Lithuania's vibrant central cityA city with tangible history old town charm and a booming local arts scene the city of Kaunas is putting itself firmly on the international map in 2022 Kaunas was an intriguing travel option long before 2022 The second biggest city in the southernmost Baltic state The lanes of its Old Town proudly retain their medieval heritage and the castle dates to the 14th-century - but Kaunas doesn’t linger in the past the city has developed a distinctive modern and creative identity Kaunas is a refreshing weekend destination for British travellers looking for a new city to explore whether they want to dine well in the restaurants on Laisves Aleja admire the region’s unique interwar modernist architecture You're sure to find yourself feeling the sense of marvel and discovery that locals here have coined simply 'kaunastic' Its construction is a prime example of Eclecticism with its Gothic design taking on elements of Renaissance Baroque and Neogothic styles over the years Baroque and Neogothic styles over the years.Day one: enjoy Old Town charmMorningStart your day by jumping onto the Aleksotas Funicular an elegant antique that's been whisking passengers up to the top of Aleksotas Hill since 1935 Enjoy panoramic views and a unique perspective of Kaunas’s Old Town before heading down to lose yourself in its cobbled streets and cosy cafes Top off the morning with a tour of Kaunas Castle with a lone surviving tower standing as a symbol of its former strength The sandy beaches on the church’s doorstep arguably the city’s prettiest water feature offer opportunities for swimming and boating who issued travel visas for Jewish families escaping the Holocaust Depending on who’s in town, catch a show at the Zalgiris Arena This 20,000-capacity arena has hosted gigs by the likes of Muse The Pazaislis Monastery is also an award-winning film location - recently appearing in the TV series Catherine The Great or head to the Yard Gallery to view community street art projects Return to Town Hall Square for one of the many open-air concerts and events taking place throughout the summer months Kaunas has a host of art and design experiences to enjoy from interwar modernist architecture to contemporary street art bicycles and e-scooters are plentiful and the centre can easily be explored on foot For more information, visit visit.kaunas.lt/en Follow National Geographic Traveller (UK) on social media  The five-arch Ponte de Tiberio bridge can be seen from the pastel-coloured cottages of Borgo San Giuliano a former fishing neighbourhood located half a mile inland This time, however, I’m not suggesting leaving your phone behind. You’ll need it to locate a few more remote sites or simply to play Čiurlionis’ music as you walk. And, of course, to capture an unexpected side of Kaunas that will inevitably reveal itself when you take a new route. “Echoes of Čiurlionis” was sent to my mailbox by the Kaunas IN agency they’ve delighted us with themed routes exploring Aleksotas and leisurely walks have also given in to Čiurlionization to which the route invites you to return several times where should the “Echoes of Čiurlionis” route begin it’s dedicated to a figure from Dzūkija who learned Lithuanian relatively late and spent very little time in this city It’s important to note that this is a new map not a replica of the national Čiurlionis’ Route project created a few years ago The new guide directs me to Laisvės Avenue but I imagine that Čiurlionis must have arrived in Kaunas by train and he was hurrying to the first-ever Lithuanian art exhibition in Kaunas It was based on the second Vilnius exhibition and organized in the Adamčikas Pro-Gymnasium which was located on Laisvės Avenue.  we reach Kaunas from Vilnius through the same tunnel There is no other such tunnel in Lithuania that is actively used the modern passenger does not arrive at the same historic railway station that has welcomed and seen off many historical personalities and witnessed many joyful and painful events for our nation the station was bombed by the retreating Germans and what we see today was built by the soviets I leave the station and – what a coincidence – find myself on M unlike many of the national heroes honored during the First Republic Čiurlionis did not disappear during the Soviet occupation and effort that was devoted to the commemoration of his centenary in 1975 did not willingly fall in line with the Soviet narrative I might have gotten a little carried away with the titles it’s time to head to Adamčikas Progymnasium In its place now stands a fine example of modernist architecture: the Kaunas City Municipality building Some intriguing details about that art exhibition have survived Čiurlionis decided not to stay for the opening there were people who weren’t fond of formal speeches the story is continued by Sofija Kymantaitė: It was decided to take the 2nd exhibition to Kaunas […] I am also going to help Konstantin with the exhibition without a second thought that it is not at all appropriate for the Vice-Chairman to run away from the opening of the exhibition The exhibition was inside the Adamčikas Progymnasium a pump was emerging from the ground where villagers could water their horses – a wonderful thing across the bridge to the Aleksotas hills… The current Vytautas the Great Bridge over the Nemunas did not exist back then; it only recently celebrated its 95th birthday there wasn’t even a whiff of the architecture of optimism and such masterpieces of technology as funiculars the Nikolay Avenue at the time (although Čiurlionienė mentions Laisvės Avenue the name has only been used since February 1919) was used by a horse-drawn tram and Steponas Kairys was not yet engaged in designing the sewage systems of Kaunas at that time either Speaking of the bridge that the lovers crossed it is also important to remember that there really was no such thing as we have today a representative of the Vytautas the Great War Museum there was this anecdote circulating among Kaunas residents was the longest in the world and the journey through it took up to two weeks This was because the Orthodox Julian calendar was in force on this side of the Nemunas and the Catholic Gregorian calendar on the other side The difference between the calendars was thirteen days.” After admiring the panorama of Kaunas Old Town which has changed little in over a hundred years (though the skyline tells a different story) it’s time to head back to the centre and climb another – Owl – hill it was known as New Street in both Russian and German you will see a white poodle and its owner’s contemporary fresco on it which is important for the history of the city and the country Pending the construction of the temporary Čiurlionis Gallery brought from Russia (where the paintings had been hidden since the First World War) and acquired from a young widow Read more about the history of this building on the route “Echoes of Čiurlionis” route; and we rush to Žaliakalnis given to establish the much-needed Kaunas Art School The creative aura was perfect for building a gallery with the bricks of – how clever It belongs to the Academy of Arts of Kaunas College and the analogue photography centre is to be opened here soon one of the exhibitions of the Kaunas Biennial will be held there this autumn he was a contemporary and also an interdisciplinary artist at the time The most intriguing question is what he would think of Kaunas’ modernist “crown” – the museum bearing his name and other art lovers from Lithuania