’s Church”/Šv.
arkangelo Mykolo bažnyÿia.
21b. Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery/Mykolo
Žilinsko dailės galerija
Nepriklausomybės aikštė 12
www.muziejai.lt
The National Art Museum has its most valuable
collections of foreign art at Mykolas Žilinskas Art

Gallery. The Gallery was named in honour of
Mykolas Žilinskas, who donated his collection of
arts and crafts from the 17th to the 20th centuries to
the museum.
The exhibition includes Flemish, Dutch, and Italian
paintings, 20th century art from the Baltic area and
even Egyptian artefacts.
22. ćžuolynas Park/ćžuolynas
ĉžuolyno gatvė/Vydşno alėja
ĉžuolynas Park is a 63-hectare facility situated just
to the east of Kaunas’ city centre. The vegetation is
mainly oak, some more than 300 years old, but there
are also many other kinds of trees.
The area is a remnant of a large oak forest, which
was cut down in the 14th-17th centuries to be used
as timber. It is very popular among the locals today.
The park has various sports and cultural facilities,
such as the outdoor stage Dainŧ slėnis, which is
used for song festivals. At the centre of the park,
there is a large bronze statue of the bison Stumbras,
which is a symbol of Kaunas. At the eastern end of
the park lies
Kaunas‘ Zoo (Radvilėnŧ plentas 21).
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Day Tours from Kaunas
23. Lithuanian Aviation
Museum/Lietuvos Aviacijos Muziejus
Veiveriŧ 132, 3 kilometres South
www.lam.lt
The Lithuanian Aviation Museum is located at
Kaunas’ old airfield, S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno
aerodromas, whose history goes back to 1915. The
museum was established in 1990 as a technological
museum, but it developed into an aviation museum
only five years later.
In addition to the airplanes themselves, the museum
has countless exhibits of historical interest.
24. Kaunas’ 9th Fort Museum/Kauna IX
Forto Muziejus
Žemaiÿiŧ Plentas 73, 5 kilometres North
www.muziejai.lt
Today, Kaunas’ 9th Fort is a museum focusing on
political and military themes in the 19th and 20th
centuries of Lithuania. The exhibition themes
include World War I, the 9th Fort’s years as prison
facility, and Kaunas’ ghetto in the period 1941-1944.
Day Tours from Kaunas
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The 9th Fort is one of the many forts encircling
Kaunas’ city centre, and it is an interesting facility in
its own right with its large defence walls and
batteries.
25. Pažaislis Monastery/Pažaislio
vienuolynas
T. Masiulio gatvė, Petrašişnai, 10 kilometres
East
Pažaislis Monastery is the largest monastery
complex in Lithuania. It is beautifully situated on a
peninsula in Kaunas Reservoir/Kauno marios in the
suburb of Petrašişnai.
The beatiful monastery is the most exquisite
example of Italian Baroque architecture in Lithuania.
The place was founded in 1662 by Chancellor of the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Kristupas Zigmantas
Pacas. Construction lasted until 1712, but the central
parts were finished in 1674. The towers and the
dome were added in 1755.
In the 19th century, the Monastery Church was
converted into a Russian Orthodox church,
and in the 20th century, the place has been used as

