Editing Kaunas

{{Short description|Second-largest city in Lithuania}}
{{about|the city|the county (Kauno apskritis)|Kaunas County}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Kaunas
| official_name      = 
| nickname           = [[Temporary capital of Lithuania|Laikinoji sostinė]], The Little [[Paris]] of [[Interwar period|interwar]]<ref name="InterwarParis">{{cite web |title=Kodėl Kaunas buvo vadinamas mažuoju Paryžiumi? |url=https://kultura.lrytas.lt/istorija/kodel-kaunas-buvo-vadinamas-mazuoju-paryziumi.htm |website=lrytas.lt |access-date=3 January 2013 |language=lt-LT}}</ref>
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = {{multiple images
 | border = infobox
 | total_width = 280
 | image_style = border:1;
 | caption_align = center
 | perrow = 1/2/2/2
 |image1 = Kauno senamiestis by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg
 | caption1 = [[Centras eldership|Kaunas Old Town]]
 |image2 = Kaunas Castle in 2023.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Kaunas Castle]]
 |image3 = House of Perkūnas, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
 | caption3 = [[House of Perkūnas]]
 |image4 = Kauno rotuse 2006-06-11.jpg
 | caption4 = [[Town Hall, Kaunas|Kaunas Town Hall]]
 |image5 = Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas 20220630.JPG
 | caption5 = [[Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas|Church of St. Francis Xavier]]
 |image6 = Kauno Marios.jpg
 | caption6 = [[Kaunas Reservoir]]
 |image7 = Pažaislis Monastery exterior, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg
 | caption7 = [[Pažaislis Monastery]]
}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map of Kaunas
| pushpin_map        = Lithuania#Baltic states#Europe
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Lithuania##Location within the Baltics##Location within Europe
| image_flag         = LTU Kaunas flag.svg
| image_shield       = Coat of Arms of Kaunas.svg
| image_blank_emblem = Kaunas logo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| motto              = ''Diligite justitiam qui judicatis terram''<br />([[Latin]]: Cherish justice, you who judge the earth<ref name="Raffa">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ndVBh8BVb6UC |title=The Complete Danteworlds: A Reader's Guide to the Divine Comedy |last=Raffa |first=Guy P. |date=2009 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |isbn=978-0226702872}}</ref>)
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=y|frame-width=255|frame-height=255|zoom=10|frame-lat=54.90|frame-long=23.93|type=shape-inverse|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#333333|id=Q928938|title=Kaunas}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Lithuania}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Lithuania|Ethnographic region]]
| subdivision_name1  = 
| subdivision_type2  = [[Counties of Lithuania|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Kaunas County]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Kaunas city municipality]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of municipalities of Lithuania|Municipality]]
| subdivision_type6  = [[Capital (political)|Capital of]]
| subdivision_name6  = [[Kaunas County]]
| parts_type         = [[Elderships of Lithuania|Elderships]]
| p1                 = [[Aleksotas]]
| p2                 = [[Centras eldership|Centras]]
| p3                 = [[Dainava (Kaunas)|Dainava]]
| p4                 = [[Eiguliai]]
| p5                 = [[Gričiupis]]
| p6                 = [[Panemunė (Kaunas)|Panemunė]]
| p7                 = [[Petrašiūnai]]
| p8                 = [[Šančiai]]
| p9                 = [[Šilainiai]]
| p10                = [[Vilijampolė]]
| p11                = [[Žaliakalnis]]
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor of Kaunas]]
| leader_name        = [[Visvaldas Matijošaitis]] (2015-)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.kaunas.lt/municipality/mayor |title=Kaunas city municipality – Mayor's office |publisher=Kaunas city municipality |access-date = 2018-06-07}}</ref>
| established_date   = 1361
| established_title  = First mentioned
| established_date2  = 1408
| established_title2 = Granted [[Magdeburg rights|city rights]]
| population_total   = 304,210
| population_as_of   = 2024
| population_urban   = 403,375<ref name="FUA,Euro">{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/URB_LPOP1/default/table?lang=en&category=urb.urb_luz|title=Eurostat|website=eurostat.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
| population_metro   = 623,262<ref>with [[Kaunas county]]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno teritorinė ligonių kasa - Prisirašiusių gyventojų skaičius |url=https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/gydymo-istaigoms-ir-partneriams/sutarciu-sudarymas-su-ligoniu-kasa/gydymo-istaigoms/prisirasiusiu-gyventoju-skaicius-2/kauno-teritorine-ligoniu-kasa-16 |access-date=7 December 2022 |language=lt-LT}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <!-- GDP  --------------->
| demographics_type2 = GDP
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="Counties">{{cite web|title=Bendrasis Vidaus Produktas Pagal Apskritis 2022 M.|url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?articleId=11709298|website=osp.stat.gov.lt}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = Metro
| demographics2_info1 = €14.7 billion (2023)
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = 
| blank3_name        = [[City budget]]
| blank3_info        = €680 million<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kaunas.lt/2024/01/31/kvieciame-susipazinti-su-2024-m-kauno-miesto-biudzetu/|title=Kviečiame susipažinti su 2024 m. Kauno miesto biudžetu}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 157
| area_urban_km2     = 1,653
| area_metro_km2     = 8,086
| elevation_m        = 48
| population_density_km2 = 1903
| population_density_urban_km2 = 230
| population_density_metro_km2 = 77
| population_demonym = {{lang|en|Kaunian(s)}} ([[English language|English]])<br />{{lang|lt|kauniečiai}} ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]])
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| coordinates        = {{coord|54|53|50|N|23|53|10|E|region:LT_type:city(355000)|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 44xxx – 52xxx
| area_code          = (+370) 37
| website            = [http://en.kaunas.lt/ www.kaunas.lt]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2    = [[Humid continental climate|Dfb]]
| footnotes          = {{designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = WHS
| designation1_offname = Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939
| designation1_date = 2023 <small>(45th [[World Heritage Committee|session]])</small>
| designation1_number = <ref>{{cite web |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1661 |title=Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939 |access-date=2023-09-18}}</ref>
| designation1_criteria = iv
| designation1_type = Cultural
| designation1_free1name = UNESCO region
| designation1_free1value = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe]]
}}
}}

'''Kaunas''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|aʊ|n|ə|s}}; {{IPA|lt|ˈkɒʊ̯ˑnˠɐs|lang|Kaunas.ogg}}) is the second-largest [[city]] in [[Lithuania]] after [[Vilnius]], the fourth largest [[List of cities in the Baltic states by population|city]] in the [[Baltic States]] and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life.<ref name="KaunasVle">{{cite web |title=Kaunas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kaunas/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=5 October 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Kaunas was the largest city and the centre of a {{ill|Kaunas County (Grand Duchy of Lithuania)|pl|Powiat kowieński (I Rzeczpospolita)|lt=county}} in the [[Duchy of Trakai]] of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] and [[Trakai Voivodeship|Trakai Palatinate]] since 1413.<!-- There is a historical gap between 1413 and 1843. As listed in the other link (Grand Duchy of Lithuania), in 1386 the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Union established a dynastic union with the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland.[9] --> In the [[Russian Empire]], it was the capital of the [[Kovno Governorate|Kaunas Governorate]] from 1843 to 1915.<ref name="KaunasVle"/>

During the [[interwar period]], it served as the [[temporary capital of Lithuania]], when [[Vilnius]] was [[Polish–Lithuanian War|seized]] and controlled by [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] between 1920 and 1939. During that period Kaunas was celebrated for its rich cultural and academic life, fashion, construction of countless [[Art Deco]] and [[Lithuanian National Revival]]  architectural-style buildings as well as popular furniture, interior design of the time, and a widespread [[café]] culture.<ref name="InterwarParis" /> The city interwar architecture is regarded as among the finest examples of European Art Deco and has received the [[European Heritage Label]].<ref name="EHL"/><ref name="EHL2"/> It contributed to Kaunas being designated as the first city in Central and Eastern Europe as a [[UNESCO]] [[Creative Cities Network|City of Design]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bryant|first1=Jon|title=10 of the best European cities for art deco design|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/sep/08/10-best-european-cities-for-art-deco-design|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=8 September 2016|date=8 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Art Deco Kaunas |url=http://artdecokaunas.lt/ |website=ArtDecoKaunas.lt |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas – Cities of Design Network |url=http://www.designcities.net/city/kaunas/ |website=DesignCities.net |access-date=4 November 2017}}</ref> and also to becoming a [[World Heritage Sites|World Heritage Site]] in 2023 as the only European city representing large scale [[urbanization]] during the interwar period and versatile [[Modern architecture|modernism architecture]].<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web |title=Kauno tarpukario architektūra įrašyta į UNESCO Pasaulio paveldo sąrašą |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/2079277/kauno-tarpukario-architektura-irasyta-i-unesco-pasaulio-paveldo-sarasa |website=Lithuanian National Radio and Television |access-date=18 September 2023 |language=lt |date=18 September 2023}}</ref>

Kaunas was selected as the [[European Capital of Culture]] for 2022, together with [[Esch-sur-Alzette]] and {{awrap|[[Novi Sad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas European Capital of Culture 2022 |url=https://kaunas2022.eu/en/ |website=Kaunas2022.eu |access-date=7 December 2017 |date=21 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208010749/https://kaunas2022.eu/en/ |archive-date=8 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=European Capitals of Culture |url=https://culture.ec.europa.eu/policies/culture-in-cities-and-regions/european-capitals-of-culture |access-date=2022-05-08}}</ref>}}

The city is the capital of [[Kaunas County]], and the seat of the Kaunas city municipality and the [[Kaunas District Municipality]]. It is also the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas]]. Kaunas is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers, the [[Neman|Nemunas]] and the [[Neris]], and is near the [[Kaunas Reservoir]], the largest body of water in the whole of Lithuania.

As defined by Eurostat, the population of Kaunas [[Larger urban zone|functional urban area]], is estimated at 391,153 ({{as of|alt=as of|2023|01}} 2021),<ref>[http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=urb_lpop1&lang=en "Population on 1 January by age groups and sex - functional urban areas". Eurostat]. Retrieved 15 June 2019.</ref> while according to statistics of Kaunas territorial health insurance fund, there are 447,946 permanent inhabitants (as of 2022) in Kaunas and [[Kaunas district]] municipalities combined.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ktlk.lt/istaigoms/statistika-ir-tyrimai/gyventoju-skaicius |title=Gyventojų skaičius » Kauno teritorinė ligonių kasa |website=www.ktlk.lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno teritorinė ligonių kasa - Prisirašiusių gyventojų skaičius |url=https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/gydymo-istaigoms-ir-partneriams/sutarciu-sudarymas-su-ligoniu-kasa/gydymo-istaigoms/prisirasiusiu-gyventoju-skaicius-2/kauno-teritorine-ligoniu-kasa-16|access-date=9 December 2022 |language=lt}}</ref> Moreover, the [[tertiary education]] institutions of Kaunas attract thousands of students annually.<ref name="Students"/>

==Name==
===Etymology===
[[File:CartaMarina.png|thumb|left|Kaunas is named "Cavm" on [[Carta Marina]] from 1539]]
The city's name is of [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] origin and most likely derives from a [[personal name]], however the exact person is unknown and it is believed that he was the ruler of Kaunas Castle.<ref name="Etimologija">{{cite web |title=Kaunas Lietuva |url=https://www.lithuaniainworld.lt/lt/kaunas-lietuva.html |website=Lithuaniainworld.lt |access-date=12 October 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The personal name Kaunas is derived from an [[adjective]] {{langx|lt|kaunus|label=none}} which means "who likes to fight".<ref name="Etimologija"/> Other possible meaning of the name of the city of Kaunas is that it is derived from an old adjective which is not in use anymore and which meant "deep", "low", "located in the valley".<ref name="Etimologija"/>

Before Lithuania regained independence, the city was generally known in English as ''Kovno'', the traditional [[Slavic languages|Slavicized]] form of its name. The Polish name is {{lang|pl|Kowno}} {{IPA|pl|ˈkɔvnɔ|}}, and the names in [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] include {{lang|be|Koўна}} ({{lang|be-Latn|Kowna}} {{IPA|be|ˈkou̯nɐ|}}) and {{lang|be|Каўнас}} ({{lang|be-latn|Kawnas}} {{IPA|be|ˈkau̯nɐs|}}).<ref>http://www.tnpa.by/#!/FileText/328852/231296</ref> The [[Yiddish]] name is {{lang|yi|קאָװנע}} ''{{lang|yi-Latn|Kovne}}'', and the names in [[German language|German]] include ''{{lang|de|Kaunas}}'' and ''{{lang|de|Kauen}}''. On [[Carta Marina]] from 1539, the city was named ''{{lang|la|Cavm}}''. The city and its [[elderships of Lithuania|elderates]] also have names in other languages (see [[Names of European cities in different languages: I-L#K|Names of Kaunas in other languages]] and [[Names of Lithuanian places in other languages#Elderates of Kaunas|names of Kaunas elderates in other languages]]).

