Page 264 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Estonia Latvia & Lithuania

262  LITHU ANIA REGION B Y REGION

w Kaunas R Church of St George
Papilio 7/9. Tel (37) 224 659. 5 6pm
Lithuania’s second-largest city, Kaunas stands at the confluence Mon–Fri, 10am Sat, 5pm Sun.
of the Nemunas and Neris, the country’s biggest rivers. A series Constructed for Bernardine friars
of disasters hindered the city’s development, including in the 15th century, this Gothic
invasions by the Russians (1655), Swedes (1701) and Napoleon’s church was destroyed twice
by fire before its interior was
Grand Army (1812). Rapid growth in the 19th century restored in the Baroque style. The
culminated in Kaunas becoming the temporary capital of newly church was further damaged by
independent Lithuania in 1919. Later, the city suffered under the Russians in the 17th century
Nazi and Soviet occupations. Today, Kaunas is a modern city and in 1812 by Napoleon’s
with a boulevard and a host of museums. The main historic soldiers, who used it as a ware-
house. It was finally returned to
sights are located in its well-preserved Old Town.
the Franciscans in 1993.
T Kaunas Castle
Pilies 17. Tel (37) 300 672. Open
10am–6pm Tue–Fri, 10am–5pm Sat.
The ruins of Kaunas Castle
are a reminder of the strategic
importance of its location,
between the two rivers, Neris and
Nemunas. Little is known about
what stood here before the first
stone structure was erected in
the 13th century. Crusaders
damaged the castle in 1362.
Soon after reconstruc tion, the
Teutonic Knights were dealt their
Bridge over the Nemunas river leading to the Old Town decisive blow at the Battle of
Grünwald (see p216) and the
P Old Town Hall fire station and theatre. Town castle consequently fell into ruins.
Rotušės aikštė. Hall Square, where it stands, was The structure was used as a
Known locally as the “White once a busy marketplace and prison in the 18th century, but
Swan” and resembling a church the focal point of the Old Town. was restored in the 1920s.
with its single-tiered tower, the
Old Town Hall has been a R Church of the Holy Trinity E Pharmacy Museum
marriage registry office since Rotušės aikštė 22. Tel (37) 323 734. Rotušės 28. Tel (37) 201 569.
the 1970s. It continues to be the 5 10am Sun. Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat. &
photogenic back drop for Built for a Bernardine convent in A powder for epilepsy made
newlyweds. Built in the mid- the late 1620s, this church has from the heads of corpses, a
16th century, it housed remained in good condi tion. tincture of “Venus hair” to
merchants, magis trates and the Its blend of Renaissance and improve one’s allure and a
mayor, as well as a sub terranean Gothic styles and pastel colours 19th-century herbal remedy
prison. It has been used as an brighten up the north western
ammunition store, clubhouse, corner of Town Hall Square. A KLAIPĖDA, Airport VILNIUS,
redesign of the interior was Ninth Fort 10 km (6 miles) RUMŠIŠKĖS
completed just before the JURBARKO GATVĖ JONAVOS GATVĖ
outbreak of World War II. RAUDONDVARIS Ž A L I O J I G A T V Ė Church of the AUŠROS
A MACKEVIČIAUS GATVĖ
N eri s ŠAUKLIQ GATV Ė ŠV GERTRÙDOS GATVĖ SAVANORIQ PROSPEKTAS Devils Resurrection Ž E M A I Č I U G A T V Ė
Museum
A JAKŠTO GATVĖ JONAVOS G BEN E DIKTIN I Q GATVĖ M K Čiurlionis V P U T V I N S K I O G AT V Ė
Art Museum
Vytautas the Great
Kaunas War Museum
Castle
Philharmonic
Santakos Church of PAPILIO GATVĖ Pharmacy M VALANCIAUS KUMELIU GATVĖ M DAUKŠOS E OŽESESKIENĖ S K DONELAIČIO GATVĖ
Hall
Park Museum Laisvės
St George A MAPU St Gertrude’s Avenue
Church of the Cathedral Church L A I S V Ė S A L Ė J A
of Sts Peter
Holy Trinity Old and Paul GRUODŽIO GATVĖ City
Town Hall BIRŠTONO Garden D A U K A N T O G AT V Ė NEPRIKLAUSOMYBĖS
AIKŠTE
SAMALININKU GATVĖ
ZAMENHO FO
SANTAKOS GATVĖ
ROTUŠĖS AIKŠTĖ
Perkūnas J NAUGARDO V I L N I A U S GATVĖ K Ę S T U Č I O G AT V Ė A M I C K E V I Č I A U S G A T V Ė
House ALEKSOTO Vytautas Folk PUODŽIU GATVĖ I KANTO GATVĖ Mykolas Žilinskas
Art Gallery
Music
0 metres 500 Nemunas Church Museum K A R A L I A U S M I N DA U G O P R O S P E K TA S
Bus Station
Elegant Old Town Hall, locally called the Zapyškis Church 450 m (500 yards)
Railway Station
“White Swan” 0 yards 500 800 m (885 yards) Pažaislis
Monastery
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp305–306 and pp328–30
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