archive, hospital and museum, before it was
returned to the nuns of the convent, and
reconstruction could begin.
The buildings of the complex, as well as the location,
are very beautiful. In the summer period, the annual
Music Festival takes place there.
26. Rumšiškŝs Open Air
Museum/Lietuvos Liaudies Buities
Muziejus Rumšiškŝse
L. Lekaviÿiaus gatvė 2, Rumšiškės, 25
kilometres East
www.llbm.lt
Station: Pravieniškės
The village of Rumšiškės is beautifully situated on
the shores of Lake Kaunos Marios, which was
created when the Neman River was dammed up to
serve the hydroelectric power plant.
Rumšiškės is home of Lithuania’s ethnographic
Open Air Museum. The museum shows the way of
life and the architectural styles of different parts of
Lithuania from the 18th century until present-day.
There are four theme areas in the 176-hectare park;
Akštaitija, Dzşkija, Suvalkija and Žemaitija. Each of
these areas focuses on a specific region in terms of
architecture, culture and flora.
Day Tours from Kaunas
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27. Elektrenai/Elektrŝnai
Elektrėnai, 55 kilometres East
www.elektrenai.lt
Station: Zasliai
The city of Elektrėnai is a very different experience
than the old cultural city of Vilnius. It was built
around a new power plant in a barren field in the
1960s. The city’s name comes from the
word ”elektra”, which means ”electricity” and
alludes to the power plant.
Elektrėnai was a model of Soviet city planning.
Homes, businesses, green areas and cultural
institutions were established, so the workers at the
power plant could enjoy a good, healthy life with
their families.
The unique city is well worth a visit. The houses are
Soviet block buildings, and the public institutions,
such as the city’s church from 1966, are built in a
fascinating modern style.
28. Kernave/Kernavŝ
Kernavė, 80 kilometres East
The village of Kernavė is considered to be
Lithuania’s oldest capital. It was mentioned for the
first time in 1279 as residence of the Grand Duke.
Its population is thought to have been as high as
10,000, which would have made it a significant city
at the time.
Kernavė’s greatest attraction is its medieval castle,
whose remnants where discovered by a farmer a

couple of decades ago. Large archaeological
excavations have since taken place, and today it is
possible to walk on the great historic earthworks.
29. Trakai
Trakai, 85 kilometres Southeast
www.trakai.lt
Station: Senieji Trakai
The city of Trakai is one of Lithuania's former
capitals, and in addition to several tourist attractions,
including Eastern Europe's only insular castle, the
area around Trakai is very scenic.
Day Tours from Kaunas
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29a. Trakai Castle/Trakŧ salos pilis
Trakŧ gatvė
Trakai’s beautiful insular castle is the central
building in the city. It was built in the 14th century
in the beautiful lake area surrounding it today. The
construction was begun by the Grand Duke
Kęstutis, who moved there. The castle was built and
fortified in different phases during the 15th century,
when the lake water was several metres higher than
it is today and offered excellent protection.
After the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, Trakai Castle
lost its strategic importance, but construction

continued for a while. The Grand Duke Vytautus
the Great remained at Trakai until his death in 1430.
Later, the remote location was used as prison, but
with time the buildings became increasingly derelict.
At the end of 19th century, the first steps were
taken to preserve and reconstruct Trakai Castle. The
most comprehensive repairs and reconstruction
were carried out after World War II. The work
began in the 1950s, and the fortress was completed
in 14th century style in 1961.
Today the fascinating castle looks new and complete.
Since 1962 it has functioned as a historical museum.
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30. Vilnius
Vilnius, 100 kilometres Southeast
www.vilnius-tourism.lt
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. Its atmosphere is

a delightful blend of the charms of the Baltic and
Central Europe. Baroque architecture and a wealth
of churches characterize the small cosy streets in the
city centre, but one need not travel far to see
modern buildings reaching for the sky and creating a
cosmopolitan atmosphere. Shopping opportunities
and cultural and gastronomic experiences abound
everywhere. Vilnius has enough attractions
for a separate holiday there. Below some of the
most famous are described.
30a. Gate of Dawn/Aušros Vartai
Aušros Vartŧ gatvė 12
The Gate of Dawn is the name of Vilnius’ main
entrance to the south via the historical City Wall.
The Gate of Dawn is the only remaining of the nine
original gates, which were an integrated part of the
city’s defences. Next to the Gate a part of the
medieval City Wall is still standing.
The Gate of Dawn was built in 1503-1522, mainly in
Renaissance style. As was often the case in the 16th
century, a shrine was built into the city gate to
protect the city against attacks. Above the entrance,
the Chapel of the Gate of Dawn is located. The
chapel holds the famous painting of Our Lady of
the Gate of Dawn. The chapel and the image are
venerated by Catholics as well as Orthodox believers
from many countries.
30b. Skt. Annæ Church/Šv. Onos bažnyÿia
Maironio gatvė 6-10
St Annæ Church is one of Vilnius’ icons; an