===Folk history===
A 16th-century legend in the ''[[Bychowiec Chronicle]]'' claims that Kaunas was established by the Romans in [[ancient history|ancient times]]. These Romans were supposedly led by a patrician named Palemon, who had three sons: Barcus, Kunas and Sperus.<ref name=palemonas>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Lietuvių enciklopedija |title=Palemonas |first=Zenonas |last=Ivinskis |author-link=Zenonas Ivinskis |location=Boston |publisher=Lietuvių enciklopedijos leidykla |year=1953–1966 |volume=21 |pages=400–401 |lccn=55020366}}</ref><ref name="Etimologija"/> Palemon fled from [[Rome]] because he feared the mad Emperor [[Nero]]. Palemon, his sons and other relatives travelled to Lithuania. After Palemon's death, his sons divided his land. Kunas got the land where Kaunas now stands. He built a fortress near the confluence of the [[Neman|Nemunas]] and [[Neris]] rivers and the city that grew up there was named after him. A suburban region in the vicinity is named "Palemonas".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://palemonas.info/palemonas/kauno-mikrorajonas-palemonas/ |title=Palemonas.info; Kauno mikrorajonas – Palemonas |access-date=13 April 2011 |language=lt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824002842/http://palemonas.info/palemonas/kauno-mikrorajonas-palemonas/ |archive-date=24 August 2011 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

According to historian [[Teodor Narbutt]] the Lithuanians previously worshiped god Kaunis whose statue was located in the current Kaunas Old Town near [[Neman]] River.<ref name="Etimologija"/>

==Coat of arms==
[[File:Greater Coat of Arms of Kaunas.svg|left|thumb|Great coat of arms of Kaunas]]
In 1408 [[Vytautas the Great]] granted Kaunas the [[Magdeburg rights|city rights]] and himself chose the coat of arms of Kaunas with [[aurochs]].<ref name="LaimaHerbas">{{cite web |last1=Bucevičiūtė |first1=Laima |title=Kaip LDK laikotarpiu atsirado ir keitėsi Kauno herbas? |url=https://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/kaunas/miesto-pulsas/kaip-ldk-laikotarpiu-atsirado-ir-keitesi-kauno-herbas-844945 |website=Kauno diena |date=5 January 2018 |access-date=4 March 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

On 30 June 1993, the historical [[coat of arms]] of Kaunas city was re-established by a special [[List of rulers of Lithuania|presidential]] decree. The coat of arms features a white [[aurochs]] with a golden cross between its [[Horn (anatomy)|horns]], set against a deep red background. The aurochs was the original heraldic symbol of the city, established in 1400. 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]].<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> The current [[emblem]] was the result of much study and discussion on the part of the Lithuanian [[Heraldry]] Commission, and realized by the artist [[Raimondas Miknevicius]]. An aurochs has replaced a [[wisent]], which was depicted in the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-era emblem that was used since 1969.

Blazon: ''Gules, an [[aurochs]] passant guardant argent ensigned with a cross Or between his horns.''

Kaunas also has a greater coat of arms, which is mainly used for purposes of Kaunas city representation. The sailor, three golden balls, and [[Latin]] text ''"Diligite justitiam qui judicatis terram"'' ([[English language|English]]: Cherish justice, you who judge the earth<ref name="Raffa"/>) in the greater coat of arms refers to [[Saint Nicholas]], patron saint of merchants and seafarers, who was regarded as a heavenly guardian of Kaunas by Queen [[Bona Sforza]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.delfi.lt/kultura/naujienos/tukstantmecio-metu-palydose-bus-pristatytas-didysis-kauno-herbas.d?id=27325801 |title=Tūkstantmečio metų palydose bus pristatytas didysis Kauno herbas |website=Delfi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaunas.lt/ |title=Kauno miesto savivaldybė}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history===
According to the [[Excavation (archaeology)|archeological excavations]], the richest collections of [[ceramic art|ceramics]] and other artifacts found at the confluence of the [[Neman|Nemunas]] and the [[Neris]] rivers are from the [[2nd millennium BC|second]] and [[1st millennium BC|first millennium]] [[Anno Domini|BC]]. During that time, people settled in some territories of the present Kaunas: the confluence of the two [[List of rivers of Lithuania|longest rivers of Lithuania]] area, [[Eiguliai]], Lampėdžiai, Linkuva, Kaniūkai, Marvelė, Pajiesys, [[Romainiai]], [[Petrašiūnai]], Sargėnai, and Veršvai sites.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/>

===Grand Duchy of Lithuania===
{{wide image|Panorama of Kaunas by Tomasz Makowski, 1600.jpg|580px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Kaunas in 1600 by Tomasz Makowski|dir=rtl}}
[[File:Der deutsche Orden erstürmt Kauen.jpg|thumb|left|The Teutonic Order storms Kaunas in 1362 (19th century depiction)]]

A settlement was established on the site of the current Kaunas Old Town, at the confluence of two large rivers, by at latest the 10th century AD and more settlements developed in the 11th century AD.<ref name="NemunasPress">{{cite web |last1=Oniščik 
|first1=Marija 
|title=Kaunas: maža didelio miesto istorija (I) |url=https://www.nemunas.press/straipsniai/kaunas-maza-didelio-miesto-istorija-i/ |website=Nemunas.press |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=lt |date=20 January 2021}}</ref> 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 by the [[Teutonic Order]].<ref name="KaunasMunicipalityHistory">{{cite web 
|title=Miesto istorija |url=http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-istorija/ |website=Kaunas.lt 
|access-date=12 January 2023 
|language=lt
}}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Vaidotas">{{cite web |last1=Baranauskas |first1=Tomas |title=Pažinkime Lietuvos kunigaikščius: Vaidotas |url=http://www.msavaite.lt/pazinkime-lietuvos-kunigaikscius-vaidotas/ |website=Msavaite.lt |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=lt |date=28 May 2021}}</ref> Consequently, Kaunas Castle had a strategic importance, as it prevented the Crusaders from intruding deeper into Lithuania and its capital, [[Vilnius]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaunopilis.lt/istorija |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025104640/http://www.kaunopilis.lt/istorija |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2009 |title=Kauno pilis: istorija |language=lt}}</ref>

In 1362, the [[Siege of Kaunas (1362)|castle was captured]] after a siege of several weeks and destroyed by the Teutonic Order.<ref name=KaunasCastleVisit>{{cite web |url=http://www.kaunas.lt/index.php?1137823477 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928105247/http://www.kaunas.lt/index.php?1137823477 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2011 |title=Places to Visit: "Kaunas Castle"}}</ref><ref name="Sapoka">{{cite web |last1=Šapoka |first1=Adolfas |title=Gediminaičiai: Algirdo ir Kęstučio laikai |url=https://istorijai.lt/gediminaiciai-algirdo-ir-kestucio-laikai/ |website=Istorijai.lt |date=29 June 2017 |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref> Lithuanian rulers [[Kęstutis]] and Grand Duke [[Algirdas]] arrived to help the castle's defenders, but the castle was already surrounded by the fortifications of the Crusaders, and they could only watch the collapse of the castle.<ref name="Vaidotas"/> Most of the 400 castle's defenders were killed in action, and commander [[Vaidotas]] of the Kaunas Castle [[garrison]] tried to break through with 36 men, but was taken and made a [[Prisoner of war|prisoner]].<ref name="Vaidotas"/> 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]].<ref name=el>{{cite encyclopedia 
|editor=Simas Sužiedėlis 
|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]] |title=Vaidotas 
|year=1970–1978 
|publisher=Juozas Kapočius 
|volume=VI 
|location=Boston 
|page=21
|lccn=74-114275 
}}</ref>

[[File:VytautoDidžiojoBažnyčia.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Church of Vytautas the Great]], the oldest church in Kaunas, funded by the [[Grand Duke of Lithuania|Grand Duke]] himself<ref name="VytautasChurch"/>]]
The Lithuanians constructed a new wooden castle on the island of Virgalė, which stood  at the confluence of the Nemunas and Nevėžio rivers; however in 1363 the Crusaders burned the castle.<ref name="Karpinskas">{{cite web |last1=Karpinskas |first1=Giedrius |title=Naujasis Kaunas ir Gotesverderis |url=https://virtualus.kaunomuziejus.lt/istorijos/naujasis-kaunas-ir-gotesverderis/ |website=Virtualus.KaunoMuziejus.lt |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref> The wooden castle was rebuilt, but in 1368 the Crusaders attacked once again, destroyed the castle and, according to the chronicles, killed 600 [[Paganism|pagan]] defenders, while they themselves suffered only three casualties.<ref name="Karpinskas"/><ref name=Rukas/>

The Lithuanians attempted to rebuild the castle with masonry and higher, wider walls, four [[flanking tower]]s, and surrounded by a [[moat]], but before its completion the Crusaders attacked in the summer of 1369, expelled the Lithuanians from the island of Virgalė and with their masonry built [[Gotteswerder Castle]].<ref name="Karpinskas"/><ref name="PilisVle">
{{cite web 
|last1=Jankevičienė 
|first1=Algė 
|last2=Kiaupa 
|first2=Zigmantas |title=Kauno pilis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-pilis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=12 January 2023 
|language=lt}}</ref><ref name="KaunasCastleVisit"/><ref name=Rukas/> Gotteswerder Castle was captured after a five-week siege by the [[Lithuanian Armed Forces#Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army|Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army]], led by Algirdas and Kęstutis, and two wooden castles were built close to it.<ref name=Rukas>{{cite journal |first=Eugenijus |last=Rūkas |title=Pirmoji Kauno pilis ir kovos su Vokiečių ordinu Kauno apylinkėse iki XV a. pradžios |url=https://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2013~1407327300880/J.04~2013~1407327300880.pdf |journal=Kauno istorijos metraštis |year=2013 |volume= 13 |language=lt |pages=229–230 |issn=2335-8734}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Baranauskas |first1=Tomas |title=Gotteswerder |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/gotteswerder/ |website=[[Vle.lt]] |access-date=5 February 2023 |language=lt}}</ref> Nevertheless, the fighting between the Crusaders and the Lithuanians for the area went on until the Lithuanians eventually took control in 1404; it was an important point during the 1409 [[Samogitians|Samogitian]] Rebellion and the [[Lithuanian Crusade#Battle of Grunwald and peace treaties (1410–1422)|1410 war with the Crusaders]].<ref name="PilisVle"/><ref name=Rukas/>