and all over the world told our magazine about an Italian professor who was smuggled into then-closed-off Kaunas by her friends – dressed in a warm cotton wool-padded jacket – just to see Čiurlionis’ work Would Konstantinas settle in the Osvaldas Daugelis Library filled with the most fascinating art publications Or perhaps he would put on a VR headset and soar through the Angel Paths (Angelų takų) worlds inspired by himself The premiere of the new virtual reality project Creation of Worlds (Pasaulių sutvėrimas) by Kristina Buožytė and Vitalijus Žukas has already taken place The creators of these VR experiences claim that working with Čiurlionis is easy Daugelis and other former directors of the M including Paulius Galaunė and Petras Stauskas who lived as a widow for 47 years until her passing in 1958 It was likely a family decision to bury her in Kaunas yet Čiurlionis himself is laid to rest in Rasos Cemetery in Vilnius which is another stop along the“Echoes of Čiurlionis” route Konstantinas had four brothers and four sisters The fates of the large Čiurlionis family took many different turns Valerija Čiurlionytė was a cultural activist and a museum worker In 1915 she accompanied her brother’s paintings to Moscow on the authority of the Lithuanian Art Society she worked for many years in the above-mentioned museum and fostered Čiurlionis’ remembrance together with her sister Jadvyga Valerija is buried in the Eiguliai Cemetery Guide Laimonas Užomeckis gives excellent tours of Eiguliai and Petrašiūnai Cemetery “Echoes of Čiurlionis” is a map with neither a clear beginning nor an end Starting with architecture and the objects that we can actually visit (or at least see in old photographs) it invites us to move to another experiential level horizons – it seems that Čiurlionis’ code is forever inscribed in the DNA of Kaunas a city that did not manage to become his own I resolve to continue my walks this summer and to draw new parallels in my own and Čiurlionis’ microcosms visit.kaunas.lt Be it just a few days or a longer holiday Kaunas always invites you to discover and explore the city’s most famous places and secret corners showing a different character of the city each time for those who value gastronomic experiences and for history lovers – Kaunas has something in store for everyone we have selected the most popular places in Kaunas – from centuries-old historical sites to ultra-modern futuristic projects You will never run out of energy and good spirits as you can choose from a wide range of cafés making delicious breakfasts restaurants offering gourmet experiences and bars serving the tastiest cocktails consider a walk or a bike ride – the pedestrian and cycling paths in Kaunas wind along the most picturesque routes where tranquil parks and green spaces blend seamlessly into the modern rhythm of the ever-vibrant city For more #kaunastic ideas, please explore the digital maps or discover the highlights of Kaunas during organised sightseeing tours • Kaunas Castle and Santakos Park built in the 14th century and contemplating the magnificent history of Kaunas is the starting point for many to get to know the city Walking further towards the Santakos Park and the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris you will feel the romantic element of history – it is believed that in the embrace of the two rivers everything started • Kaunas Town Hall the most important building in the city housed a variety of institutions – from a prison to a university’s department for studies of architecture the recently renovated Town Hall is again among the top visited places in Kaunas the most important attraction is the masterfully designed and comprehensive exhibition about the nature of the city of Kaunas the museum offers 19 exhibit spaces that explain what a city is anyway and what kind of a city Kaunas is the White Hall and other premises will once again be available for the traditional registering of marriage the Town Hall offers the services of tourist information professionals • Aleksotas funicular and panorama of the city It is the place where the famous Lithuanian painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis escaped from his exhibition to see the breathtaking view of the Old Town together with Sofia Cross the Aleksotas Bridge and take a ride on the historic funicular up to the observation platform to enjoy the view and sometimes the music as young talents are studying nearby • Vilniaus Street Take notes: a nourishing brunch at Holy Donut (all day long!) an in depth exploration of the Historical Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania passerby-watching from the patio of one of a dozen cafés buildings reminiscent of the Hanseatic times pubs and galleries hidden in the surrounding lanes music in the courtyard of OLDMAN Kaunas behind it • Courtyard Gallery an artist who moved into a house here more than a decade ago noticed that his neighbours were alienated and had forgotten the shared past of the courtyard When Jakas started adding pictures of Jewish families still being updated with new artistic accents • Laisvės Avenue Have a coffee or juice at one of the trendy spots by the St the Archangel (Garrison) Church (also known as Soboras) and make your way along one of the longest pedestrian streets in the region even though its history dates back to tzarist times trendy shopping and the most stylish Kaunas residents and their pets this unique science museum is already one of the most „instagrammable“ places in Kaunas as the ultra-modern shapes of the building which seems to have naturally emerged from the island of Nemunas meet all the criteria for a beautiful shot We can’t wait to dive into the exhibitions And then we’ll probably go and settle on the island – it has basketball it has a swimming pool and this science museum – what else would you need • Žalgirio Arena now it is hard to imagine that 15 years ago there was no arena in Kaunas and all Žalgiris fans were struggling to find a place in the old Sports Hall practically all Euroleague games are sold out well in advance the green-and-white crowd is considered to be one of the strongest in Europe you probably haven’t been to Kaunas either you can jump into the Olympic-size swimming pool right here • M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art and Vytautas the Great War Museum and the two century-old museums are important not only for the city and the cultural community you will see the works of our great symbolist Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis as well as the heritage of Lithuanian folk masters examples of modern art and regularly scheduled exhibitions Vytautas the Great War Museum has hundreds of interesting things to explore ranging from the authentic remains of the Lituanica aircraft (the first Lithuanian attempt to fly across the Atlantic which ended tragically) to a miniature partisan bunker stop for a rest at the vibrant Vienybės Square You may even find yourself a concert – from jazz to carillon as seven decades passed between the construction and the consecration of the church a radio factory operated in the unfinished building the church was returned to the people of faith The basilica’s observation platform offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Kaunas and this iconic place in Žaliakalnis can be reached from the city centre by a historic funicular in just a minute • Art Deco Museum and Amsterdam School Museum the world and Lithuania learned that Kaunas Modernism