[96] The Sugihara House, where he was previously issuing transit visas, currently is a museum and the Centre For Asian Studies of Vytautas Magnus University. 1920), LFLS Kaunas baseball club (est. [103] From the very start of the Lithuanian partisans war, the most important partisan districts were based around Kaunas. He began lectures using the Lithuanian language, rather than Russian, and greatly influenced the spirit of the seminarians by narrating about the ancient Lithuania and especially its earthwork mounds. Before Lithuania regained independence, the city was generally known in English as Kovno, the traditional Slavicized form of its name. THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Kaunas - Tripadvisor The young Lithuanian state enthusiastically pledges to contribute to the organization of Europe on a new basis in front of the whole world innocent conscience. A part of its collection was transferred to Martynas Mavydas National Library of Lithuania in 1963. [143], After World War II buildings of pseudoclassical forms were built (e.g. Summers in Kaunas are warm and pleasant with average daytime high temperatures of 2122C (7072F) and lows of around 12C (54F), but temperatures could reach 30C (86F) on some days. The uprising soon expanded to Vilnius and other locations. 23 Amazing Things To Do In Kaunas Lithuania (2023) - Solo Female Travel [152], Kaunas is a large center of industry, trade, and services in Lithuania. [135] In 2021, an application has been submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in order to include the Kaunas modernist architecture into the List of World Heritage Sites. There were almost 100 Jewish organizations, 40 synagogues, many Yiddish schools, 4 Hebrew high schools, a Jewish hospital, and scores of Jewish-owned businesses. Kaunas, the 2022 European Capital of Culture: from temporary to By Metropolitan_Man. In addition, the city also has large construction industry which includes, but is not limited to commercial, housing and road construction. Lithuania Current local time [166] Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant is the largest one in Lithuania. Peugeot, Toyota, Lexus, Honda car showrooms), A. Kanas (e.g. [159] Furthermore, in the beginning of the occupation, the prime minister of the Provisional Government of Lithuania, Juozas Ambrazeviius, convened the meeting in which the ministers participated together with the former President Kazys Grinius, Bishop Vincentas Brizgys and others. [73], After the occupation, the Soviets immediately took brutal action against the high-ranking officials of the state. [100] The Kaunas pogrom was a massacre of Jewish people living in Kaunas that took place on 2529 June 1941; the first days of the Operation Barbarossa and of Nazi occupation of Lithuania. Shortly afterwards, on 17 June 1940 the puppet People's Government of Lithuania was formed, which consistently destroyed Lithuanian society and political institutions and opened the way for the Communist Party to establish itself. Bachelor's studies - Home Page - Admissions states: "The Lithuanian Activist Front, by restoring the new Lithuania, is determined to carry out an immediate and fundamental purging of the Lithuanian nation and its land of Jews ". After Palemon's death, his sons divided his land. Admission rules for 2023 intake can be found here. ..150. [26] Kaunas was first mentioned in written sources in 1361 and at the end of the 13th century the brick Kaunas Castle was constructed to defend the residents from attacks of the Teutonic Order. ", "Kaunas: Dates and Facts. !/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfRzgzT0VGSDIwMEw3QTAyNTVKU05CTzFSVjQ!/, "Kaunas city public transport. [135] The Renaissance remains of Kaunas defensive fortifications have survived (2nd half of the 17th century). I am heading to Jonava for races and will stay in Kaunas, which means I will take a suburban bus there and back for 3 consecutive days. Kaunas city municipality City [49] It would hold this position until 28 October 1939, when the Red Army handed Vilnius over to Lithuania after its invasion of Poland. 5-Day Vilnius Adventure Tour 7-Day Sustainable Trip Around Lithuania - Self-Guided Ultimate 12-Day Cold War and Soviet Relic Tour 5-Day Baltic Amber Route Tour 8-Day Baltic Highlights Tour Attractions Vilnius Riga Puttini). [220], The city was previously twinned with:[226], A minor planet 73059 Kaunas, discovered by Lithuanian astronomers Kazimieras ernis and Justas Zdanaviius, in 2002, is named after the city of Kaunas.