Grand Duke [[Vytautas the Great]] funded [[Church of Vytautas the Great|Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary]] in Kaunas (the construction was completed in 1400) to show his gratitude to the [[Virgin Mary]] for saving him from almost drowning in the river, during the [[Battle of the Vorskla River]], in 1399.<ref name="VytautasChurch">{{cite web |title=Vytautas the Great Church (Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) |url=https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/see-and-do/sights/shrines/vytauto-baznycia-svc-mergeles-marijos-emimo-i-dangu-baznycia/ |website=Visit.Kaunas.lt |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> Following the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410, Kaunas Castle became a residence of the elder of Kaunas, and its military significance decreased.<ref name="PilisVle"/>
{{quote box
| width = 52em
| align = center
| quote = "After leaving [[Punia, Lithuania|Poseur]], I arrived in a large fortified city of Kaunas. It has a very beautiful large castle standing on a cliff of the Nemunas River. Kaunas is twelve miles from Poseur."
| source = —
[[Guillebert de Lannoy]] description of Kaunas during his trip between 1413–1414.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jurginis |first1=J. |last2=Šidlauskas |first2=A. |title=Dvi Žiliberto de Lanua kelionės į Lietuvą |url=https://www.ktug.lt/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/G.-de-Lannoy-keliones-aprasymas.pdf |website=Ktug.lt |page=2 |access-date=12 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Vytautas the Great Monument .jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Statue of Vytautas the Great]] in Kaunas]]
In 1408, the town was granted [[Magdeburg rights]] by Vytautas the Great and in 1413 became the centre of [[Kaunas County|Kaunas Powiat]], in [[Trakai Voivodeship]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Rimvydas |last=Laužikas |publisher=[[Lithuanian Institute of History]] |work=Aruodai |date=15 October 2004 |url=http://www.aruodai.lt/paieska/terminas.php?TeId=1756 |title=Trakų vaivadija |access-date=22 April 2011|language=lt}}</ref><ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> Moreover, Vytautas ceded Kaunas the right to own the scales used for weighing the goods brought to the city or packed on the site, the wax processing, and woolen cloth-trimming facilities. The power of the self-governing Kaunas was shared by three interrelated major institutions: ''vaitas'' (the [[Mayor]]), the [[Magistrate]] (12 [[lay judge]]s and 4 [[burgomaster]]s), and the so-called [[Bencher]]s' Court (12 persons). Kaunas began to gain prominence, since it was at the intersection of [[trade route]]s and a [[Inland port|river port]].<ref>{{cite web |title=L.Karalius: "Europos pirkliai puikiai žinojo Kauną LDK laikais" |url=http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/trasa/l-karalius-europos-pirkliai-puikiai-zinojo-kauna-ldk-laikais-/172407/ |website=LZinios.lt |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=5 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042145/http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/trasa/l-karalius-europos-pirkliai-puikiai-zinojo-kauna-ldk-laikais-/172407/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, Kaunas became an important port and centre of trade with [[Western Europe]], thus rapidly growing.<ref name="KaunasMunicipalityHistory"/> In 1441, Kaunas joined the [[Hanseatic League]], and Hansa merchant office [[Kontor]] was opened – the only one in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Jennifer |last=Mills |title=The Hanseatic League in the Eastern Baltic |url=http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/hansa.html |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Baltic History (group research project) |publisher=[[University of Washington]] |date=May 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629134048/http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/hansa.html |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

By the 16th century, Kaunas also had a public school and a hospital and was one of the most firmly established towns in the whole country.<ref name="KaunasMunicipalityHistory"/><ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> Furthermore, in the 16th century Grand Duchess [[Bona Sforza]] achieved that the Kaunas Eldership should become a property of the [[Jagiellonian dynasty]]; starting in 1533, she carried out the [[Volok Reform]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1557 11 19 mirė Lenkijos karalienė, Lietuvos dk Bona Sforca d'Aragona |url=https://www.delfi.lt/archive/1557-11-19-mire-lenkijos-karaliene-lietuvos-dk-bona-sforca-daragona.d?id=25560351 |website=[[DELFI]], [[Lithuanian Institute of History]] |access-date=4 March 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

[[File:Kauno graviūra, 1686.jpg|thumb|Panorama of Kaunas in 1686 and one of the first descriptions of the city]]
The greatest economic boom of Kaunas was in the late 16th – early 17th century, which led to construction of many [[Masonry#Brick|brick masonry]] buildings throughout the city.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> In the early 17th century, the prosperity of Kaunas led to the beginning of the construction of the [[Wall of Kaunas]], which, however, was not completed, due to later wars and economic reasons.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bertašius |first1=Mindaugas |title=Kauno miesto gynybinė siena |url=http://kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt/lt/paieska/objektas/1739/kauno-miesto-gynybine-siena |website=Kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt 
|access-date=5 February 2023 
|language=lt
}}</ref> In 1665, the Russian army attacked the city several times, and in 1701 the city was occupied by the [[Swedish Army]], during the [[Great Northern War]].<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> The [[bubonic plague]] struck the area in 1657 and 1708, killing many residents.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> Fires destroyed parts of the city in 1731 and 1732.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/>

In the first half of the 18th century, the northern wall and two towers of the Kaunas Castle collapsed, due to damage from river water, and this led to abandonment of the castle, and it turned into ruins.<ref name="PilisVle"/> Subsequently, a jail was established in one part of the castle, in the middle of the 18th century.<ref name="PilisVle"/> At the end of the 18th century, the castle was sometimes used to hold meetings of [[Lithuanian nobility|noble families]] of Kaunas Powiat.<ref name="PilisVle"/>

===Russian Empire===
[[File:Kaunas.Lietuva.Kaunas Castle.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the [[Kaunas Castle]] with [[Church of St. George the Martyr, Kaunas|Church of St. George the Martyr]] in the distance, painted in the 19th century]]
[[File:Kowno ca 1915 (118737593) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Panorama of Kaunas, ca 1915]]
After the [[Third Partition of Poland|third and final partition of the Polish–Lithuanian state]] in 1795, the city was taken over by the [[Russian Empire]] and became a part of [[Vilna Governorate]].<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> During the [[French invasion of Russia]] in 1812, the [[Grande Armée|Grand Army]] of [[Napoleon]] passed through Kaunas twice, devastating the city both times. A hill fort mound in Kaunas is named Napoleon's Hill.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/>

To prevent possible easy access through the city and protect the western borders of Russia, the [[Kaunas Fortress|Kovno Fortress]] was built. It is still visible throughout the town.<ref>{{citation|title=Kauno tvirtovės istorija|publisher=Gintaras Česonis|url=http://tvirtove.kaunas.lt/|year=2004|access-date=20 March 2011|language=lt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510074436/http://tvirtove.kaunas.lt/|archive-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>

[[Kovno Governorate]], with a centre in Kovno (Kaunas), was formed in 1843. In 1862, a railway connecting the [[Russian Empire]] and [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]] was built, making Kaunas a significant railway hub with one of the first [[Kaunas Railway Tunnel|railway tunnels]] in the Empire, completed in 1861. In 1898 the first [[power plant]] in Lithuania started operating.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lpc.lt/en/main/about/short/development |title=Lietuvos Energija > About us > Profile > Development of Lithuanian energy sector |access-date=20 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203021715/http://www.lpc.lt/en/main/about/short/development |archive-date=3 February 2011}} AB [[Lietuvos Energija]]. Development of Lithuanian Energy Sector.</ref>

[[File:Kaunas Priest Seminary, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kaunas Priest Seminary]] was one of the centres of the [[Lithuanian National Revival]] during the [[Russification#Lithuania and Poland|Russification era]]]]
[[File:VIIth fort barracks.jpg|thumb|right|One of the [[Kaunas Fortress]] barracks]]
After the unsuccessful [[January Uprising]] in 1863 against the Russian Empire, the tsarist authority moved the Catholic Seminary of [[Varniai]], prominent bishop [[Motiejus Valančius]] and [[Samogitian diocese]] institutions to Kaunas, where they were given the former [[Bernardines (Franciscans)|Bernardine]] Monastery Palace and [[St. George the Martyr Church, Kaunas|St. George the Martyr Church]].<!-- Formerly used by what religious body? --><ref>{{cite web |title=Žemaičių vyskupystės istorinis ir dailės palikimas |url=https://www.limis.lt/virtualios-parodos/-/virtualExhibitions/view/26111 |website=www.limis.lt |access-date=2 November 2017 |language=lt-LT |archive-date=19 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182444/https://www.limis.lt/virtualios-parodos/-/virtualExhibitions/view/26111 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Only selected [[Lithuanian nobility|noblemen]] were permitted to study in the Seminary, with the only exception being peasant son [[Antanas Baranauskas]], who illegally received the nobleman documents from [[Karolina Proniewska|Karolina Praniauskaitė]]. He began lectures using the [[Lithuanian language]], rather than Russian, and greatly influenced the spirit of the seminarians by narrating about the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|ancient Lithuania]] and especially its earthwork mounds. Later, many of the Seminary students were active in Lithuanian [[knygnešiai|book smuggling]]; its chief main objective was to resist the [[Russification#Lithuania and Poland|Russification policy]]. [[Kaunas Priest Seminary|Kaunas Spiritual Seminary]] finally became completely Lithuanian when in 1909 professor [[Maironis|Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis]] became the rector of the Seminary, and replaced use of the Polish language for teaching with the Lithuanian language.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kauno kunigų seminarija – katalikybės ir lietuvybės židinys|url=http://www.xxiamzius.lt/numeriai/2004/12/10/ora_02.html|website=www.xxiamzius.lt|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428213621/http://www.xxiamzius.lt/numeriai/2004/12/10/ora_02.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Prior to the [[World War II|Second World War]], Kaunas, like many cities in [[Eastern Europe]], had a significant Jewish population. According to the [[Russian Empire Census|Russian census of 1897]], Jews numbered 25,500, 35.3% of the total of 73,500. The population was recorded as 25.8% Russian, 22.7% Polish, 6.6% Lithuanian.<ref>Robert Blobaum, Feliks Dzierzynski, ''The SDKPIL: a study of the origins of Polish Communism'', p. 42</ref> It established numerous schools and synagogues and were important for centuries to the culture and business of the city.

During the [[Imperial Russian Army]]'s [[Great Retreat (Russian)|Great Retreat]] of [[World War I]], [[Paul von Hindenburg]]'s [[10th Army (German Empire)|German Tenth Army]] occupied Kaunas in August 1915.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Robson |first=Stuart |url=http://archive.org/details/firstworldwar0000robs_r5x1 |title=The First World War |publisher=Pearson Longman |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4058-2471-2 |edition=1 |location=Harrow, England |pages=25 |ref=None |via=Archive Foundation}}</ref>

===Interwar Lithuania===
{{Main|Temporary capital of Lithuania}}
[[File:Presidium of the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania in the Seimas Meeting Hall, decorated with the Columns of Gediminas and Lithuanian Vytis, in Kaunas in 1920.jpg|thumb|Presidium of the [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania]] in the Seimas Meeting Hall in Kaunas in 1920]]
[[File:Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas (2017).jpg|thumb|right|[[Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas|The Historical Presidential Palace]]]]
[[File:Kaunas during inter-war.jpg|thumb|Kaunas in the early years of the [[interwar period]] with [[Horsecar|horse-drawn trams]]]]

After [[Vilnius]] was occupied by the [[Red Army]] in 1919, the [[Government of Lithuania|Government of the Republic of Lithuania]] established its main base in Kaunas during the [[Lithuanian Wars of Independence]]. Later, after the capital, Vilnius, had been annexed by the [[Second Polish Republic]], Kaunas became the [[temporary capital of Lithuania]].<ref name="eidintas">{{cite book |last=Eidintas |first=Alfonsas |author2=Vytautas Žalys |author3=Alfred Erich Senn |editor=Ed. Edvardas Tuskenis |title=Lithuania in European Politics: The Years of the First Republic, 1918–1940 |edition=Paperback |date=1999 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=0-312-22458-3 |pages=67–70}}</ref> It would hold this position until 28 October 1939, when the [[Red Army]] handed Vilnius over to Lithuania after its [[Soviet invasion of Poland|invasion of Poland]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Lithuania 1940: Revolution from Above |url=https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarevolut00senn |url-access=limited |first=Alfred Erich |last=Senn |publisher=Rodopi |series=On the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics |year=2007 |isbn=978-90-420-2225-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarevolut00senn/page/n16 10]}}</ref> The [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania]] first met in Kaunas on 15 May 1920. It passed some important laws, particularly on land reform, on the national currency, and adopted a new constitution. The military [[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état|coup d'état]] took place in Kaunas on 17 December 1926. It was largely organized by the military, especially general [[Povilas Plechavičius]], and resulted in the replacement of the [[democracy|democratically elected]] Government and President [[Kazys Grinius]] with a conservative [[Lithuanian Nationalist Union|nationalist]] [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian Government]] led by [[Antanas Smetona]].<ref name=vardys>{{cite book |first=Vytas Stanley |last=Vardys |author2=Judith B. Sedaitis |title=Lithuania: The Rebel Nation |publisher=WestviewPress |year=1997 |series=Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics |isbn=0-8133-1839-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarebelna00vard/page/34 34–36] |url=https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarebelna00vard/page/34}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, tension between Antanas Smetona and [[Augustinas Voldemaras]], supported by the [[Iron Wolf (organization)|Iron Wolf Association]], arose seeking to gain authority. After the [[1934 Lithuanian coup d'état attempt|unsuccessful coup attempt in June 1934]], Voldemaras was imprisoned for four years and received an amnesty on condition that he leave the country.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aras|first1=Lukšas|title=Nevykę "vilkų" žaidimai|url=http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/Istorija/nevyke-vilku-zaidimai/161356/|website=LZinios.lt|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123023105/https://www.lzinios.lt/lzinios/Istorija/nevyke-vilku-zaidimai/161356|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Kaunas Garrison Officers' Club Building in 2017.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kaunas Garrison Officers' Club]]]]
[[File:S.Dariaus ir S.Girėno laidotuvės Kaune-01.jpg|thumb|left|Funeral procession of Lithuanian national heroes – ''[[Lituanica]]'' pilots [[Steponas Darius]] and [[Stasys Girėnas]]]]

