Kaunas: The Founding Legend

According to an old legend, the city of – the second largest in – was founded by the Romans. As the story goes, a Roman patrician by the name of Palemon fled Ancient Rome fearing the murderous hand of Emperor Nero. He took his three sons with him – Barcus, Kunas, and Sperus – and travelled all the way up north until he reached the tribal lands that later became Lithuania. After Palemon’s death, his sons divided the land among themselves. Kunas got the land where Kaunas now stands and built a fortress where the rivers Nemunas and meet. The city that grew around the area was thus named after him. The legend also claims that the present suburb of Palemonas bears the name of the Roman who had reached these faraway lands many centuries ago.

Kaunas Today

Welcome to Kaunas, the city that has best preserved the old-school Lithuanian national character!

Feast here! Kaunas is home to a variety of festivals and events, including the famous Kaunas Jazz festival, Hanza days, Operetta, Pažaislis Classical Music festival, Bike show, Kaunas city days, Songs festival (listed by UNESCO), International Modern Dance Festival and much more.

Kaunas is also known as a city of students. Universities in Kaunas are among the country’s top universities, offering high quality yet inexpensive courses and degrees.

Make a wish! The beautiful confluence of Lithuania’s two largest rivers is known for its magical powers on couples: the rivers meet in Kaunas and run the rest of their course together, never ever breaking apart. If you are after beautiful scenery with a romantic note, this is the right place.

Visit! The remarkable Old Town is a collection of ancient architectural monuments: the remnants of the 14th century with the remains of the ; as well as Gothic Middle Ages buildings and Art Déco-style beauties. Stroll down the city’s most famous Freedom Avenue (Laisvės Alėja); its entire 2 km length has been completely transformed to the benefit of pedestrians. From the Old Town it reaches the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, with linden trees and benches lining it in the middle. The is part of the city’s military heritage; there are nine forts spread around the city; the serves as a museum. Unique in the world, the Devils Museum houses a macabre collection of some 3,000 devils of all sorts. Visitors also marvel at the exhibitions showing the unique artistic styles of composer and painter M. K. Ciurlionis and Jurgis Maciunas, one of the initiators of the avant-garde artistic Fluxus movement.

For the real Lithuanian spirit, visit and discover Kaunas!

Main Historical Facts

1361: Kaunas first mentioned by chroniclers

1408: Lithuanian Duke the Great grants the town ; Kaunas expands rapidly as the main trade port in the area.

16th century: Kaunas establishes its first school, first public hospital, and its first chemist’s. It becomes one of the most advanced cities in the Lithuanian Kingdom.

1655: Russian army attacks Kaunas; two plagues damage the city in 1657 and then again in 1708; colossal fires burn entire neighbourhoods to the ground in 1731 and 1732. Kaunas enters a long period of decline.

1812: ’s army crosses the Nemunas River in Kaunas on their way to Russia.

1862: Kaunas experiences several major developments that help it back onto the path of prosperity and growth. Among them – the opening of the Oginsky Canal connecting the Nemunas and Dnieper rivers and a railway line connecting the with Germany.

1898: Opening of the first power plant.

1918: After decades of Tsarist Russia’s occupation, Lithuania becomes an independent state. However, Poland occupies the capital city of and thus Kaunas becomes a de facto capital, always referred to as the “temporary capital”. This was the golden era for Kaunas. In just two decades the city is transformed from a provincial outpost into a modern city; population increases by 66% (92,000 to 153,000) as the highly agricultural Lithuania becomes urbanised.

1940: Soviet Russia occupies Kaunas; the city’s intellectual, political, and cultural elite suffer heavy repressions. Tens of thousands are either killed or exiled to Siberia. Advancing army murders almost all of Kaunas’ . By 1945 the city’s population is down to 80,000.

1972: High school student Romas Kalanta protests against the soviet occupation of Lithuania by self-immolation. He sets himself on fire in a public square, in front of the Kaunas Musical Theatre. Kalanta’s death provokes the largest post-war riots in the country. On 18 and 19 May 1972 students and workers march along the Freedom Avenue (Laisvės Alėja); the demonstration is violently dispersed by the KGB. Other cities hold their own demonstrations. In the 1970s and 80s, Kalanta becomes a symbol of Lithuanian resistance to the soviet occupation.

1990: Lithuania announces its independence from the , with the capital city of Vilnius. Kaunas somewhat declines and suffers huge population decreases due to emigration. However, its cultural heritage is being revived in recent years.