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Kaunas
Also known as Kovno, Kovne, Kovna, Kowno, Kauen
Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania (after Vilnius), the fourth-largest city in the Baltic States, and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a in the Duchy of Trakai of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Trakai Palatinate since 1413. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915.
AI overview
Kaunas is Lithuania's second-largest city and a major hub for the country's economy, academics, and culture. It has played an important role in Lithuanian history, serving as a significant center since the 15th century and later as the capital of a Russian imperial province during the 1800s.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
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Place details
- Locality
- Kaunas
- Region
- Kauno apskritis
- Country
- Lietuva
- Population
- 289,380
- Timezone
Travel guide
Understand
thumb | 300px | Church of St Michael the Archangel
See
thumb | 300px | Kaunas city hall
City sightseeing tours are available, see Kaunas IN offerings. They also tout a Kaunastic card but this is simply a gift card for retail outlets, it doesn't grant entry to the sights or rides on the buses.
Do
thumb | 300px | LLB Museum in Rumšiškės
Buy
thumb | 300px | Šakotis or "poundcake"
Eat
Lithuanian food isn't easy to find elsewhere in the world so this is a good place to try it. Plenty of other cuisines are available.
Drink
thumb | 300px | "Stumbras" are European bison Beer is Alus in Lithuanian, think "ales". Popular local brands are Utenos, Švyturys and Horn. Kiemas is a beer garden at Petrausko g 33, west edge of Ąžuolynas Park near the sports complex. It's open Tu-Th 11:30-22:30, F 14:00-22:30. Genys Brewery is at Juozapavičiaus pr 7H by Panemunė Bridge, tours available. Distillery: Stumbras makes vodka, brandy and liqueurs - the name means bison. Tours can be arranged for groups of at least 10 at the distillery at Būgos 7, 500 m north of the railway station, no walk-up visits.
Sleep
thumb | 300px | Aleksotas Funicular
Stay safe
Usual precautions about traffic, safeguarding valuables and avoiding damnfool drunks.
The station area can be rough at night.
Connect
As of Oct 2024, Kaunas and its approach highways have 5G from all Lithuanian carriers.
Wifi is widely available in public places in the city.
Go next
Vilnius is a must-see for its elegant old town. It can be done as a day-trip from Kaunas but deserves several days to explore. Birštonas is a spa resort 30 km south of Kaunas, set on a forested riverside. Zapyškis 17 km west has the Gothic St John Baptist Church, often used in summer for concerts and cultural events. Lokes peda or "Bear Foot" is an activity park 35 km northeast near Jonava. Druskininkai is a spa town 50 km south, near the border with Belarus.
~96 min read
Article
50 sectionsContents
- Name
- Etymology
- Folk history
- Coat of arms
- History
- Early history
- Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- Russian Empire
- Interwar Lithuania
- Soviet occupation and June Uprising
- Nazi occupation and murder of Jews
- Jewish community of Kaunas
- Pogroms in Kaunas
- Soviet administration
- Restored independence
- Geography
- Administrative divisions
- Climate
- Religion
- Culture
- Museums
- Theatres
- Cityscape
- Urbanism and architecture
- Education
- Primary and secondary education
- Tertiary education
- Libraries
- Parks, leisure, and cemeteries
- Economy
- Demographics
- Municipality council
- Mayors
- Transportation
- Airports
- Bus stations
- Highways
- Bridges
- Railways
- Hydrofoil
- Public transportation
- Sports
- Annual events
- Significant depictions in popular culture
- Notable people
- Twin towns – sister cities
- Honours
- See also
- References
- External links
Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania (after Vilnius), the fourth-largest city in the Baltic States, and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a in the Duchy of Trakai of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Trakai Palatinate since 1413. In the Russian Empire, it was the capital of the Kaunas Governorate from 1843 to 1915.
Between 1920 and 1939, when Vilnius was seized and became part of Poland, Kaunas served as the temporary capital of Lithuania. During the interwar period Kaunas was celebrated for its rich cultural and academic life, fashion, construction of countless Art Deco and Lithuanian National Revival architectural-style buildings as well as popular furniture, interior design of the time, and a widespread café culture. The city's interwar architecture is regarded as among the finest examples of European Art Deco and has received the European Heritage Label. This contributed to Kaunas being designated as the first city in Central and Eastern Europe as a UNESCO City of Design, and also to its becoming a World Heritage Site in 2023 as the only European city displaying large-scale urbanization during the interwar period and a range of modernist architecture.
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On the map
3 mapped locations
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Categories
Capitals of Lithuanian countiesCities in Kaunas CountyCities in LithuaniaFormer national capitalsHolocaust locations in LithuaniaKaunasMagdeburg rightsMunicipalities administrative centres of LithuaniaMunicipalities of Kaunas CountyTrading posts of the Hanseatic LeagueWorld Heritage Sites in Lithuania