During the [[interwar period]], Kaunas was nicknamed the ''Little Paris'' because of its rich cultural and academic life, fashion, [[Art Deco]] architecture, Lithuanian National Romanticism architectural style buildings as well as popular furniture, interior design of the time and widespread [[Coffeehouse|café]] culture.<ref name="InterwarParis" /><ref name="IPKaunas">{{cite web |title=Kaunas - laikinoji sostinė |url=https://istorineprezidentura.lt/apie-mus/kaunas.html |website=IstorinePrezidentura.lt |language=lt |access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref> The interim capital and the country itself also had a [[Western world|Western]] standard of living with sufficiently high salaries and low prices. At the time, qualified workers there were earning very similar [[real wages]] to workers in [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]] and [[France]], the country also had a high [[Rate of natural increase|natural increase in population]] of 9.7 and the [[industrial production]] of Lithuania increased by 160% from 1913 to 1940.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lapinskas|first1=Anatolijus|title=Lietuva tarpukariu nebuvo atsilikėlė|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/lietuva-tarpukariu-nebuvo-atsilikele.d?id=61355765|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=29 September 2013}}</ref> The population of Kaunas increased 8,6 times during the interwar period from ~18,000 to ~154,000 residents.<ref name="IPKaunas"/>

Between the [[World Wars]], industry prospered in Kaunas, which was the largest city in Lithuania. Under the direction of Mayor [[Jonas Vileišis]] (1921–1931) Kaunas grew rapidly and was extensively modernised. A water and waste water system, costing more than 15 million Lithuanian litas, was put in place, the city expanded from {{convert|18|to|40|km2|abbr=out}}, more than 2,500 buildings were built, plus three modern bridges over the Neris and Nemunas rivers. All of the city's streets were paved, horse-drawn transportation was replaced with modern bus lines, new suburbs were planned and built ([[Žaliakalnis]] neighbourhood in particular), and new parks and squares were established.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> The foundations of a [[social security|social security system]] were laid, three new schools were built, and new [[Public library|public libraries]], including the [[Vincas Kudirka]] library, were established. Vileišis maintained many contacts in other [[list of metropolitan areas in Europe by population|European cities]], and as a result, Kaunas was an active participant in European urban life.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Kazimieras |last=Dobkevičius |title=Klojęs Lietuvos valstybės pamatus |journal=XXI amžius |volume=10 |issue=1017 |date=6 February 2002 |access-date=20 July 2011 |url=http://www.xxiamzius.lt/archyvas/xxiamzius/20020206/atmi_02.html |language=lt |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928152534/http://www.xxiamzius.lt/archyvas/xxiamzius/20020206/atmi_02.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Antanas Smetona inspects the Lithuanian Army soldiers.jpg|thumb|right|President [[Antanas Smetona]] inspects the [[Lithuanian Army]] soldiers]]
[[File:Romuladas Marcinkus reporting.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lithuanian Air Force]] pilots with their [[ANBO 41]] in [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Airport|Linksmadvaris aerodrome]]]]
The city also was a particularly important centre for the [[Lithuanian Armed Forces]]. In January 1919, during the [[Lithuanian Wars of Independence]], the [[War School of Kaunas]] was established and started to train soldiers who were soon sent to the front to strengthen the fighting [[Lithuanian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Karo Mokyklos Kūrimasis 1919 M.|url=http://www.partizanai.org/karys-1-1950m-2/karys-2-1950m/4009-karo-mokyklos-kurimasis-1919-m|website=Partizanai.org|access-date=27 November 2017|language=lt-lt}}</ref> Part of the Lithuanian [[Vehicle armour|armoured vehicles]] military unit was moved to [[Žaliakalnis]], armed with advanced and brand new tanks, including the famous [[Renault FT]], [[Vickers-Armstrong]] Model 1933 and Model 1936.<ref name="Tanks">{{cite web|title=Šarvuota Lietuva: kiek iš tikro mūsų kariuomenė turėjo tankų? :: Istorija ir archeologija :: www.technologijos.lt|url=http://www.technologijos.lt/n/mokslas/istorija_ir_archeologija/S-60014/straipsnis/Sarvuota-Lietuva-kiek-is-tikro-musu-kariuomene-turejo-tanku|website=www.technologijos.lt|access-date=21 February 2017|language=lt}}</ref> In May 1919, the [[Karo aviacijos tiekimo skyrius|Lithuanian Aircraft State Factory]] was founded in [[Freda, Kaunas|Freda]] to repair and to supply the army with [[military aircraft]]. It was considerably modernized by [[Antanas Gustaitis]] and started to build Lithuanian ANBO military aircraft. The exceptional discipline and regularity caused the [[Lithuanian Air Force]] to be an example for other military units. The [[ANBO IV|ANBO 41]] was far ahead of the most modern foreign reconnaissance aircraft of that time in structural features, and most importantly in speed and in rate of climb.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paskutinįjį Lietuvos karo aviacijos viršininką prisimenant|url=http://www.xxiamzius.lt/archyvas/xxiamzius/20030409/istving_01.html|website=www.xxiamzius.lt|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Bund self-defense group in Kaunas Trim.jpg|thumb|left|[[General Jewish Labour Bund|Bund]] self-defense group in Kaunas {{circa}} 1900s]]

At the time, Kaunas had a [[Jewish population]] of 35,000–40,000, about one quarter of the city's total population.<ref name="Kovno">{{cite web|url=http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005174 |title=Kovno |publisher=Ushmm.org |access-date=5 May 2009}}</ref> Jews made up much of the city's commercial, artisan, and professional sectors. Kaunas was a centre of Jewish learning, and the [[Yeshivas Knesses Yisrael (Slabodka)|yeshiva in Slobodka]] ([[Vilijampolė]]) was one of Europe's most prestigious institutes of higher Jewish learning. Kaunas had a rich and varied [[Jewish culture]]. There were almost 100 Jewish organizations, 40 synagogues, many Yiddish schools, 4 Hebrew [[High school (upper secondary)|high schools]], a [[Barnes-Jewish Hospital|Jewish hospital]], and scores of Jewish-owned businesses.<ref name="Kovno" /> It was also an important [[Zionist]] centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/this_month/resources/kovno.asp |title=This Month in Holocaust History - Related Resources |access-date=12 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417095333/http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/this_month/resources/kovno.asp |archive-date=17 April 2014}}</ref>

Initially prior to [[World War II]], Lithuania declared [[neutral powers during World War II|neutrality]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Liekis |first1=Šarūnas |title=1939: The Year that Changed Everything in Lithuania's History |date=2010 |publisher=Rodopi |location=New York |isbn=978-9042027626 |pages=119–122 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ST3LrBPOM4gC&q=Lithuanian+Neutrality+Law&pg=PA120}}</ref> However, on 7 October 1939, the Lithuanian delegation departed to [[Moscow]], where it later had to sign the [[Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty]] because of the unfavorable situation. The treaty resulted in five Soviet military bases with 20,000 troops established across Lithuania in exchange for Lithuania's historical capital Vilnius. According to the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence [[Kazys Musteikis]], Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Juozas Urbšys]] initially told that Lithuanians refused [[Vilnius Region]] as well as the Russian garrisons, but the nervous [[Joseph Stalin]] replied, "No matter if you take Vilnius or not, the Russian garrisons will enter Lithuania anyway".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gureckas|first1=Algimantas|title=Ar Lietuva galėjo išsigelbėti 1939–1940 metais?|url=https://kultura.lrytas.lt/-12778267981275752223-ar-lietuva-gal%C4%97jo-i%C5%A1sigelb%C4%97ti-1939-1940-metais.htm|website=lrytas.lt|access-date=30 June 2010|language=lt-LT}}</ref> He also informed Juozas Urbšys about the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact|Soviet–German secret protocols]] and showed maps of the spheres of influence.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Juozas |last=Urbšys |url=http://www.lituanus.org/1989/89_2_03.htm |journal=Lituanus |title=Lithuania and the Soviet Union 1939–1940: the Fateful Year |issue=34 |volume=2 |date=Summer 1989 |issn=0024-5089 |access-date=10 December 2017 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926060726/http://www.lituanus.org/1989/89_2_03.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> Two of the military bases with thousands of Soviet soldiers were established close to Kaunas in [[Prienai]] and [[Gaižiūnai]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Piotr |last=Łossowski |title=The Lithuanian–Soviet Treaty of October 1939 |journal=Acta Poloniae Historica |year=2002 |issue=86 |issn=0001-6829 |pages=98–101}}</ref> Despite regaining the beloved historical capital, the Presidency and the Government remained in Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cibulskis |first1=Gediminas |title=Lietuvos sostinės atgavimo kaina |url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/lietuvos-sostines-atgavimo-kaina-10-61984 |website=15min.lt |access-date=28 October 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Communists with the Lithuanian Army soldiers.jpg|thumb|right|[[Soviet]] political leader (without [[Shoulder strap#Military shoulder strap|military shoulder straps]]) and the [[People's Seimas]] member (with red rose in his jacket [[lapel]]) announces to the [[Lithuanian People's Army]] [[non-commissioned officers]] that "soon you will become members of the [[Red Army]]" in Kaunas, 1940]]
On 14 June 1940, just before midnight, the last meeting of the Lithuanian government was held in Kaunas. During it, the [[1940 Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania|ultimatum presented by the Soviet Union]] was debated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Šimtmečio belaukiant: Reikšmingiausi Pirmosios Lietuvos Respublikos (1918–1940 m.) įvykiai|url=http://istorineprezidentura.lt/balsavimas4/rezultatai.php?visi=irasai&rodyti=irasa&irasas=453|website=IstorinePrezidentura.lt|access-date=3 November 2017|archive-date=1 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901214159/http://istorineprezidentura.lt/balsavimas4/rezultatai.php?visi=irasai|url-status=dead}}</ref> President [[Antanas Smetona]] categorically declined to accept most of the ultimatum's demands, argued for military resistance and was supported by Kazys Musteikis, [[Konstantinas Šakenis]], [[Kazimieras Jokantas]], however the Commander of the Armed Forces [[Vincas Vitkauskas]], Divisional General [[Stasys Raštikis]], [[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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Musteikis |first1=Kazys |title=Prisiminimų fragmentai |date=1989 |publisher=Mintis |location=Vilnius |pages=56–57 |url=http://www.šaltiniai.info/files/istorija/II00/Ultimatumas_ir_paskutinis_vyriausyb%C4%97s_pos%C4%97dis.II0300.pdf |access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> On that night before officially accepting the ultimatum, the Soviet forces executed the Lithuanian border guard {{ill|Aleksandras Barauskas|lt}} near the [[Byelorussian SSR]] border.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Juozevičiūtė|first1=Vilma|last2=Trimonienė|first2=Rūta|title=Aleksandras Barauskas|url=http://genocid.lt/UserFiles/File/Atmintinos_datos/2015/201506_barauskas_biog.pdf|website=Genocid.lt|access-date=30 January 2018}}</ref> In the morning, the Lithuanian Government resigned, and the president left the country to avoid the fate of the Soviets' puppets and in the hope of forming a [[government-in-exile]].<ref name="Partizanai">{{cite web|last1=Ašmenskas|first1=Viktoras|title=Didžiosios tautos aukos|url=http://www.partizanai.org/failai/html/tautos-aukos.htm|website=Partizanai.org|access-date=3 November 2017}}</ref> Soon the [[Soviet invasion of Lithuania|Red Army flooded Lithuania]] through the [[Belarus–Lithuania border]] with more than 200,000 soldiers and took control of the most important cities, including Kaunas where the heads of state resided. The Lithuanian Armed Forces were ordered not to resist, and the [[Lithuanian Air Force]] remained on the ground.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Senn|first1=Alfred Erich|title=Lithuania 1940: Revolution from Above|url=https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarevolut00senn|url-access=limited|date=2007|publisher=Rodopi|isbn=978-90-420-2225-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/lithuaniarevolut00senn/page/n105 99]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Šeinius|first1=Ignas|title=Kaip raudonarmiečiai įžengė į Lietuvą: apverktinai atrodę kariai ir lygiame kelyje gedę tankai|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/ringas/lit/kaip-raudonarmieciai-izenge-i-lietuva-apverktinai-atrode-kariai-ir-lygiame-kelyje-gede-tankai.d?id=76512879|website=DELFI|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> At the time, the Lithuanian Armed Forces had 26,084 soldiers (of which 1,728 officers) and 2,031 civil servants.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| title=Reguliariosios pajėgos |volume=I |encyclopedia=Lietuva | editor=Antanas Račis |year=2008 |publisher=[[Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing Institute]] |isbn=978-5-420-01639-8 |page=335|language=lt}}</ref> While the [[Lithuanian Riflemen's Union]], subordinate to the army commander, had over 62,000 members, of which about 70% were farmers and agricultural workers.<ref name="ArmyDestruction">{{cite web|last1=Knezys|first1=Stasys|title=Lietuvos kariuomenės naikinimas (1940 m. birželio 15 d.–1941 m.)|url=http://genocid.lt/GRTD/Tremtis/stasys.htm|website=Genocid.lt|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref>