has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List If you haven’t yet discovered this architectural and social phenomenon we invite you to start with these two stops founded by two entrepreneurs – Karolis Banys and Petras Gaidamavičius Thousands of visitors to the Art Deco Museum and the Amsterdam School Museum are grateful to them for their heartfelt initiative in-depth insight and the authentic experience of the immersive tours • Lithuanian Zoo The largest and oldest zoo in Lithuania has just been fundamentally renovated but also to the flora kingdom that creates an impression of a desert or jungle It will appeal to both children and adults • VMU Botanical Garden The century-old garden is set in an old manor house – that alone is enough to make it worth visiting the „descendants“ of the Lithuanian ancient woods an exotic conservatory – the Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden is alive all year round and delights with a different natural accent every month the Botanical Garden hosts music concerts of all genres poetry readings and many other events (such as the Botanical Nights) where nature harmoniously merges with culture and art • Ninth Fort Memorial Complex The most modern fort of the Kaunas Fortress has definitely been noticed by everyone travelling along the A1 motorway It features an impressive monument to the victims of Nazism erected in 1984 (sculptor Alfonsas Vincentas Ambraziūnas architects Gediminas Baravykas and Vytautas Vielius You can also visit a spectacular installation by the world-renowned artist Christian Boltanski nearby and the museum’s exhibitions within the fort • Pažaislis The Pažaislis Church and Convent Complex is one of the most impressive and beautiful masterpieces of late Baroque architecture in the Northeastern Europe It is admired by architectural connoisseurs now under the care of and inhabited by the Congregation of Sisters of St houses the Museum of Religious Heritage and Monte Pacis hospitality complex with its restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide It is the venue for the main concerts of the Pažaislis Music Festival the Pažaislis Church and Convent Complex was named the best filming location in Europe in 2020 • Kasdienybės Bakehouse The bakehouse with its exclusive and cosy interior offers freshly baked croissants real New York-style cheesecake and options for light lunches The bakehouse serves varietal coffee from Lithuanian roasters and values a friendly and close relationship with its customers • Bundu Here you can savour delicious handmade pastries throw yourself into a crazy party with a bun in your hand This place is open to everyone including your pets • Kavalierius It is a place with a unique interior decor and a character a favourite of many who live and work nearby • Spurginė An authentic doughnut shop on Laisvės Avenue It might be a good history class for your kids • Green Café it would take a year to try all the available coffee varieties 35 types of coffee and 10 preparation methods – do the math yourself • Vero Cafe You will always be asked what coffee beans you prefer and coffee will be kindly served in a ceramic cup instead of a paper one the eco-friendly solutions are designed with a strong focus on the well-being of orangutans • Jurgis ir Drakonas A favourite among families in Kaunas – healthy food and a variety of activities for everyone • Momo Grill operating in a historic building on the banks of the Nemunas River presents its essence in just a few words: „Knowledge AND feelings • Pelėdinė This burger place juggles a short but very precise menu Vegetarians fall in love with the pumpkin burger A special bar for puppies deserves its own praise • Talutti The Talutti chain offers an endless selection of the world’s diverse flavours and the dishes are not only delicious but also very good looking • Goodman you can have fun by simply taking a seat at the smart table or playing the games the restaurant offers • Kuhne Do you know the sound of fork falling on a plate which is most easily reached by the historic funicular • Ipanema It is a family-run pizzeria in Panemunė – a picturesque part of Kaunas nestled along the Nemunas River renowned as a charming resort destination during the interwar period • Monte Pacis Enjoy the dishes inspired by monks’ secrets and made from locally grown produce as well as the beverages selected by experts the restaurant was included in the Michelin Guide • Višta Puode • Dia Indian and other cuisines blend perfectly well here • Bernelių Užeiga and enjoy what we are so proud of – the exquisite Lithuanian cuisine featuring a wealth of national heritage products and dishes certified by the Culinary Heritage Foundation • Marsas Mieste Modern European and Asian cuisine in a space inspired by the spirit of industrialism • Nüman the restaurant is a perfect whole that blends the decor the restaurant was included in the Michelin Guide and received the „Bib Gourmand“ label confirming the excellent quality-price ratio • Donelaičio A restaurant with unique cocktails and vinyl nights in the city centre • Piano Piano • Park Avenue this restaurant invites you to discover new tastes and to spend time as if you were in the countryside • Klimas the newest of which are born out of new encounters matching the bliss that comes while sitting in the patio • Hop Doc And very attentive staff who will sense your wishes as soon as you walk in • Šventas Dūmas A gastrobar full of mythology and mysticism Every inch of it has its own mystery and magic the walls are covered with ceremonial tribal masks and headdresses and real miracles happen as soon as when food and drink come to the table • Bardakas confidently declare representatives of the nightclub which caters for the hungry stomachs of city dwellers at other times of the day Applauds to the location – right in front of the former Kaunas central post office • Republic A thick syrup of what you would find in English and Irish pubs With button-ripping snack offers and an army of taps Most important sports matches are always on so don’t forget to reserve a seat at the bar for the important matches to come • Vingiu Dubingiu They do care about the beverage culture in Lithuania that is why this place is not just about drinking beer reflecting the seasons and focusing on local production as well as best imports • 2 ½ Obuolio Kišenė • Kultūra staff coming up with the most unexpected solutions • Hogas Pub an informal atmosphere and quality time come together Put Kaunas on your map, discover, explore and experience a Kaunastic time! For more tips and inspiration, see our website ww.visit.kaunas.lt If you haven’t wondered how she manages to do everything you should know that Julita is also a new mom of twins: Leonardas and Sofija We sat down with her to talk about the cafe and the turning millstones of Pranciškus Mill about the strengthening of Kaunas residents’ kneecaps and her own life paths Ožeškienės Street and Aleksotas district residents’ watering at the mouth over the baked goods of Bundu and Pranciškus Mill since 2022 vegan and gluten-free treats are created daily from freshly made flour Julita and I meet in Bundu – a hundred square meters filled with sweet smells the café has managed to bring together not only a team with a lot of creative freedom which today almost independently takes care Bundu daily from the Halloween party during fall to the dance event that celebrates spring Just like before one of Julita’s yoga classes We start with Aleksotas and her grandfather Pranciškus who