We spent 2 days in Kaunas. After Lithuania became independent in 1918, the country had the problem that its south-eastern part including the capital, Vilnius, had been occupied by Russia. Kaunas, the second-largest city, became the temporary capital but lacked the necessary infrastructure in terms of representative and administrative buildings, embassies etc...Consequently a massive construction activity took place in the so-called new town just East of the old medieval town in a relatively short period of time, the inter-war period. And, of course these buildings were mostly designed in the style which was fashionable at that time, the modernism. For those of our blog readers in Brussels: That's basically the style of buildings around Flagey :) So we got a free guide-map from the tourism information on "Modernism in Kaunas" - and walked for hours, fascinated looking at astonishing facades and buildings. The Parliament building from that time has been converted to a concert hall, and there is even a small Tartar mosque from the 1920s!
The huge, white, massive but elegant, incrediblly sober-looking "Church of Christ's Resurrection" which trones above the city (take the funicular/cable car up the hill - also from that period) has a story on its own. Designed between the wars as affirmation of Lithuania's independence, construction actually started back then, but it was consecrated only in 2004, after comprehensive renovation work. Before that the building served as warehouse to Nazi Germany, and as a radio factory in Soviet times. You can take the lift to its roof terrace for a breathtaking view over Kaunas.
We also recommend to visit the old town hall with a small exhibition on the city's history and the medieval Perkunas house, a gothic building once pertaining to an important merchant.
Kaunas is a bustling city, full of young people (University students), with many nice cafes and bars. Massive renovation works were underway in the central area as the city heads for being European capital of culture in 2022. Definitely worth a visit!
On our way out of the city we had a refreshing bath in the lake Lampedis just a few km to the west, down the river, close to its right shore.
Christ's Ressurection Church
Pekunas house
Kaunas: Main Square in the old city