After the occupation, the Soviets immediately took brutal action against the high-ranking officials of the state. Both targets of the ultimatum, [[Ministry of the Interior (Lithuania)|Minister of the Interior]] [[Kazys Skučas]] and the Director of the State Security Department of Lithuania [[Augustinas Povilaitis]], were transported to Moscow and later executed. [[Antanas Gustaitis]], [[Kazys Bizauskas]], [[Vytautas Petrulis]], [[Kazimieras Jokantas]], [[Jonas Masiliūnas]], [[Antanas Tamošaitis]] also faced that fate, and President [[Aleksandras Stulginskis]], [[Juozas Urbšys]], [[Leonas Bistras]], [[Antanas Merkys]], [[Pranas Dovydaitis]], [[Petras Klimas]], [[Donatas Malinauskas]] and [[Soviet deportations from Lithuania|thousands of others were deported]].<ref name="Partizanai" /> [[Stasys Raštikis]], persuaded by his wife, secretly crossed the German border. After realizing this, [[NKVD]] started terror against the Raštikis family. His wife was separated from their one-year-old daughter and brutally interrogated at [[Kaunas Prison]], his old father Bernardas Raštikis, three daughters, two brothers and sister were deported to [[Siberia]].<ref name="Rastikis">{{cite web|last1=Starinskas|first1=Kęstutis|title=Lemtingi metai generolo Raštikio dienoraščiuose|url=http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/zmones/lemtingi-metai-generolo-rastikio-dienorasciuose/103318/|website=LZinios.lt|access-date=16 September 2006|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190315/https://www.lzinios.lt/lzinios/zmones/lemtingi-metai-generolo-rastikio-dienorasciuose/103318/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Soldiers, [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]], [[Field officer|senior officers]] and [[List of generals of the Lithuanian Army|generals]] of the Lithuanian Army and LRU members, who were seen as a threat to the occupiers, were quickly arrested, interrogated and released to the reserve, deported to the [[concentration camp]]s or executed, which made many, trying to avoid that fate, join the [[Lithuanian partisan]] forces. The army itself was initially renamed the [[Lithuanian People's Army]] but was later reorganised into the [[29th Rifle Corps (Soviet Union)|29th Rifle Corps of the Soviet Union]].<ref name="ArmyDestruction" />

===Soviet occupation and June Uprising===
{{Main|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|June Uprising in Lithuania}}
[[File:Delegation of the Lithuanian People's Army attending the session of the People's Seimas in 1940.jpg|thumb|Delegation of the [[Lithuanian People's Army|army]] attending the session of the [[People's Seimas]] in Kaunas following the [[Electoral fraud|rigged election]]]]
In June 1940, the [[Soviet Union]] [[military occupation|occupied]] and [[annexation|annexed]] Lithuania in accordance with the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]].<ref>I. Žiemele. Baltic Yearbook of International Law, 2001. 2002, Vol. 1 p. 10</ref><ref>K. Dawisha, B. Parrott. The Consolidation of Democracy in East-Central Europe. 1997 p. 293.</ref> [[Vladimir Dekanozov]], a Soviet emissary from Moscow, gained effective power in 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 of Lithuania|Communist Party]] to establish itself. To establish the legitimacy of the government and design the plans of Lithuania's "legal accession to the USSR", on 1 July, the [[Seimas]] of Lithuania was dismissed, and elections to the puppet [[People's Seimas]] were announced. 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.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Lietuvos okupacija (1940 m. birželio 15 d.)|url=http://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=7365&p_k=1|website=LRS.lt|access-date=4 December 2017|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122071116/https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=7365&p_k=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Lithuanian rebels (Lithuanian Activist Front) lead the disarmed soldiers of the Red Army during the June Uprising, 1941.jpg|thumb|right|Lithuanian insurgents ([[Lithuanian Activist Front|LAF]]) lead the disarmed soldiers of the [[Red Army]] in the [[Vilniaus Street, Kaunas|Vilniaus Street]] in Kaunas]]
[[File:LAF fighters lead the arrested Commissar of the Red Army.jpg|thumb|right|LAF insurgents lead the arrested [[Commissar]] of the Red Army in Kaunas]]
[[File:Session of the Provisional Government of Lithuania.jpg|thumb|right|Session of the [[Provisional Government of Lithuania]] in Kaunas]]
After the occupation, the [[Lithuanian Diplomatic Service]] did not recognize the new occupiers' authority and started the diplomatic liberation campaign of Lithuania.<ref name="auto"/> In 1941, [[Kazys Škirpa]], [[Leonas Prapuolenis]], [[Juozas Ambrazevičius]] and their supporters, including the former Commander of the Lithuanian Army General [[Stasys Raštikis]], whose whole family was deported to [[Siberia]], began organizing an uprising.<ref name="Rastikis"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Blaževičius|first1=Kazys|title=Už laisvę|url=http://www.xxiamzius.lt/archyvas/priedai/uzlaisve/20060621/1-1.html|website=www.xxiamzius.lt|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630195209/http://www.xxiamzius.lt/archyvas/priedai/uzlaisve/20060621/1-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> After realizing the reality of the repressive and brutal Soviet rule, in the early morning of 22 June 1941 (the first day when the [[Nazi Germany]] [[Operation Barbarossa|attacked the Soviet Union]]), Lithuanians began the [[June Uprising in Lithuania|June Uprising]], which was organized by the [[Lithuanian Activist Front]], in Kaunas, where its main forces were concentrated. The uprising soon expanded to [[Vilnius]] and other locations. Its main goal was not to fight the Soviets but to secure the city from the inside (secure organizations, institutions, enterprises) and declare independence. By the evening of 22 June, the Lithuanians had controlled the [[Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas|Presidential Palace]], post office, telephone and telegraph, and radio station. Control of Vilnius and most of the rest of Lithuanian territory was also shortly taken over by the rebels.<ref name="LLKS">{{cite web|title=Kuo reikšmingas 1941 m. birželio 22–28 d. sukilimas?|url=http://www.llks.lt/Varpo%20straipsniai/Kuo%20reiksmingas%20Birzelio%20sukilimas.html|website=LLKS.lt|access-date=20 June 2014|archive-date=21 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621123313/http://www.llks.lt/Varpo%20straipsniai/Kuo%20reiksmingas%20Birzelio%20sukilimas.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Multiple Red Army divisions stationed around Kaunas, including the brutal [[Separate Operational Purpose Division|1st Motor Rifle Division NKVD]] responsible for the [[June deportation]], and the puppet [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic]] regime commanders were forced to flee into the [[Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic|Latvian SSR]] through the [[Daugava]] River. The commander of the Red Army's [[188th Rifle Division]] colonel Piotr Ivanov reported to the [[11th Army (Soviet Union)|11th Army]] Staff that during the retreat of his division through Kaunas "local counterrevolutionaries from the shelters deliberately fired on the Red Army, the detachments suffering heavy losses of soldiers and military equipment".<ref>{{cite web|title=1941 metų Joninės. Šlovės savaitė: kaip lietuviai laimėjo hibridinį karą prieš Kremlių « Lietuvos Žurnalistų draugija|url=http://www.lzdraugija.lt/2016/06/1941-metu-jonines-sloves-savaite-kaip-lietuviai-laimejo-hibridini-kara-pries-kremliu/|website=Lietuvos žurnalistų draugija|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Aleksandravičius|first1=Arnoldas|title=1941 metų Joninės. Šlovės savaitė: kaip lietuviai laimėjo hibridinį karą prieš Kremlių|url=http://kariuomeneskurejai.lt/veikla/savanoriu-istorijos-fragmentai/apie-antraja-savanoriu-banga-1941-m-sukilelius-lietuvos-partizanus/aleksandravicius-1941-metu-jonines-sloves-savaite-kaip-lietuviai-laimejo-hibridini-kara-pries-kremliu/|website=Lietuvos kariuomenės kūrėjų savanorių sąjunga|access-date=26 June 2016|language=lt-LT}}</ref> About 5,000 occupants were killed in Lithuania.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brandišauskas |first=Valentinas |title=Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės |url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ |access-date=4 July 2009 |year=2002 |publisher=Elektroninės leidybos namai |location=Vilnius |isbn=9986-9216-9-4 |chapter=1941 m. sukilimas ir nepriklausomybės viltys |chapter-url=http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/?id=1042 |language=lt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303191252/http://mkp.emokykla.lt/gimtoji/ |archive-date=3 March 2008}}</ref>

On 23 June 1941 at 9:28 am ''[[Tautiška giesmė]]'', the [[national anthem]] of Lithuania, was played on the radio in Kaunas. Many people listened to the Lithuanian national anthem with tears in their eyes.<ref>{{cite web|title=The History of Lithuania's National Anthem|url=http://www.draugas.org/news/the-history-of-lithuania-s-national-anthem/|website=DRAUGAS NEWS|access-date=15 September 2015}}</ref> 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 of Lithuania|Provisional Government]] were announced by [[Leonas Prapuolenis]]. The message was being repeated several times in different languages. 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 (1939–1945)|Slovak Republic]]), was seeking the protection of its citizens and did not support the [[Nazis]]' [[Holocaust]] policy.<ref name="LLKS" /> However, the Provisional Government did little to stop the anti-Jewish violence encouraged by the Nazis and the anti-Semitic leadership of the [[Lithuanian Activist Front]].<ref name="auto1">Sužiedėlis, Saulius. "[http://www.lituanus.org/2001/01_4_04.htm The Burden of 1941] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120915234334/http://www.lituanus.org/2001/01_4_04.htm |date=15 September 2012}}". ''Lituanus'' Lithuanian Quarterly Journal of Arts and Sciences, Volume 47, No. 4 (Winter 2001).</ref>

Minister of National Defence General [[Stasys Raštikis]] met personally with the [[Wehrmacht]] generals to discuss the situation.<ref name="LLKS"/> He approached the Kaunas War Field Commandant General [[Oswald Pohl]] and the Military Command Representative General [[Karl von Roques]] by trying to plead for him to spare the Jews, but they replied that the [[Gestapo]] is handling those issues and that they could not help. Furthermore, in the beginning of the occupation, the prime minister of the Provisional Government of Lithuania, [[Juozas Ambrazevičius]], convened the meeting in which the ministers participated together with the former President [[Kazys Grinius]], Bishop [[Vincentas Brizgys]] and others. Ministers expressed distress at the atrocities being committed against the Jews but advised only that "despite all the measures which must be taken against the Jews for their Communist activity and harm done to the [[German Army (1935–1945)|German Army]], partisans and individuals should avoid public executions of Jews".<ref name="auto1"/> According to the Lithuanian-American Holocaust historian Saulius Sužiedėlis, "none of this amounted to a public scolding which alone could have persuaded at least some of the Lithuanians who had volunteered or been co-opted into participating in the killings to rethink their behavior." Lithuanian police battalions formed by the Provisional Government were eventually enlisted by the Nazis to help carry out the [[Holocaust]].<ref name="auto1"/>

In the first issue of the daily ''Į laisvę'' (Towards Freedom) newspaper, the Independence Restoration Declaration was published, which had been previously announced on the radio. It stated that "The established Provisional Government of revived Lithuania declares the restoration of the Free and Independent State of Lithuania. 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. The Lithuanian Nation, exhausted from the terror of the brutal [[Bolsheviks]], decided to build its future on the basis of national unity and social justice." and signatures.<ref name="LLKS" />