in 1996 set up a mill in his house and soon became a celebrity in the district The initial desire to give people the opportunity to grind their own grain quickly grew into a flour and health food shop with queues but he always found time to tell each customer about his products Having grown up and lived in such an environment Julita says that her life was filled with flour and pastries but she did not plan to connect her future with it “Despite completing my studies in food science and technology and experimenting with pastries since my teenage years I always thought my path would lead elsewhere,” the co-founder of Bundu says who has been practicing yoga since the age of eight “Although I had lost interest in yoga and turned to other sports at one point I was finally brought back to this path.” After the first year of university she went to her relatives living in the USA for the summer where she completed the yoga teacher’s course The food sphere became less and less of an interest and movement and yoga eventually seeped into her blood and became her daily bread Julita couldn’t stay away from bread for long and when the cousin who played an important role in the mill left it took me another three years to get back on this path as well Even when I try to go in another direction I always return to basics,” the café’s co-founder thinks about her vocation Julita fully committed to the mill in early 2021: she established a small company news about it spread only by word of mouth I had already started baking sourdough bread and since there weren’t many places to buy it in Kaunas the number of buyers and interested people began to grow.” Julita’s husband Tomas became more involved in the mill’s activities and things started to progress even faster – the assortment expanded with cookies and granola and other baked goods were developed in collaboration with a café in Kaunas “It’s funny to think that back then we had a pretty unprofessional website and it seems like we weren’t doing anything special.” As Pranciškus Mill started to operate at its full capacity and the number of customer cafes expanded it was decided to set up a bakery in the mill in the fall of the same year “I remember we walked around the house and wondered like some developers whether it could fit here or there we re-opened not only with the bakery but also with a renovated shop and some people wanted to get involved in the project even more All that was missing was someone asking a question “What about a cafe in the city center?” The answer was clear “A cafe in the city center.” We signed a lease in June and in September we opened the blue doors of Bundu,” Julita remembers “We are opening to learn,” Bundu announced almost two years ago about the opening of the cafe on September 1 who says that the beginning was intended for testing “We didn’t want to do everything perfectly from the first moment We still return to this question as a team: why and how do we do everything Maybe that’s why everything turned out so well even if there was a lot of chaos in the beginning we did everything with the team from scratch what kind of mixer is needed for the kitchen,” Julita laughs The philosophy of Pranciškus Mill and Bundu is reflected in the motto which the owners have been following since the beginning of the business “Our motto primarily means the desire to bake tasty and high-quality food and if the products are also vegan or gluten-free We have always tried to offer healthier products Perhaps this is a kind of legacy of my grandfather but stability and proven recipes are also important to us Sometimes I wonder how people still haven’t gotten tired of the same buckwheat cookies and cinnamon buns,” Julita smiles She notes that since day one Bundu has been very successful in gathering a reliable and extremely creative team “Even what our space looks like and what’s happening at Bundu today is a credit to our team Someone loves plants and has turned the café into a jungle someone decided to create drawings for the counter We strive very hard to ensure that everyone here can realize themselves: we give our colleagues the freedom to organize It’s also nice that we even have a list of people who would like to work for us,” café’s co-founder says Although at the beginning Julita and her husband were fully involved in the work at the bakery and the cafe they soon realized that it was time to slowly let go of the project.  “We pulled back a little more in the spring of 2023 so we decided to free the team’s hands for creativity and kept the more boring jobs for ourselves we were able to withdraw for a while and focus on the children – now we are coming back little by little taking the burden off of our colleagues’ shoulders,” the yoga instructor says Julita says that they couldn’t stay still for long even after the twins were born a few months ago our ability to juggle different activities has improved so we do everything together with the kids – we even go to the forest so going out for two hours to lead a yoga class is no problem It’s really nice to adapt to the new role and not fall out of life and we even received praise from the twins’ physiotherapist for their active lifestyle,” Julita smiles “I am glad that my life path contains different spheres Then it seems that you are always busy with something It’s a fact that we feel our best when we move and are active Julita is more focused on yoga and acro yoga “This is a broader concept that encompasses a person’s movement capabilities which refers to a person’s physical competencies It’s different from a gym where everyone can understand how to do an exercise and then increase the number of repetitions or weights you might fail three times in a row just in terms of coordination And you have to accept that you are failing But the best learning happens when things don’t work out and you are forced to learn something new,” Julita says One thing is certain: all three will remain authentic and open to new possibilities and doing less but with better quality is our foundation We dream of educational activities taking place in the cafe the future for me and Tomas is completely unknown – maybe some new path will appear The most important thing is not to box yourself in because life can always lead you down a path you never would have imagined.” pmalunas.lt  instagram.com/bundu.bakery  instagram.com/julitamoves   The controversial Soviet statues on Vilnius' Green Bridge [Image: Wiki Commons] Vilnius municipality has announced it will start removing the Soviet statues on Vilnus' Green Bridge the week commencing July 13 confirmed the work will begin early next week and preparation for the removal of the controversial statues will begin this weekend.  Zubriakovas underlined "all necessary safety measures" would be taken to ensure a safe removal process and it will take up to two weeks to complete the work.  The statues have stood on the bridge in the centre of the Lithuanian capital since 1952 and depict typical Soviet iconography - Red Army soldiers Since Lithuania gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 debates have raged between Lithuanian politicians and historians on whether the statues should remain on the Green Bridge Critics claim the statues are relics of Soviet propaganda and are offensive to those who faught for Lithuania's independence from the Soviet regime while those in favour claim they demonstrate the country is now comfortable with its Soviet past the last Soviet iconography was removed in March 2015 as part of its municipality's de-Sovietisation process.  