unrivalled Gothic masterpiece. Previously there was
another church on the same spot, built in honour of
Anna, Vytautas the Great’s first wife, but it was
destroyed by fire in 1419.
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The present church was built in the period 1495-
1500, and it has been preserved with only minimal
exterior changes. However, due to a fire in 1582, the
interior had to be reconstructed. There is also a
later clock tower from 1873.
It is said that when Napoleon saw St Annæ in 1812,
he declared he would like to carry it to Paris in his
hand because of its rare beauty.
30c. Vilnius Cathedral/Arkikatedra bazilika
Katedros aikštė 1
www.katedra.lt
Vilnius’ Cathedral with its detached tower stands in
the middle of Cathedral Square. The Grand Duke
Mindaugas built the original church in 1251, but it
has been rebuilt several times since, due to fire or
simply a desire for renewal.
The Cathedral in its present version was built in a
strict Classicistic style with six Dorian pillars at the
facade as well as sculptures by the Italian sculptor,
Righi. The church holds more than 40 works of art

from the 16th-19th centuries. Many chapels have
been built around it, of which several function as
graves for the grand dukes.
The church’s 57-metre-tall clock tower has been built
on the foundation of defence works from the 13th
century. The church as it stands today is from 1801.
30d. Gedimino Castle Tower/Gedimino pilies
bokštas
Arsenalo gatvė 5/Pilies Kalnas
www.lnm.lt
Of Vilnius’ great historic castles it is only the
Gedimino Tower that has been partially rebuilt. It
was opened as a museum in 1960, and it has since
been a part of the Lithuanian National Museum.
The exhibition in the museum shows
reconstructions of the castle as it stood in the 13th
and 16th centuries respectively. The ruins of some
of the castle’s facilities are visible in the surrounding
area, and the 20-metre-tall Gedimino Tower is
equipped with an observation deck at the top, from
which there is a fantastic view of Vilnius.
For those who do not wish to walk up the hill to the
Gedimino Tower, it is possible to ride on the
funicular, which since 2003 has been running the 71
metres up the hill from the National Museum's
closed courtyard.
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25

The present church was built in the period 1495-
1500, and it has been preserved with only minimal
exterior changes. However, due to a fire in 1582, the
interior had to be reconstructed. There is also a
later clock tower from 1873.
It is said that when Napoleon saw St Annæ in 1812,
he declared he would like to carry it to Paris in his
hand because of its rare beauty.
30c. Vilnius Cathedral/Arkikatedra bazilika
Katedros aikštė 1
www.katedra.lt
Vilnius’ Cathedral with its detached tower stands in
the middle of Cathedral Square. The Grand Duke
Mindaugas built the original church in 1251, but it
has been rebuilt several times since, due to fire or
simply a desire for renewal.
The Cathedral in its present version was built in a
strict Classicistic style with six Dorian pillars at the
facade as well as sculptures by the Italian sculptor,
Righi. The church holds more than 40 works of art
from the 16th-19th centuries. Many chapels have
been built around it, of which several function as
graves for the grand dukes.
The church’s 57-metre-tall clock tower has been built
on the foundation of defence works from the 13th
century. The church as it stands today is from 1801.
30d. Gedimino Castle Tower/Gedimino pilies
bokštas

Arsenalo gatvė 5/Pilies Kalnas
www.lnm.lt
Of Vilnius’ great historic castles it is only the
Gedimino Tower that has been partially rebuilt. It
was opened as a museum in 1960, and it has since
been a part of the Lithuanian National Museum.
The exhibition in the museum shows
reconstructions of the castle as it stood in the 13th
and 16th centuries respectively. The ruins of some
of the castle’s facilities are visible in the surrounding
area, and the 20-metre-tall Gedimino Tower is
equipped with an observation deck at the top, from
which there is a fantastic view of Vilnius.
For those who do not wish to walk up the hill to the
Gedimino Tower, it is possible to ride on the
funicular, which since 2003 has been running the 71
metres up the hill from the National Museum's
closed courtyard.
Day Tours from Kaunas