On 24 June 1941, tank units of the Red Army in [[Jonava]] were ordered to retake Kaunas. The rebels radioed the Germans for assistance. The units were bombed by the [[Luftwaffe]] and did not reach the city. It was the first coordinated Lithuanian–German action.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Gerutis, Albertas|others=translated by Algirdas Budreckis|title=Lithuania: 700 Years|pages=325–326|year=1984|edition=6th|publisher=Manyland Books|location=New York|isbn=0-87141-028-1|lccn=75-80057}}</ref> The first German scouts, lieutenant Flohret and four privates, entered Kaunas on 24 June and found it in friendly hands.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bubnys|first=Arūnas|author-link=Arūnas Bubnys|title=Vokiečių okupuota Lietuva (1941–1944)|page=40|location=Vilnius|publisher=Lietuvos tautinis kultūros fondas|year=1998|isbn=9986-757-12-6|language=lt}}</ref> A day later the main forces marched into the city without obstruction and almost as if they were on parade.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Baltic States: Years of Dependence 1940–1990|page=[https://archive.org/details/balticstatesyear00misi/page/47 47]|first=Romuald J.|last=Misiunas|author2=Rein Taagepera|publisher=University of California Press|edition=expanded|year=1993|isbn=0-520-08228-1|url=https://archive.org/details/balticstatesyear00misi/page/47}}</ref>

===Nazi occupation===
{{Main|German occupation of Lithuania during World War II}}
[[File:Wehrmacht in Liberty Avenue, Kaunas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wehrmacht]] soldiers marching through the [[Laisvės alėja|Liberty Avenue]] in Kaunas]]

On 26 June 1941 the German {{Lang|de|[[Oberkommando der Wehrmacht]]}} ordered the rebel groups to disband and disarm.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bubnys|first=Arūnas|author-link=Arūnas Bubnys|title=Vokiečių okupuota Lietuva (1941–1944)|page=38|location=Vilnius|publisher=Lietuvos tautinis kultūros fondas|year=1998|isbn=9986-757-12-6|language=lt}}</ref> Two days later Lithuanian guards and patrols were also relieved of their duties. Already in July, in a conversation the [[Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Oblast|Tilsit]] Nazi [[Gestapo]] agent {{ill|Heinz Gräfe|de}} clearly stated to [[Stasys Raštikis]] that the [[Provisional Government of Lithuania|Provisional Government]] was formed without German knowledge. Such a form, although not having anything against individuals, is unacceptable to the Germans. The current Provisional Government should be transformed into a National Committee or Council under the German military authority.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Valiušaitis|first1=Vidmantas|title=Kodėl J. Brazaičio perlaidojimo ceremonija sukėlė tiek aistrų?|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/ringas/lit/kodel-j-brazaicio-perlaidojimo-ceremonija-sukele-tiek-aistru.d?id=58794181|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=25 May 2012}}</ref> The [[Nazi Germany|Nazi Germans]] did not recognize the new Provisional Government, but they did not take any action to dissolve it. 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. 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. The [[Sicherheitsdienst]] confiscated the pictures of the wreath-laying ceremony, thinking that it could be dangerous for the [[German occupation of Lithuania during World War II|German occupation policy in Lithuania]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Škirpa|first1=Kazys|title=Sukilimas Lietuvos suverenumui atstatyti|date=1973|publisher=Franciscan Fathers Press|location=New York|page=502|url=http://www.partizanai.org/k-skirpa-sukilimas-lietuvos-suverenumui-atstatyti}}</ref>

On 17 July 1941 the German civil administration was established. The government's powers were taken over by the new occupants.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Baltic States: Years of Dependence 1940–1990 |first=Romuald J. |last=Misiunas |author2=Rein Taagepera |publisher=University of California Press |edition=expanded |year=1993 |isbn=0-520-08228-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/balticstatesyear00misi/page/47 47] |url=https://archive.org/details/balticstatesyear00misi/page/47}}</ref> [[Nazi Germany]] established the [[Reichskommissariat Ostland]] in the [[Baltic states]] and much of Belarus, and the administrative centre for Lithuania (''[[Generalbezirk Litauen]]'') was in Kaunas ruled by a Generalkommissar [[Adrian von Renteln]].<ref>Kay, Alex J. (2006) ''Exploitation, Resettlement, Mass Murder: Political and Economic Planning for German Occupation Policy in the Soviet Union, 1940–1941'', p. 129. Berghahn Books.</ref>

===Jewish community of Kaunas===
{{Further|Kovno Ghetto}}
[[File:LT Kaunas, judaica - synagoga, 2019.07.18, fot Ivonna Nowicka (3).jpg|thumb|left|[[Kaunas Synagogue|Façade of the Kaunas Choral Synagogue]]]]
Jews began settling in Kaunas in the second half of the 17th century. They were not allowed to live in the city, so most of them stayed in the [[Vilijampolė]] settlement on the right bank of the [[Neris]] river. Jewish life in Kaunas was first disrupted when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania in June 1940. The occupation was accompanied by arrests, confiscations, and the elimination of all free institutions. Jewish community organizations disappeared almost overnight. Soviet authorities confiscated the property of many Jews, while hundreds were exiled to [[Siberia]].<ref name="Kovno"/>
[[File:Japonistikos centras.JPG|thumb|right|[[Chiune Sugihara]] House in Kaunas]]
As the [[World War II|Second World War]] began, there were 30,000 Jews living in Kaunas, comprising about 25% of the city's population.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Jewish Community of Kaunas |url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/kovna-kaunas |publisher=The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot |access-date=1 July 2018 |archive-date=1 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701193754/https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/kovna-kaunas |url-status=dead}}</ref> When the Soviet Union took over Lithuania in 1940, some [[History of the Jews in the Netherlands|Jewish Dutch]] residents in Lithuania approached the Dutch consul [[Jan Zwartendijk]] to get a visa to the [[Dutch Caribbean|Dutch West Indies]]. Zwartendijk agreed to help them and Jews who had fled from German-occupied Poland also sought his assistance. In a few days, with the help of aides, Zwartendijk produced over 2,200 visas for Jews to [[Curaçao]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gRdUvDLC3pgC&pg=PA76|title=Saving the Jews: Amazing Stories of Men and Women Who Defied the "Final Solution |last=Paldiel |first=Mordecai |publisher=Schreiber |year=2000 |isbn=1887563555 |pages=75–77}}</ref> Then refugees approached [[Chiune Sugihara]], a Japanese consul, who gave them a transit visa through the USSR to [[Empire of Japan|Japan]], against the disapproval of his government. This gave many refugees an opportunity to leave Lithuania for the [[Russian Far East]] via the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pulvers|first1=Roger|title=Chiune Sugihara: man of conscience|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/11/national/history/chiune-sugihara-man-conscience/|website=[[The Japan Times]]|access-date=11 July 2015|date=11 July 2015}}</ref> The fleeing Jews were refugees from [[German-occupied Western Poland]] and [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|Soviet-occupied Eastern Poland]], as well as residents of Kaunas and other Lithuania territories.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kaleem|first1=Jaweed|title=Chiune Sugihara, Japan Diplomat Who Saved 6,000 Jews During Holocaust, Remembered|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/chiune-sugihara-japanese--jews-holocaust_n_2528666.html|website=[[Huffington Post]]|access-date=24 January 2013|date=24 January 2013}}</ref> The Sugihara House, where he was previously issuing transit visas, currently is a museum and the Centre For Asian Studies of [[Vytautas Magnus University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sugihara House|url=http://www.sugiharahouse.com/en|website=www.sugiharahouse.com|access-date=8 December 2017|archive-date=9 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100156/http://www.sugiharahouse.com/en|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Centre For Asian Studies {{!}} ASC, Asian Studies, VMU, Lithuania, Kaunas|url=http://asc.vdu.lt/|website=asc.vdu.lt|access-date=9 December 2017}}</ref>

Following [[Operation Barbarossa|Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union]] on 22 June 1941, Soviet forces fled from Kaunas. Both before and during the German occupation starting 25 June, the [[Anti-communism|anti-Communists]], encouraged by the anti-Semitic leadership of the Berlin-based [[Lithuanian Activist Front]] (LAF), [[Kaunas pogrom|began to attack Jews]], blaming them for the Soviet repressions, especially along Jurbarko and Kriščiukaičio streets.<ref name="Kovno"/> The LAF's manifesto-type essay "What Are the Activists Fighting for?" 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 ...".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdXRKbcyi5oC |title=The Vanished World of Lithuanian Jews|chapter=The Murder of the Jews in German-Occupied Lithuania (Paper by Yitzhak Arad delivered at the international conferences in Nida (1997) and Telsiai (2001)|page=191|isbn=9042008504|last1=Nikzentaitis|first1=Alvydas|last2=Nikžentaitis|first2=Alvydas|last3=Schreiner|first3=Stefan|last4=Staliūnas|first4=Darius|year=2004|publisher=Rodopi}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stasys Knezys. Kauno karo komendantūros Tautinio darbo batalionas 1941 m.|url=http://genocid.lt/Leidyba/7/stasys_knezys.htm|website=genocid.lt|access-date=30 January 2004}}</ref> The [[Kaunas pogrom]] was a massacre of Jewish people living in Kaunas that took place on 25–29 June 1941; the first days of the [[Operation Barbarossa]] and of Nazi occupation of Lithuania. Prior to the construction of the [[Ninth Fort]] museum on the site, archaeologists unearthed a mass grave and personal belongings of the Jewish victims.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/lithuania-s-dark-holocaust-secrets-1.5293792|title=Trove of Everyday Items Reveals Lithuania's Dark Holocaust Secret|first=Ofer|last=Aderet|date=31 August 2012|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> The [[Ninth Fort]]ress has been renovated into a memorial for the wars and is the site where nearly 50,000 Lithuanians were killed during Nazi occupation. Of these deaths, over 30,000 were Jews.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://muziejai.mch.mii.lt/Kaunas/forto_muziejus.en.htm#History#History|title=Kaunas' 9th fort museum|date=25 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225203945/http://muziejai.mch.mii.lt/Kaunas/forto_muziejus.en.htm#History|archive-date=25 December 2007}}</ref>

===Soviet administration===
{{Main|Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)}}
[[File:Soldiers of the Red Army in the Liberty Avenue in Kaunas, Lithuania during the World War II.jpg|thumb|right|Soldiers of the [[Red Army]] in the [[Laisvės alėja|Liberty Avenue]] during the World War II]]
Beginning in 1944, the [[Kaunas Offensive|Red Army began offensives]] that eventually led to the reconquest of all three of the Baltic states. Kaunas was captured on 1 August 1944 and this led to the continuation of Soviet repressions.<ref name="Lietuva44-53">{{cite web |last1=Šulga |first1=Antanas |last2=Tininis |first2=Vytautas |title=Lietuva stalininio režimo metais (1944–1953) |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuva-stalininio-rezimo-metais-1944-1953/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=18 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>
Kaunas again became the major centre of resistance against the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name="Lietuva44-53"/> From the very start of the [[Lithuanian partisans]] war, the most important partisan districts were based around Kaunas.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt">{{cite web |last1=Varsackytė |first1=Rasa |last2=Balkus |first2=Mindaugas |url=https://datos.kvb.lt/en/overview-of-kaunas-history/ | title=Kaunas: Dates and Facts. Overview of Kaunas History |website=Kaunas County Public Library | access-date=29 October 2010}}</ref> Although [[guerrilla warfare]] ended by 1953, Lithuanian opposition to Soviet rule did not. In 1956 people in the Kaunas region supported the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|uprising in Hungary]] by rioting.<ref name="Lietuva44-53"/>

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]]''.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/>

[[File:Muzikinis teatras 2006-06-10.jpg|thumb|left|[[Romas Kalanta]] [[Self-immolation|self-immolated]] close to [[Kaunas State Musical Theatre]] protesting against the Soviet regime]]
On 14 May 1972, 19-year-old [[Romas Kalanta]], having proclaimed "Freedom for Lithuania!", immolated himself in the garden of the [[Kaunas State Musical Theatre|Musical Theatre]], after making a speech denouncing the Soviet suppression of national and religious rights.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Stanley |last=Vardys |date=Summer 1972 |title=Protests in Lithuania not Isolated |url=http://www.lituanus.org/1972/72_2_01.htm |journal=[[Lituanus]] |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-date=13 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130113003422/http://www.lituanus.org/1972/72_2_01.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref> The event broke into a politically charged riot, which was forcibly dispersed by the [[KGB]] and [[Militsiya]]. It led to new forms of resistance: [[Nonviolent resistance|passive resistance]] all around Lithuania. The continuous oppression of the [[Catholic Church in Lithuania|Catholic Church]] and its resistance caused the appearance of the ''[[Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania]]''. In strict conspiracy, Catholic priest [[Sigitas Tamkevičius]] (now the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas|Archbishop Metropolitan of Kaunas]]) implemented this idea and its first issue was published in the Alytus district on 19 March 1972. The Kronika started a new phase of resistance in the life of [[Catholic Church in Lithuania|Lithuania's Catholic Church]] and of all Lithuania fighting against the occupation by making known to the world the violation of the human rights and freedoms in Lithuania for almost two decades.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.lkbkronika.lt/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=344&Itemid=229
 |title=The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania. Situation of the Catholic Church in Lithuania in Soviet times.
 |access-date=10 November 2010
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509042059/http://www.lkbkronika.lt/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=344&Itemid=229
 |archive-date=9 May 2010
 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 
[[File:Unity Square in Kaunas (2018).jpg|thumb|right|Monument in the Vienybės aikštė (Unity Square) with an [[eternal flame]], dedicated to those who died for Lithuania's freedom]]

On 1 November 1987, a non-sanctioned rally took place near the [[Kaunas Cathedral Basilica]], where people gathered to mark famous Lithuanian poet [[Maironis]]' 125th-birthday anniversary. On 10 June 1988, the initiating group of the Kaunas movement of [[Sąjūdis]] was formed. On 9 October 1988, the [[Flag of Lithuania]] was raised above the tower of the [[Vytautas the Great War Museum|Military Museum]].<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/> Kaunas, along with Vilnius, became the scene of nearly constant demonstrations as the Lithuanians, embarked on a process of self-discovery. The bodies of Lithuanians who died in [[Siberia]]n exile were brought back to their homeland for reburial, and the anniversaries of deportations as well as the important dates in [[History of Lithuania|Lithuanian history]] began to be noted with speeches and demonstrations.