The final remaining Soviet symbols in Kaunas were hammer-and-sickles on the city's Aleksotas Bridge A subscription to The Baltic Times is a cost-effective way of staying in touch with the latest Baltic news and views enabling you full access from anywhere with an Internet connection. Subscribe Now! 2025 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy Privacy Policy How did you start working at the Kaunas Film Office What changes has it undergone in the last year I’ve always been interested in the filming process and what’s behind the scenes so I was looking for opportunities to contribute to it while studying in Kaunas That’s how I met my former director Aurelijus Silkinis and I joined the filming of the first project – Owl Mountain – in 2016 After trying myself in a position with more responsibilities the director offered me a paid position at the Kaunas Film Office after the internship Although I didn’t plan to look for a job then I took up the challenge for which I am still grateful We could say that the history of the Kaunas Film Office began in 2012 when the Kaunas Film Studio was founded Its maintenance was difficult and expensive it was decided to close it but at the initiative of the Kaunas city municipality and A a film office was formed with a more specific goal focused on increasing the awareness of Kaunas in the film industry but many things still needed to be created from scratch both in terms of finding locations and making connections and the word about us as reliable specialists began to spread What is the role of the Kaunas Film Office in the process of making films operating globally within the film industry and focused on assisting film crews in a specific region The three main factors that attract filmmakers to Lithuania are locations tax relief and competent specialists servicing the cinema site We aim to create as friendly an environment as possible for filmmakers coming here and to put different locations of Kaunas to work and organize visits to potential locations Our work also includes negotiating agreements with site owners or administrators Film productions have many departments with larger or smaller teams which can be attributed to the activities of the film office is involved in the filming process from start to finish the question “Where will we shoot?” is one of the first ones after creating the script locations that match the vision of the director or film artist are being sought even before it is finished The Locations Department employs a wide variety of people knowledge of our field and dedication to work You can say that you have to be a little crazy and love adrenaline if you want to work in the film industry.  Do your responsibilities always remain the same or do you have to adapt individually to each project We try to respond to the needs of a specific project we always ask ourselves: how will Kaunas benefit from this Both in terms of investments and cultural value – these elements are important in assessing the significance of the project we often do not limit ourselves to locations and their offer but provide all the necessary information about the procedure for filming in Kaunas “Can we close Aleksotas Bridge?” to “Can we perhaps blow up the door of the Central Post Office?” which sometimes requires up to fifty calls Although we always try to fulfil the needs of our customers as best as possible it is also important for us that Kaunas and its locations are not harmed We perform a sort of monitoring function on the film set to ensure that the crew is following the rules and that the work is taking place with respect to the environment Have you noticed changes in the specifics of the work of film crews over time Do you feel the changing attitude of the people of Kaunas towards filming here This can be noticed by working with different production companies We see that more and more new professionals are entering film sets bringing their own ideas and a different work ethic Professionalism and responsibility are growing and more and more projects are being filmed in Lithuania.  I am glad that Kaunas is a very friendly city for filming also because of the attitudes of its residents there is some weariness and irritation due to the restrictions while in Kaunas people are still very understanding and even curious they started to see more and more benefits that came from these projects We feel support and respect for our work from the townspeople as well as the desire for Kaunas to be recognized I think that the big projects filmed in Kaunas contributed to this because seeing a scene that was filmed in your city on the big screens Is there a big difference between working with Lithuanian and foreign projects Lithuanian projects usually have a smaller budget which limits the possibilities of renting a specific filming location or specific equipment and creating special and visual effects national projects are often somewhat simpler but bring their own management challenges It is also true that Lithuanians do not follow certain rules because they feel at home here you can strongly feel how a certain identity is forming in the national cinema.  Foreign projects have much bigger teams and different departments it is interesting that the Chornobyl team had a separate health and safety department I remember when we offered them the ‘Death’ Bridge in Petrašiūnai – which has now gained the name of the show – the director said that he couldn’t have even dreamt of a better one the Department of Health and Safety immediately put a stop to the plans after noticing that the bridge was old clarifying the security level of the location take care of even the smallest details to ensure the smoothness of work each team member has more responsibilities Which locations in Kaunas are the most popular for filming And which ones have not yet been discovered by filmmakers Maybe I’ll start with the undiscovered because there are a couple of places that we really believe in One of them is the gallery of Mykolas Žilinskas There is no need to additionally stop people or close the space to visitors The rooms are spacious and can be transformed into many different environments It’s a unique and beautiful location that we offer often and that producers love I would also like to mention the uniquely designed KTU Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design which has an impressive chandelier and an authentic atrium on the first floor That space with concrete and granite elements and narrow connecting corridors looks extremely visual and promising creators find it difficult to see their vision in it Sometimes it’s easier to come to an empty place and create what you have in mind than to use existing elements The most popular locations are mainly related to modernist architecture We do a lot of filming in the Art Deco and Amsterdam School museums Another location that always attracts filmmakers is the Kaunas Garrison Officers’ Club Other very important places are Kaunas Lagoon Regional Park and Pažaislis Monastery and Church complex Rumšiškės and The Open-Air Museum of Lithuania as well as Pravieniškės Prison greatly contribute to the attractiveness of our region for filming And what are your favorite places in Kaunas Kaunas is a very beautiful city to me; I am fascinated by its modernist architecture and authenticity I am very happy when I see a high-quality restoration of buildings; my heart sings and I want to touch every surface and texture I am very happy that our city has received the well-deserved evaluation of UNESCO heritage objects How do you see the future of the Kaunas Film Office and what would you wish the filmmakers coming to Kaunas?  