[227]. Located to the East of the Old Town is the city's New Town, which started developing in 1847 and got its name when it became a distinct part of the city. It has been named the European Capital of Culture in 2022 and after visiting a few times, I can see why. Kaunas (Lithuania) Distances from Kaunas to the most important cities in Lithuania and the world. Such a form, although not having anything against individuals, is unacceptable to the Germans. It led to new forms of resistance: passive resistance all around Lithuania. [106] The event broke into a politically-charged riot, which was forcibly dispersed by the KGB and Militsiya. Jews were concentrated in the city's commercial, artisan, and professional sectors. [83] From Kaunas radio broadcasts, Lithuania learned that the rebellion was taking place in the country, the insurgents took Kaunas and the Proclamation of the Independence Restoration of Lithuania and the list of the Provisional Government were announced by Leonas Prapuolenis. For centuries it has been smaller than Vilnius, but only a bit, therefore Vilnius vs. Kaunas rivalry is felt everywhere from basketball matches to internet forums. After the services, 200,000 persons gathered in the centre of Kaunas to participate in the dedication of a new monument to freedom to replace the monument that had been torn down by the Soviet authorities after World War II.[108]. The continuous oppression of the Catholic Church and its resistance caused the appearance of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania. Kaunas (/ k a n s /; Lithuanian: [kns] (); previously known in English as Kovno, also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. It is the largest and most modern bus station in Lithuania. Things to Do in Kaunas, second largest city in Lithuania | TurMundial [162] JSC "Baltic car equipment" is one of the leaders in Baltic countries, in the field of manufacturing electronic equipment for automobiles. In 1898 the first power plant in Lithuania started operating. [70][71] At the time, the Lithuanian Armed Forces had 26,084 soldiers (of which 1,728 officers) and 2,031 civil servants. Some of the best examples of cultural life in Kaunas are theatres of various styles: The city plan is mixed. The city and its elderates also have names in other languages (see Names of Kaunas in other languages and names of Kaunas elderates in other languages). [32], The Lithuanians constructed new wooden castle on the island of Virgal, which once at the confluence of the Nemunas and Nevio rivers, however the castle was burned down in 1363 by the Crusaders. Kaunas is located 100 kilometres from the capital Vilnius and 212 kilometres from the Country's major seaport Klaipeda. ", Kaunas was one of the host cities for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup. . There are four old Jewish cemeteries within city limits. Kaunas County Klaipeda County Marijampole County Panevezys County Siauliai County Taurage County Telsiai County Utena County Vilnius County Lithuania Postal Code Since 2005, Lithuanian postal codes have been 5 digit numeric, with an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 prefix authorised, and the format is LT-NNNNN. The largest wholesale, distribution and logistics company in Lithuania and Latvia JSC "Sanitex",[157] as well as a subsidiary of material handling and logistics company Dematic in the Baltics[158] have been operated in Kaunas. The company still exists and have its boats in working condition. Baltic Yearbook of International Law, 2001. The arena is used to host sports games as well as concerts. [59] The LAF's manifesto-type essay "What Are the Activists Fighting for?" Founded as a fortress in 1030, Kaunas became a town in 1317 and received its charter of self-government in 1408. Kaunas (/kans/; Lithuanian:[kns] (listen); previously known in English as Kovno, also see other names) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Today, with almost 94% of its citizens being ethnic Lithuanians, Kaunas is one of the most Lithuanian cities in the country. [48], After Vilnius was occupied by the Red Army in 1919, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania established its main base in Kaunas during the Lithuanian Wars of Independence. New residential areas were built (e.g. Kunas got the land where Kaunas now stands. [59], As the Second World War began, there were 30,000 Jews living in Kaunas, comprising about 25% of the city's population. There are at least seven professional theatres, many amateur theatres, ensembles and abundant groups of art and sports. The controlled (passports had imprints) and falsified elections to the People's Seimas were won by the Lithuanian Labour People's Union, which obeyed the occupiers' proposal to "ask" the Soviet authorities to have Lithuania admitted to the Soviet Union. Both targets of the ultimatum, Minister of the Interior Kazys Skuas and the Director of the State Security Department of Lithuania Augustinas Povilaitis, were transported to Moscow and later executed. [195] The first new trolleybuses koda 26Tr Solaris were publicly introduced on 30 September 2019. [160], The Lithuanian Central Credit Unionnational cooperative federation for credit unions established in 2001, is located in Kaunas. Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city, holds many surprises even for experienced travellers. Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, and arts is Petrainai Cemetery in Kaunas. An earlier Russian name was Kovno, although Kaunas has been used since 1940. [64] Despite regaining the beloved historical capital, the Presidency and the Government remained in Kaunas. . [35] Subsequently a jail was established in part of the castle at the middle of the 18th century. [141][135], The most notable Rationalism style buildings in Kaunas are: Christ's Resurrection Church (construction began in 1933, but it was converted into a radio factory from 1952 and so it was returned to the believers only in 1990 and was reconstructed in 2005), palaces of Pienocentras (architects Vytautas Landsbergis-emkalnis, K. Reisonas), Paangos with Art Deco decoration elements (architect F. Vizbaras), Physical Culture (architect V. Landsbergisemkalnis, now belongs to the Lithuanian Sports University), Prekybos, pramons ir amat (1938, architect V. Landsbergisemkalnis), Taupomj kas (1939; architects A. Funkas, B. Elsbergas, A. Lukoaitis; now is the primary building of Kaunas City Municipality);[135] Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (1938; architect A. alkauskis), Military Research Laboratory for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense (1938; architect V. Landsbergisemkalnis; now Faculty of Chemical Technology at Kaunas University of Technology),[142] Kaunas Clinics complex (1939; French architect U. Cassan), Kaunas Sports Hall (1939; engineer A. Rozenbliumas), Pasaka Cinema (1939), Romuva Cinema (1940), residential houses complex in V. Putvinskio Street (formed in 19281937). By the initiative of a prominent Lithuanian zoologist Tadas Ivanauskas and biologist Constantin von Regel the Botanical Garden was founded in 1923. Laurinaitien.[135]. This gave many refugees an opportunity to leave Lithuania for the Russian Far East via the Trans-Siberian Railway. iurlionio koncert centro vaizdas: architektrin konkurs laimjo vilnieiai", "Central square redevelopment in Lithuania's Kaunas wins prestigious iF Design award", "Baltic University Programme Urban Forum City Status Report V", "Portrait of the Regions of Lithuania; Kazl Rda Municipality", "World Weather Information Service Kaunas", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "Mto Climat stats for Kaunas 19912020", Underground Printing-House "ab" The Branch Museum of Vytautas the Great War Museum, "Modernusis Kaunas: optimizmo architektra, 19191939", "Faculty of Medicine at Vytautas Magnus University", "Vytautas the Great War Museum and M. K. iurlionis National Art Museum", "Military Research Laboratory for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense", "UNESCO Pasaulio paveldo centrui pateikta paraika dl Kauno modernizmo architektros", "Pramonins statybos projektavimo instituto rmai ("Pramprojektas")", "House for Political Education (now Vytautas Magnus University)", "Aplinkos apsauga. [75][76] Vladimir Dekanozov, a Soviet emissary from Moscow, gained effective power in Lithuania. Official Name: Lietuvos Respublika short form: Lietuva int'l long form: Republic of Lithuania int'l short form: Lithuania ISO Country Code: lt, LTU Time: Local Time = UTC +2h Actual Time: Mon-June-26 15:16 Country Calling Code: +370 Capital City: Vilnius (pop. From the 7th decade of the 20th century Modernism style buildings were further developed. Smoking is prohibited here, which locals think to be a perfect solution. Raising the Roofs of Kaunas: The Best Outdoor Experiences This Summer. [95] The fleeing Jews were refugees from German-occupied Western Poland and Soviet-occupied Eastern Poland, as well as residents of Kaunas and other Lithuania territories. [79], On 24 June 1941, tank units of the Red Army in Jonava were ordered to retake Kaunas. [198] After reaching the E-ticket card's monthly fee (28 Eur), the remaining trips are free of charge until the end of the month. Currently, Kaunas Public Logistics Centre is being built by the demand of national state-owned railway company Lithuanian Railways. Kaunas again became the major centre of resistance against the Soviet Union. The Old Town of Kaunas is located at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris Rivers where old architectural monuments and other historical buildings are located. It stated that "The established Provisional Government of revived Lithuania declares the restoration of the Free and Independent State of Lithuania. [169], Kaunas is also known for its programmers, as they developed a software for the American billionaire Robert Pera's Ubiquiti Networks product NanoStation, therefore the company established a R&D division Ubiquiti Networks Europe in Kaunas. 