On 16 February 1989 Cardinal [[Vincentas Sladkevičius]], for the first time, called for the independence of Lithuania in his sermon at the Kaunas Cathedral. 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]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=David |last=Satter |date=Summer 2009 |title=From a Journalist's Notebook: Vilnius, January&nbsp;13,&nbsp;1991 |url=http://www.lituanus.org/2009/09_2_03%20Satter.html |journal=[[Lituanus]] |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-date=15 April 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415064427/http://www.lituanus.org/2009/09_2_03%20Satter.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Restored independence ===
[[File:Street Scene along Vilniaus Gatve - Kaunas - Lithuania - 02 (27348366783).jpg|thumb|[[Café]]s in the [[Centras eldership|Kaunas Old Town]]]]
[[File:View of the Kaunas Town Hall Square with the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica and restaurants terraces in 2023.jpg|thumb|Kaunas Town Hall Square]]
After World War II Kaunas became the main industrial city of Lithuania; it produced about a quarter of Lithuania's industrial output.

After the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|proclamation of Lithuanian independence]] in 1990, Soviet attempts to suppress the rebellion focused on the [[Sitkūnai Radio Station]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter/w5_show?p_r=4111&p_d=62825&p_k=2
 |title=Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. A Chronicle of the Events of January 1991 and Later Months, which were a critical part of the remaining free media
 |access-date=29 January 2011
}}</ref> They were defended by the citizenry of Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toptravel.lt/lithuania/kaunas-facts-history/ |title=Facts & History |access-date=10 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152456/http://www.toptravel.lt/lithuania/kaunas-facts-history/ |archive-date=22 July 2011}} Kaunas. Facts&History.</ref> [[Pope John Paul II]] said [[Mass (liturgy)|Holy Mass]] for the faithful of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas|Archdiocese of Kaunas]] at the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica and held a meeting with the young people of Lithuania at the [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium]], during his visit to Lithuania in 1993.<ref name="Holy See">{{cite web
 |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/travels/sub_index1993/trav_lituania_en.htm
 |title=The Holy See: ''Apostolic journey to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (4–10&nbsp;September&nbsp;1993)''
 |access-date=30 October 2009
 |publisher=Holy See
}}</ref> Kaunas natives [[Vytautas Landsbergis]] and [[Valdas Adamkus]] became the [[List of rulers of Lithuania|Head of state]] in 1990, and, respectively, in 1998 and 2004. Since the restoration of independence, substantially improving air and land transport links with [[Western Europe]] have made Kaunas easily accessible to foreign tourists.

Kaunas is famous for its basketball club, [[BC Žalgiris|Žalgiris]], which was founded in 1944 and was one of the most popular nonviolent expressions of resistance during its struggle with the [[PBC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]]. In 2011, the largest indoor arena in the [[Baltic states]] was built and was named [[Žalgiris Arena]]. Kaunas hosted finals of the [[EuroBasket 2011]].

In March 2015, Kaunas's interwar buildings received the [[European Heritage Label]].<ref name="EHL">{{cite web|title=Kaunas of 1919–1940, Lithuania – Creative Europe – European Commission|url=https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/heritage-label/sites/kaunas-1919-1940_en|website=EC.Europa.eu|access-date=25 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="EHL2">{{cite web|title=Kaunas Was Awarded a European Heritage Label|url=http://visit.kaunas.lt/en/to-see/interwar-architecture/kaunas-was-awarded-a-european-heritage-label/|website=Visit.Kaunas.lt|access-date=8 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311120825/http://visit.kaunas.lt/en/to-see/interwar-architecture/kaunas-was-awarded-a-european-heritage-label/|archive-date=11 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 29 March 2017, Kaunas was named [[European Capital of Culture]] of 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kaunas paskelbtas 2022-ųjų Europos kultūros sostine|url=https://www.delfi.lt/veidai/kultura/kaunas-paskelbtas-2022-uju-europos-kulturos-sostine.d?id=74194180|website=DELFI.lt|access-date=29 March 2017}}</ref>

On 28 September 2017, the winner of the M. K. Čiurlionis Concert Centre architectural competition was announced and the centre was planned to be completed by 2022, close to the [[Vytautas the Great Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Paaiškėjo Kauno M.K. Čiurlionio koncertų centro vaizdas: architektūrinį konkursą laimėjo vilniečiai|url=https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/kvadratinis-metras/nekilnojamasis-turtas/paaiskejo-kauno-m-k-ciurlionio-koncertu-centro-vaizdas-architekturini-konkursa-laimejo-vilnieciai-973-859750|website=15min.lt|access-date=28 September 2017}}</ref>

On 18 September 2023, Kaunas's interwar modern architecture was included in the list of the [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].<ref name="UNESCO"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Oak forest park.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ąžuolynas]] is the largest urban stand of mature [[oak]]s in Europe (ranging in age from 100 to 320 years old), and a very popular recreational destination<ref>{{cite web|title=Ąžuolyno Parkas|url=http://visit.kaunas.lt/lt/ka-pamatyti/gamtos-objektai/azuolyno-parkas/|website=visit.kaunas.lt|access-date=8 November 2017|language=lt-LT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127031514/http://visit.kaunas.lt/lt/ka-pamatyti/gamtos-objektai/azuolyno-parkas/|archive-date=27 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
[[File:Unity Square in Kaunas by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|Vienybės aikštė (Unity Square) after the 2017–2020 redevelopment, which is the first project in Lithuania to win the prestigious [[iF Product Design Award|iF Design Award]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Central square redevelopment in Lithuania's Kaunas wins prestigious iF Design award |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1396301/central-square-redevelopment-in-lithuania-s-kaunas-wins-prestigious-if-design-award |website=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] |access-date=14 January 2023 |date=27 April 2021}}</ref>]]
The city covers 15,700 [[hectare]]s. Parks, groves, gardens, [[nature reserve]]s, and agricultural areas occupy 8,329 hectares.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baltic University Programme Urban Forum City Status Report V |url=http://www.balticuniv.uu.se/teacher/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=392&Itemid=67 |publisher=[[Baltic University Programme]] |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610142414/http://www.balticuniv.uu.se/teacher/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=392&Itemid=67 |archive-date=10 June 2007}}</ref> The city follows in suit of the country and is lowland. Kaunas is known for its landscape complexes of rivers and stream valleys as the city is located at the confluence of [[Neris]] and [[Nemunas]] rivers.<ref name="Gamta">{{cite web |title=Gamtos ištekliai |url=https://www.kaunas.lt/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2015/02/Teritorijagyventojuskaicius-1.doc |website=Kaunas.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

In Kaunas there are 16 [[urban park]]s (Ąžuolyno, A.Šančių ąžuolynas, Dainavos, Draugystės, Kalniečių, Santakos, Vilijos, Nepriklausomybės, Santarvės, Marvos dvaro, Girstupio, Gričiupio, Kovo 11-osios, Neries krantinės, Antakalnio g., Sargėnų dvaro) which total territory is 1080 hectares.<ref name="Gamta"/> Moreover, there are three [[forest park]]s (Panemunės, Kleboniškio, Lampėdžių), three landscape reserves (Jiesios, Veršvos, Nevėžio), one regional park ([[Kauno Marios Regional Park]]), five teriological reserves, and one ornithological reserve.<ref name="Gamta"/>

In Kaunas and its surrounding area there are 43 mineral deposits that are suitable for extracting: [[anhydrite]] and [[gypsum]], [[sand]] and [[gravel]], freshwater [[limestone]], [[clay]], [[chalk]] [[marl]], [[peat]], [[mineral water]].<ref name="Gamta"/>

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:KaunoSen.png|thumb|Elderships of Kaunas]]
Kaunas is divided into the following [[Elderships of Lithuania|elderships]]:
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align: left; margin: 0 0 0 0;"
! scope="col" height="50px" |Eldership
! scope="col" |Area
! scope="col" |'''Population (2021)'''
! scope="col" |Population density (per km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
| scope="row" height="50px" |[[Aleksotas]]
|{{convert|24|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|21,390
|890
|-
|[[Centras eldership|Centras]]
|{{convert|4.6|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|14,356
|3,100
|-
|[[Dainava (Kaunas)|Dainava]]
|{{convert|5.3|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|53,053
|10,000
|-
|[[Eiguliai]]
|{{convert|14.5|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|39,371
|2,700
|-
|[[Gričiupis]]
|{{convert|3.8|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|23,894
|6,300
|-
|[[Panemunė, Kaunas|Panemunė]]
|{{convert|24.8|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|14,888
|600
|-
|[[Petrašiūnai]]
|{{convert|28.5|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|12,835
|450
|-
|[[Šančiai]]
|{{convert|7.4|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|18,954
|2,600
|-
|[[Šilainiai]]
|{{convert|25.3|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|55,125
|2,200
|-
|[[Vilijampolė]]
|{{convert|14.4|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|23,687
|1,600
|-
|[[Žaliakalnis]]
|{{convert|7.4|km2|acre sqmi|2|lk=off|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|21,200
|2,900
|}
{{see also|Subdivisions of Kaunas}}

==Climate==
[[File:2010-12-30 Aleksotas bridge in winter.jpg|thumb|Snowy winter landscape in Kaunas]]
Kaunas has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] Dfb) with an average annual temperature of approximately {{Convert|7|C}}.

Despite its northern location, the climate in Kaunas is relatively mild compared to other locations at similar latitudes, mainly because of the [[Baltic Sea]]. Because of its latitude, Kaunas has 17 hours of daylight in midsummer but only around 7 hours in midwinter. The [[Kazlų Rūda]] Forest,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://regionai.stat.gov.lt/en/marijampoles_apskritis/kazlu_rudos_savivaldybe.html|title=Portrait of the Regions of Lithuania; Kazlų Rūda Municipality|access-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526221611/http://regionai.stat.gov.lt/en/marijampoles_apskritis/kazlu_rudos_savivaldybe.html|archive-date=26 May 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> west of Kaunas, creates a [[microclimate]] around the city, regulating humidity and temperature of the air, and protecting it from strong westerly winds.

Summers in Kaunas are warm and pleasant with average daytime high temperatures of {{convert|21|-|22|C}} and lows of around {{convert|12|C}}, but temperatures could reach {{convert|30|C}} on some days. Winters are relatively cold, and sometimes snowy with average temperatures ranging from {{convert|-8|to|0|C}}, and rarely drop below {{convert|-15|C}}. Spring and autumn are generally cool to mild.