I only see the increasing recognition and appreciation of Kaunas as a city It has a lot of potential and opportunities so I see the future of the Kaunas Film Office focused on growth and strengthening relations with the owners of local places And I wish filmmakers to boldly dive into what the Kaunas region has to offer kaunasfilmoffice.com Perhaps the biggest priority in independent Lithuania was education The basis of its development strategy was the establishment of the primary school network which aimed to cultivate the intellectual potential of the young generation and ensure basic literacy Since the early days of the country’s existence compulsory primary education has been established as an aspiration at the state level although it turned into real actions a bit later Compulsory primary education was finally established in the temporary capital in 1928 Kaunas took over 21 primary schools from the former German occupation government with a total of 43 classes and only 2218 students so the network had to be improved as soon as possible Some schools were settling in rented premises a number of these buildings were built by private individuals for this purpose Perhaps the most interesting phenomenon of that time was brick monumental school buildings developed by the municipality according to the latest trends The construction of the first brick building specifically designed for the primary school function which was to become a kind of symbol of the advanced education system With only one-ninth of the required amount (50 thousand litas) and the municipality not getting into an agreement with the ministry about the remaining part only a part of the building was initially implemented and classes were held here the following year The 23rd Lithuanian elementary school which consisted of four grades started to work and the need for elementary education in a rapidly growing city was only increasing The original design of the two-story building created by the former head of the city’s Construction Department had to be adjusted by his colleague Antanas Jokimas during construction A three-story primary school named in honor of Vincas Kudirka (currently Vincas Kudirka pro-gymnasium the municipality of the city built two schools Both of them were externally and internally representing the ideas of the modernist era Based on the knowledge acquired during his business trip in Sweden Jokimas designed a school in Aušros Street (now Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium which was desperately needed for the residents of the growing Žaliakalnis district He also built a school for Jewish children near the Nemunas (now Juozas Naujalis Music Gymnasium on Karaliaus Mindaugo Avenue) Both schools were equipped with facilities that later became mandatory: gyms apartments for the main building staff and showers Both schools are harmoniously integrated into their plots the schools of Kaunas were still rather overcrowded especially in the ever-growing Žaliakalnis the modern school in Aušros Street already had 50 percent more students than planned which meant that 50 or more children had to cram in one classroom in 1936 the duration of primary education has been extended to six years even more modern elementary school for the children of Žaliakalnis started in Jonavos Street (currently a building belonging to the Lithuanian Army The spot for it was chosen based on practical reasons because the current P Kalpoko Street was already in municipality’s plans and it was precisely in the sawmills and other companies operating in the Neris valley that a considerable number of the poorer inhabitants of the northern and western parts of Žaliakalnis worked who needed a new primary school in the Old Town Parallel to the Lithuanian bastion of education on Jonavos Street a six grade Jewish primary school on Nemuno St there was a lack of space for new buildings in the densely built-up area of the historical Old Town and after the bus station was moved to another place which at that time competed with cities like Šiauliai in terms of population received a modern primary school (now Motiejus Valančius school-kindergarten built on an irregular plot in the chaotic environment of Krantai The projects of all these schools were prepared by the architect Stasys Kudokas who worked in the Construction Department of the Kaunas City Municipality at the time and eventually became one of the most famous figures in the field of architecture at the time Another school designed by him emerged on the hills of Aleksotas in 1937 which was one of the gates to the city and the monumental Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Vytautas Magnus University sort of obliged the school to be architecturally exceptional The main entrance of the school that received a name of J this is the only brick school of that time that has not survived it was blown up during the Second World War the municipality was already overseeing 42 primary schools with 11 248 pupils in their 253 grades 18 private schools with 64 grades and another 1,526 students enrolled in them strengthened the city’s education capacity 13 new primary schools were built (another five were completely renovated) 11 of which appeared after the introduction of compulsory primary education The largest primary school in Lithuania was built in Šančiai in 1939 (now Kaunas Adult and Youth Education Center After the famous collapse of the municipal bus garage Stasys Kudokas’ duties in designing municipal buildings had already been taken over by another architect – well-known to the architecture enthusiasts of today – Feliksas Bielinskis who also prepared a project for a monumental building on Sandėlių Street the implementation of which cost almost a million litas at the time.  Bielinskis also prepared projects for the last two schools of the independence period in Kaunas One of them was a school for the children of Žaliakalnis’ residents (now Gediminas Sports and Health Promotion Gymnasium Another huge building in the city centre was completed during the years of occupation And although the building of the primary school on what was the Ugniagesių Street then was destined to become a new home for future musicians (now Kaunas Juozas Gruodis Conservatory its facades are still decorated with panels containing municipality’s initials: KMS They can also be seen on some schools of the 1930s PHOTO: Asmeninio albumo nuotr. Here’s a list of great locations that will provide an incredible view of the sky once the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve This year, Kaunas has prepared a wide and diverse entertainment variety for New Year’s Eve From parties with dances until dawn to cosy atmosphere with live music perfect for families to make the night of the December 31 genuinely memorable you’ll also need a perfect spot to watch the fireworks Here’s a list of great locations that will provide an incredible view of the sky once the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve Aleksotas observation deck is popular with tourists and locals all year round This is the spot where people come to take their wedding graduation and other essential pictures and there‘s a good reason for that you get to see the most beautiful part of Kaunas – the river Nemunas and the lovely Old Town There was no question that