22 d. May. Visit Kaunas - About Kaunas Cope Go next Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania, with a population of some 288,000 people. Open at 8:00 AM. It was the first coordinated LithuanianGerman action. By the evening of 22 June, the Lithuanians had controlled the Presidential Palace, post office, telephone and telegraph, and radio station. Kaunas boasts some beautiful architecture, kooky museums, and historically important sites, making any trip worthwhile. [105][103], On All Souls' Day in 1956, the first public anti-Soviet protest rally took place in Kaunas: citizens burned candles in the Kaunas military cemetery and sang national songs, resulting in clashes with the Militsiya. Eurostat, "Gyventoj skaiius Kauno teritorin ligoni kasa", "Palemonas.info; Kauno mikrorajonas Palemonas", "Kaip LDK laikotarpiu atsirado ir keitsi Kauno herbas? European route E67 is a highway running from Prague in the Czech Republic to Helsinki in Finland by way of Poland, Kaunas Lithuania, Riga (Latvia), and Tallinn (Estonia). [27] At the time only two brick castles stood near the Nemunas River (in Kaunas and Grodno), which was the main front line of fights between the Crusaders and Lithuanians. [66] President Antanas Smetona categorically declined to accept most of the ultimatum's demands, argued for military resistance and was supported by Kazys Musteikis, Konstantinas akenis, Kazimieras Jokantas, however the Commander of the Armed Forces Vincas Vitkauskas, Divisional General Stasys Ratikis, Kazys Bizauskas, Antanas Merkys and most of the Lithuanian government members decided that it would be impossible, especially the previously-stationed Soviet soldiers, and accepted the ultimatum. During the interwar period, it served as the temporary capital of Lithuania, when Vilnius was seized and controlled by Poland between 1920 and 1939. [65], On 14 June 1940, just before midnight, the last meeting of the Lithuanian government was held in Kaunas. Lithuanians belong to the ethno-linguistic group of the Balts and speak Lithuanian, one of only a few living Baltic languages . There is an old circus tradition in Kaunas. Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a county in the Duchy of Trakai of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Trakai Palatinate since 1413. In 2016, it handled 740,448 passengers (in addition to 2,488 tons of cargo), down from the peak of 872,618 passengers in 2011. [27][22] Furthermore, in the 16th century Grand Duchess Bona Sforza achieved that the Kaunas Eldership to become a property of the Jagiellonian dynasty and since 1533 she carried out the Volok Reform. Because of its latitude, Kaunas has 17 hours of daylight in midsummer but only around 7 hours in midwinter. Members of the Provisional Government then went as a body to the Garden of the Vytautas the Great War Museum, where they laid a wreath near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the presence of numerous audience. Kaunas is located in the central part of Lithuania on the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers the Nemunas and the Neris, therefore the City has excellent opportunities for the development of water transport. [citation needed] The construction of a new landmark of Kaunasthe algiris Arenabegan in the autumn of 2008. [22] During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, the Grand Army of Napoleon passed through Kaunas twice, devastating the city both times. [22], At the first half of the 18th century the northern wall and two towers of the Kaunas Castle collapsed due to damage by river water, which led to abandonment of the castle and it turned into ruins. Get an offline map of this guide to Kaunas. Poussier). 45 Facts About Kaunas | FactSnippet. 06 d. June. See tours. [153], Primary foreign investors in Kaunas are companies from the Sweden, United States, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, and Russia. [20], In 1408 Vytautas the Great granted Kaunas the city rights and himself chose the coat of arms of Kaunas with aurochs.