The tourist attractions at Kaunas have gone a long way towards boosting the popularity of Lithuania in general. It is the second biggest city in the county, and is considered a cultural center.
Location
The city is the capital of Kaunas County. It is situated between the Neris and Nemunas rivers. It is close to the Kaunas Reservoir. Aside from air travel, you can reach the city by the Baltic freeways, the most practical being via Baltica E67. You can also use motorway A1/E85. You can also try the Kaunas Central Train Station.
What to See
The Old Town has several buildings dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. Some of the tourist attractions at Kaunas are the Kaunas Castle and the Santakos park. Visitors to the Old Town can also check out City Hall.
The Ceramics museum is located at City Hall. The place is filled with stove ornaments and crockery. Other interesting sites are City Hall Square, the Wax Melting Furnace and the Communications History Museum.
Napoleon’s House is so called because the Emperor of France once stayed here. Other landmarks in the area include St. George Church and Bernardine Monastery, the Church of Holy Trinity and the St. Gertrude Church. There is also the Historical Presidential Palace, Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum and the Catacombs.
History
The area was first settled in around the 4th and 5th century BC. A castle was built here sometime during the 14th century. The place was first mentioned in 1361 by the Teutonic Knights. The Knights were responsible for ransacking the town and decimating the castle. During the 15th century, rebuilding of the town began.
By the 17th century, the town had become one of the finest settlements in Lithuania. In 1785, the city fell to the Russian Empire. The city was subject to attack several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. Fires also devastated the city.
Cost
The bus fare from the airport costs 2.0 LTL (0.58 EUR). A trip to the Old Town section by taxi costs 55 LTL (16 EUR).
Other Info
Visitors to the city may also check out the Maironis Museum of Lithuania Literature, Kaunas Arch-cathedral Basilica and the Medicine and Pharmacy Museum. The St. Francis Xavier Church is also one of the most popular destinations.
Among the other tourist attractions at Kaunas are Vytautas’ Church and the Vytautas’ Bridge. This structure hooks up Aleksotas district with the Old Town.