this observation deck located in Šilainiai also had to make the list you get to see a stunning view of Vilijampolė With the sight of hundreds of tiny colourful houses this might be one of the most romantic spots in Kaunas Milikoniai hill observation deck gets most visitors in the evening during sunsets and when the city lights up in warm yellow light The Owl hill is one of the most unique places in Kaunas it‘s one of the highest points in the city This brings us to the most distinctive feature of this hill – back in 1924 it was adorned with 108 sculptures of owls created by Vincas Grybas About 60 of those sculptures you can still see today (you can read more about the hill here) if you like the sound of beautiful panoramic views of Kaunas city Centre and Vilijampolė in the company of almost 100-years-old owls – The Owl hill should be the perfect New Year’s Eve spot for you If you want to greet the new year in an energetic crowd Here you will not only get to see some of the most incredible fireworks (there will be a special zone in the square dedicated just for that) bus also hear some of the biggest names of Lithuanian electronic/dance music scene in a concert “Cosmic New Year’s Eve” Probably the most popular picnic spot in the summer – the Confluence park does not lose its charm in the winter season The confluence point of the two biggest Lithuanian rivers Nemunas and Neris is usually called the birthplace of Kaunas Thousands of romantic dates have taken place in the Confluence park if you’re looking for an idyllic spot to watch the fireworks and celebrate New Year’s Eve with a loved one even though the park is located on the side of the Old Town you could also try heading to the other side of Neris (Vilijampolė) From there you would get a view of the park itself and a grandiose sight of the sky lit with fireworks We started the conversation by talking about the rules of photographing that prevail in Andrius’ routine “I use the drone only during sunrise or sunset the sun starts to rise only a few minutes before 4 am sometimes it is difficult to remain awake until sunset weather forecasts are an essential part of the photographic process the first snow completely changes the image of the city and then he often manages to make the most beautiful shots For those interested in aerial photography the photographer recommends checking some very important news a new regulation has entered into force in the EU “In order to use a drone that is heavier than 250 grams (the heavier the drone the more requirements there are) and has a camera the owner has to register it in a common system.” In Lithuania the Transport Competence Agency is responsible for this I didn’t hesitate to ask about a few places that were relevant to me the route from which the towers of Kaunas Old Town can best be seen on foot would be called Old Town – Aleksotas Observation Deck you should gradually walk towards the Aleksotas observation deck (it is recommended to take the stairs) and then continue walking on the Amerikos Lietuvių Street until you reach the stairs of the Garliava Trail you will see a completely different panorama of the city The Nemunas and the Nevėžis confluence is for those who miss silence and a breathtaking landscape but also many small paths near the Nemunas Andrius recommended starting the route from Lampėdžiai forest And now it’s time for the carefully selected routes of the photographer The 10 km long route may not be very popular Although each area is very different from the other I have no doubt that the view of Santaka seen from the side of the Nemunas the landscape opening from the Česlovas Radzinauskas bridge and the panoramic Vilijampolė district will catch the eye of every traveller Let’s not forget the Inland Waterways Authority’s boats located on the shore or the red busses lined up in the park – these are some unusual images You can experience this route in different ways – you can climb the stairs of Pompėja Kaukas or Vytautas Park and immerse yourself in the search for the most interesting wooden house or just wander the small streets of Žaliakalnis How many beautiful hues one can see on Gėlių and Minties Circle streets The journey continues by walking around Ąžuolynas and later descending the stairs of Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas An almost 3-hour long route is all about getting to know Žemieji Šančiai swans that gather next to one of the blocks of flats located near the Nemunas in winter Another great route for those who want to get acquainted with Žemieji Šančiai and ascend to a special place located in Aukštieji Šančiai I would recommend wandering around Prancūzų Street and later where you will experience a completely different view than the one seen from Tunelio Street I would venture to say that this is the route of the future Some places are still not comfortable for walking due to narrow or non-existent sidewalks but this route opens up a completely different Kaunas The Žalgiris Arena from the other side of the Nemunas and the railway of amazing beauty surrounded by trees next to the old Jewish cemetery of Aleksotas I think that with the emergence of new bridges from Nemunas Island and we will be able to get there much easier I really like this route because it offers many different panoramas of Kaunas you can see the railway station from above and from Vytautas Park The Owl Hill offers a panoramic view of both the new and the old town and particularly fun descent to the Old Town via quiet Benediktinių street This route could be called “How to get from Laisvės Alley to the Old Town via a detour.” The recently renovated Vienybės Square and the nearby buildings are pleasing to the eye you can go down Kalpoko street to the embankment of the Neris You can start the journey at the end of Jonava Street and choose a route of the desired length which is on the opposite side of Kleboniškis Forest A short walk to get acquainted with Kaunas parks: the newly arranged Draugystės and Kalniečių parks afoto.eu The architect’s personal archive has accumulated an impressive collection of not only different versions of one or the other project but also expressive urban visions for various parts of Kaunas (and beyond) Palys’ historical knowledge but also his great ability to sense the city and its principles Due to the efforts of architect Audrys Karalius and architecture historian Almantas Bružas the exhibition of the architect’s works and visions Palys’ City 7 Dimensions of Identity will be open in the Kaunas Picture Gallery until April In addition to that the exhibition also presents another side of J I asked the professor some questions about the city It is said that most architects can be divided into two types – artistic and technical – based on their work methods Your works often showcase the ability to look at the task creatively taking into consideration the feeling and history of the place and my friends also say: “How come you are like this and not like that.” My father often said I only like pure style.” My whole environment was pre-war The publications at home as well: I flipped through magazines about aviation and radio stations; I was very attracted to technology But not for cartwheels and not for candlesticks [laughs] and axles – I was already drawn to these things perhaps that is why my architecture is not necessarily techno but close to it When my daughter Ieva and I designed the hangar of the Military Rescue Post in Aleksotas I really didn’ t want the architect’s hand to be visible there