[21]. The Provisional Government hoped that Nazi Germany would re-establish Lithuanian independence or at least allow some degree of autonomy (similar to the Slovak Republic), was seeking the protection of its citizens and did not support the Nazis' Holocaust policy. The exceptional discipline and regularity caused the Lithuanian Air Force to be an example for other military units. Under the direction of Mayor Jonas Vileiis (19211931) Kaunas grew rapidly and was extensively modernised. 17 d. May. It has been repeatedly discontinued and reopened, so the most current status is unclear. aliakalnis Funicular works from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.[199]. It is also the burial site of some signatories of the 1918 Act of Independence. lovs savait: kaip lietuviai laimjo hibridin kar prie Kremli Lietuvos urnalist draugija", "1941 met Jonins. Kaunas railway station, built in 1953), complex engineering structures (Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant, built in 1960). [51] Shortly afterwards, tension between Antanas Smetona and Augustinas Voldemaras, supported by the Iron Wolf Association, arose seeking to gain authority. In 1939, it had a Jewish population of approximately 32,000. [22] The oldest still functioning institution of higher education is Kaunas Priest Seminary, established in 1864. The stone buildings, however, also burned down so the Town Hall that stands today was constructed in a more advanced way, which took from 1771 to 1780. The heraldic seal of Kaunas, introduced in the early 15th century during the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas, is the oldest city heraldic seal known in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The streets in Old Town have been turned to pedestrian sidewalks, so it is best to tour the place by foot. Kaunas also is linked to Vilnius to its east and Klaipda, on the Baltic Sea, via the A1 motorway and Daugavpils (Latvia), via E262(A6) highway. If you are a resident of another country or region, . The most developed industries in Kaunas are amongst the food and beverage industries, textile and light industries, chemical industry, publishing and processing, pharmaceuticals, metal industry, wood processing and furniture industry. On 10 June 1988, the initiating group of the Kaunas movement of Sjdis was formed. [53] Neoclassicism prevailed in the 3rd decade of the 20th century (Kaunas School of Arts, built in 1923, Bank of Lithuania building, built in 1928, Palace of Justice and the Parliament with Art Deco elements, built in 1930) and a search for the Lithuanian national style was typical (e.g. The Provisional Government, not agreeing to continue to be an instrument of the German occupiers, disbanded itself on 5 August 1941 after signing a protest for the Germans action of suspending the Lithuanian Government powers. Elizabeth Georgian 12 April 2022 View No trip to Lithuania would be complete without visiting Kaunas, the country's second largest city and former temporary capital. During it, the ultimatum presented by the Soviet Union was debated. [120] The city follows in suit of the country and is lowland. 9th of October - 11th of October . [135] Notable buildings of the Historicism period in Kaunas are: Kaunas State Musical Theatre (1892; architect J. Golineviius; was expanded in the 20th century), St. Michael the Archangel Church (Neo-Byzantine style; architect K. Limarenko), brick style Sauls Gymnasium building (1913; engineer F. Malinovskis, later E. A. Frykas), Kaunas Fortress (1889). ", "Chiune Sugihara, Japan Diplomat Who Saved 6,000 Jews During Holocaust, Remembered", "Centre For Asian Studies | ASC, Asian Studies, VMU, Lithuania, Kaunas", "Stasys Knezys. [28] It was one of the largest and most important military victory of the Teutonic Knights in the 14th century against the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Already in July, in a conversation the Tilsit Nazi Gestapo agent Heinz Grfe[de] clearly stated to Stasys Ratikis that the Provisional Government was formed without German knowledge. [99] Nazi authorities took advantage of the Lithuanian TDA Battalions and established a concentration camp at the Seventh Fort, one of the city's ten historic forts, and 4,000 Jews were rounded up and murdered there. Control of Vilnius and most of the rest of Lithuanian territory was also shortly taken over by the rebels. The army itself was initially renamed the Lithuanian People's Army but was later reorganised into the 29th Rifle Corps of the Soviet Union. 10 reasons why you should travel to Kaunas instead of Vilnius
Are Freshwater Fish Osmoregulators Or Osmoconformers,
Articles K