but just a good object that would fit near the airfield I often think that almost all architects look at everything through their own prism and I have repeatedly said: don’t look at your whole life through those architect’s glasses but uniqueness must also be protected so that the city does not lose its recognizable face This attitude was probably also reflected in the knowledge you imparted to architecture students I used to say to the students: when you walk down the street you should observe and question through the lens of an architect how things look just like a detective sits in a bar and instinctively analyzes people But sometimes I encourage students to disconnect from architectural thinking and simply look at an object: a river is flowing Maybe it’s enough and there is absolutely no need for an architect to intervene and start architecting I was just recently giving a lecture on this showing the quays of Budapest and other cities where you can see That’s the whole secret and it’s all the fun And if an architect comes and tidies everything up It is dull to walk by glass buildings that a colleague of mine designed I want to see something that neither you nor I have made to see what has naturally been done before us I can see how those seven dimensions – that became the axis of the exhibition – of Rimvydas Palys are slowly being revealed… The code of the place is very important to me Juozapavičiaus Avenue towards the Nemunas like the branches of a tree You can’t just build a five-story house there recognize the place and understand what fits there better and what doesn’t fit at all A city is such a concrete place where you see pavement All those little things create a mood – joy… or not necessarily Perhaps the architectural or artistic quality of those individual elements is not so important as their very presence Maybe sometimes it is worth looking not only globally if there are no exceptional houses on the street and an ancient massive fence covered with climbing plants perhaps there are several simple interwar period houses And you feel like in a fairy tale on that street I used to say to my students: you must notice these things and think about them – they form the fabric of the city the city is a combination of everything – it has technology and noise but uniqueness must also be protected so that the city does not lose its recognizable face.   You designed many of your most famous buildings as early as the year of Independence but you started your career in design institutes Before getting stuck working in Komprojektas for a long time you had to work in many of these institutions in Kaunas It would be interesting to hear about the beginning of Rimvydas Palys’ career But I’m a true native of Kaunas; I would walk around Kaunas built before the war and I adored it In Žemprojektas they told me: if you come right away So I got to design the settlement of Duokiškis Algimantas Miškinis worked at the institute He was a true urbanist who was broad-minded and understood the structure of all those small towns I somehow intuitively captured the square of the town had a corresponding structure: sloping roofs the ends facing the square; I drew the silhouettes to which I was invited by Ramūnas Kamaitis And Miškinis says: talented but a bit lazy [laughs] Soon they asked me to go to the Institute of Monument Restoration and Design where I got acquainted with the principles of restoration And Komprojektas had more diversity: a bit of restoration Vilniaus street reconstruction project was also born in Komprojektas I had an idea – to return the debt to Kaunas it didn’t have many of the things those other cities had Neither good squares nor beautiful cobble-stone roads And I thought to myself: this could be performed they didn’t exist but maybe they could have but I decided not to do everything in one style it used to be that if you designed an object then the fence had to be of the same style the elements of the old town turned out like this: consciously close to romanticism but at least the phone booth looked like a phone booth a streetlamp looked like a streetlamp and an advertising pole as an advertising pole I had designed many different versions of lamps and the ones that are standing now – well Which object did you like working on the most?  it was probably the small forms of Vilniaus Street and I easily managed to coordinate with the chief artist of the city Everything went very smoothly with the aviation hangar as well The work with the municipality during the construction of the M and I can only say good things about the city’s chief engineers It took so long until I was allowed to speak to the heads of the factory; everything was done remotely… I design something I was able to go there and talk to them and everything ended well the warehouse itself was just a reinforced concrete frame covered with standard ugly panels I proposed covering it with red bricks with concrete strips takes up an important part of your life and probably half of the exhibition How do you choose what to add to your collection How did you select the pieces for the exhibition?  What ended up in the exhibition was decided by Audrys Karalius He told me to bring the things that would confuse the visitors so that they would not immediately realize what they were looking at [laughs] As I mentioned that interest seems to have appeared in my childhood there was a large area near 7th Fort where American equipment left over from the war was stored Objects that someone threw away or gave away to the scrapyard The first thing that attracts me is the working mechanism Especially if the item is well made – its shape Every small detail and every screw is very aesthetic… Thanking the interviewer for the conversation I invite the readers to visit the exhibition I would like to protect you from bigger “spoilers” but I guarantee that you will have a memorable experience looking at the city through the eyes of J.R Palys; the eyes that are very Kaunas-like and artistically and technically musical Even the technology collection (called “the machinas” in the style of A Here you will see the original gong that invited people to the film screenings in Romuva and a sextant used at the Vytautas Magnus University during the interwar period and fragments of research laboratory equipment designed by Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis And let’s not forget all the architectural jazz perimeter environment; a glass tunnel connecting the city center with the zoomed-in Nemunas Island and the revived slopes of Freda the synergy of entertainment and industrial shipping in the old port of Freda the transformation of the railway station into a terminal that would not put a European metropolis to shame… I leave you with the architect’s words that he uttered while looking at the extensive collection of urban visions on display: “I called these – urban papyruses … I simply drew the way I thought it would look perhaps detaching myself from reality a bit so that the city could get closer to water Sometimes I even get sick of myself… well This exhibition is part of the ongoing project “The Year of Palys: 7 Dimensions of the City” The project is developed by the editorial team of the architectural e-magazine Pilotas.LT.  The project is partly funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.  The project is also supported by the architectural bureaus DO Architects Bulthaup and the architectural e-magazine PILOTAS.LT Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)