{{Weather box
| location = Kaunas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901-present)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 13.9
| Feb record high C = 14.8
| Mar record high C = 23.8
| Apr record high C = 28.6
| May record high C = 31.4
| Jun record high C = 32.9
| Jul record high C = 34.9
| Aug record high C = 35.3
| Sep record high C = 33.3
| Oct record high C = 23.9
| Nov record high C = 16.7
| Dec record high C = 11.1
| year record high C = 35.3
| Jan high C = -0.8
| Feb high C = 0.3
| Mar high C = 5.0
| Apr high C = 12.9
| May high C = 18.7
| Jun high C = 21.7
| Jul high C = 24.0
| Aug high C = 23.5
| Sep high C = 17.9
| Oct high C = 10.9
| Nov high C = 4.7
| Dec high C = 0.7
| year high C = 11.6
| Jan mean C = -3.0
| Feb mean C = -2.4
| Mar mean C = 1.2
| Apr mean C = 7.6
| May mean C = 13.0
| Jun mean C = 16.3
| Jul mean C = 18.6
| Aug mean C = 17.8
| Sep mean C = 12.9
| Oct mean C = 7.2
| Nov mean C = 2.6
| Dec mean C = -1.2
| year mean C = 7.5
| Jan low C = -5.5
| Feb low C = -5.1
| Mar low C = -2.1
| Apr low C = 2.8
| May low C = 7.5
| Jun low C = 11.0
| Jul low C = 13.5
| Aug low C = 12.8
| Sep low C = 8.8
| Oct low C = 4.2
| Nov low C = 0.6
| Dec low C = -3.3
| year low C = 3.8
| Jan record low C = -35.8
| Feb record low C = -36.3
| Mar record low C = -26.3
| Apr record low C = -12.0
| May record low C = -3.7
| Jun record low C = 0.1
| Jul record low C = 2.1
| Aug record low C = 0.3
| Sep record low C = -3.0
| Oct record low C = -13.7
| Nov record low C = -21.0
| Dec record low C = -30.6
| year record low C = -36.3
| Jan avg record high C = 5.8
| Feb avg record high C = 6.3
| Mar avg record high C = 12.8
| Apr avg record high C = 22.5
| May avg record high C = 26.5
| Jun avg record high C = 28.2
| Jul avg record high C = 30.7
| Aug avg record high C = 30.5
| Sep avg record high C = 25.3
| Oct avg record high C = 18.3
| Nov avg record high C = 11.4
| Dec avg record high C = 6.7
| year avg record high C = 32.0
| Jan avg record low C = -18.2
| Feb avg record low C = -16.2
| Mar avg record low C = -9.9
| Apr avg record low C = -3.4
| May avg record low C = 0.6
| Jun avg record low C = 5.0
| Jul avg record low C = 8.3
| Aug avg record low C = 7.0
| Sep avg record low C = 1.5
| Oct avg record low C = -2.9
| Nov avg record low C = -7.0
| Dec avg record low C = -12.2
| year avg record low C = -21.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 48
| Feb precipitation mm = 38
| Mar precipitation mm = 38
| Apr precipitation mm = 38
| May precipitation mm = 53
| Jun precipitation mm = 65
| Jul precipitation mm = 88
| Aug precipitation mm = 77
| Sep precipitation mm = 51
| Oct precipitation mm = 61
| Nov precipitation mm = 47
| Dec precipitation mm = 47
| year precipitation mm = 651
| Jan precipitation days = 12.29
| Feb precipitation days = 10.77
| Mar precipitation days = 10.40
| Apr precipitation days = 8.50
| May precipitation days = 9.25
| Jun precipitation days = 10.76
| Jul precipitation days = 10.72
| Aug precipitation days = 10.51
| Sep precipitation days = 8.46
| Oct precipitation days = 10.76
| Nov precipitation days = 10.65
| Dec precipitation days = 11.21
| year precipitation days = 124.53
| Jan sun = 42.1
| Feb sun = 63.4
| Mar sun = 141.8
| Apr sun = 205.5
| May sun = 275.0
| Jun sun = 272.5
| Jul sun = 277.1
| Aug sun = 254.6
| Sep sun = 176.0
| Oct sun = 106.0
| Nov sun = 37.7
| Dec sun = 32.3
| year sun = 1884
| Jan humidity = 88
| Feb humidity = 86
| Mar humidity = 79
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 68
| Jun humidity = 72
| Jul humidity = 74
| Aug humidity = 75
| Sep humidity = 80
| Oct humidity = 85
| Nov humidity = 89
| Dec humidity = 90
| year humidity = 80
| Jan dew point C = -5
| Feb dew point C = -5
| Mar dew point C = -3
| Apr dew point C = 1
| May dew point C = 7
| Jun dew point C = 11
| Jul dew point C = 13
| Aug dew point C = 13
| Sep dew point C = 9
| Oct dew point C = 5
| Nov dew point C = 1
| Dec dew point C = -3
|source 1 = Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service,<ref>{{cite web |title=Klimato duomenys 1991-2020|url=https://www.meteo.lt/klimatas/lietuvos-klimatas/klimato-duomenys/ |website=Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba |language=lt}}</ref> World Meteorological Organization (average records high & low),<ref name=WMO>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldweather.org/105/c00607.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service – Kaunas
| access-date = 1 December 2008
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| date = May 2011}}</ref> NOAA (extremes)<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/LU/26629.TXT
| title = Kaunas Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 2 February 2013}}</ref>
| source 2 = Météo Climat (precipitation days),<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/listenormale-1991-2020-1-p130.php
| title = Météo Climat stats for Kaunas 1991–2020
| publisher = Météo Climat
| access-date = 15 October 2017}}</ref> Time and Date (dewpoints, 1985-2015)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/lithuania/kaunas/climate
|title = Climate & Weather Averages in Kaunas
|publisher = Time and Date
|access-date = 28 July 2022}}</ref>
| date = August 2010
| source = 
}}

==Religion==
[[File:Kaunas Cathedral, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas Cathedral Basilica]] is the religious center of Catholics in Kaunas]]
[[File:Church of St. George the Martyr in Kaunas in 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Church of St. George the Martyr, Kaunas|Church of St. George the Martyr]], built in the 15th–16th centuries from red bricks near [[Kaunas Castle]]]]
[[File:Kaunas Mosque in 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas Mosque]] is the only brick [[mosque]] in Lithuania. To this day, it is still used by the [[Lipka Tatars]], who were settled in Lithuania by [[Vytautas the Great]] during the [[Middle Ages]].<ref name="Totoriai"/>]]
Following the [[Christianization of Lithuania]] in 1387 which marked the Lithuanians' shift from the [[Lithuanian mythology|Lithuanian paganism]] to [[Catholicism]], Grand Duke [[Vytautas the Great]] in ~1400 had funded the establishment of the [[Church of Vytautas the Great]] to possibly give thanks to the [[God]] for saving his life during the [[Battle of the Vorskla River]] in 1399.<ref>{{cite web |title=Švč. M. Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčia, vad. Vytauto Didžiojo |url=https://kvr.kpd.lt/#/static-heritage-detail/a5187c68-e3af-484d-b5e8-994e3b375671 |website=Kvr.Kpd.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Subsequently, in a period before 1413, Vytautas the Great established a [[parish church]] of [[St. Peter]] which in the 15th century already had the highest status in Kaunas and is the basis of the [[Kaunas Cathedral Basilica|Cathedral Basilica of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul]].<ref name="Ka">{{cite web |title=Istorija |url=https://kaunoarkikatedra.lt/pamaldu-copy |website=Kaunoarkikatedra.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1471, the [[Church of St. George the Martyr, Kaunas|Church of St. George the Martyr]] and [[Cistercians|Bernardines]] Monastery was funded and were wooden, the Bernardine monks constantly had preachers in the [[Lithuanian language]] to attract Lithuanian-speaking townspeople of Kaunas and soon gained popularity, while in the 15th–16th centuries the church and the monastery were rebuilt using bricks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno Šv. Jurgio Kankinio bažnyčia ir bernardinų vienuolyno istorija |url=http://kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt/lt/paieska/objektas/625/kauno-sv-jurgio-kankinio-baznycia-ir-bernardinu-vienuolyno-istorija |website=KaunoSenamiestis.autc.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Other surviving 15th century Catholic churches in Kaunas are the [[Church of Saint Nicholas, Kaunas|Church of Saint Nicholas]] and [[Church of St. Gertrude, Kaunas|Church of St. Gertrude]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno bažnyčios: miesto tapatumo kodas |url=https://kaunobaznycios.kvb.lt/ |website=Kaunobaznycios.kvb.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1558, the [[Lutherans]] established their first parish in Kaunas and their [[Mass (liturgy)|masses]] were held in a small church near Town Hall Square, however the church was damaged by fire and in 1682–1683 the [[Kaunas Lutheran Holy Trinity Church]] was built.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno parapijos istorija |url=http://www.liuteronai.lt/Parapijos/Kauno-parapija/Parapijos-istorija/Parapijos-istorija |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109050334/http://www.liuteronai.lt/Parapijos/Kauno-parapija/Parapijos-istorija/Parapijos-istorija |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-09 |website=Liuteronai.lt |language=lt}}</ref>

In the early 17th century the Church of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul became the center of Kaunas Deanery of the [[Vilnius Diocese]], but the occupations of Kaunas by Muscovites (1655), Swedes (1707) and a fire in 1732 damaged the church, thus it gained nowadays interior appearance only after the restoration in the second half of the 18th century.<ref name="Ka"/> The [[Jesuits]] opened their first residence in Kaunas in 1642 and established a chapel in the [[House of Perkūnas]] in 1643, while their [[Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas|Church of St. Francis Xavier]] was constructed in 1666–1720.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno Šv. Pranciškaus Ksavero bažnyčia ir jėzuitų vienuolynas |url=http://kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt/lt/paieska/objektas/1661/kauno-sv-pranciskaus-ksavero-baznycia-ir-jezuitu-vienuolynas |website=Kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Moreover, since 1664 [[Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac]] funded the construction of the [[Pažaislis Monastery|Pažaislis Monastery and the Church of the Visitation]], a splendid example of [[Italian Baroque]] in Lithuania, dedicated to [[Camaldolese]] monks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kauno (Pažaislio) buvęs kamaldulių (dabar - Šv. Kazimiero seserų) vienuolynas|url=http://vienuolynai.mch.mii.lt/V1-7/pazaislis.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060410081749/http://vienuolynai.mch.mii.lt/V1-7/pazaislis.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2006-04-10|website=vienuolynai.mch.mii.lt|language=lt}}</ref> In the first half of the 17th century the [[Dominican Order]] monks arrived in Kaunas and in 1641 Grand Duke [[Władysław IV Vasa]] granted a permission for them to build the [[Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Kaunas|Church of the Blessed Sacrament]] and a monastery, both of which were completed in the late 17th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno Dievo Kūno bažnyčia ir dominikonų vienuolynas |url=https://autc.lt/architekturos-objektas/?id=1663 |website=Autc.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Following the [[Partitions of Poland|Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] the [[Tsarist]] authorities had arbitrarily moved the center of the Diocese of [[Samogitia]] from [[Varniai]] to Kaunas in 1863, but this was recognized by [[Pope Leo XIII]] only in 1883, while in 1895 the Church of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul was granted [[cathedral]] status and since then it had the throne of the [[Bishop of Samogitia]] and was the highest status church of Samogitia.<ref name="Ka"/> The Samogitian Priest Seminary (now [[Kaunas Priest Seminary]]) was also moved from Varniai to Kaunas in 1863 and subsequently became one of the centers of the [[Lithuanian National Revival]] during the [[Russification#Lithuania and Poland|Russification era]].<ref name="Kks-Vle">{{cite web |title=Kauno kunigų seminarija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-kunigu-seminarija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1862, the [[Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Kaunas|Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church]] was built for Orthodox Russians living in the city. In 1895, Russian Emperor [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] ordered the construction of the [[Neo-Byzantine]] style [[St. Michael the Archangel Church, Kaunas|Church of St. Michael the Archangel]] for the use of the [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] [[Imperial Russian Army|imperial garrison]] of the [[Kaunas Fortress]].<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Michael the Archangel Church (a.k.a. the Garrison Church) |url=https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/see-and-do/sights/shrines/sv-mykolo-archangelo-baznycia-soboras/ |website=Visit.Kaunas.lt |access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>

After the restoration of Lithuania's statehood in 1918, the Lithuanian Ecclesiastical Province was established by [[Pope Pius XI]] in 1926 with a center in Kaunas, while the Cathedral of Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul received the archcathedral status and since then has archbishop's metropolitan throne.<ref name="Ka"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Lietuvos bažnytinė provincija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-baznytine-provincija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> During the interwar period the Catholic Church had the status of a [[national church]] and its popularity was boosted due to the pro-Lithuanian stances of its priests during Tsarist times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarpukario katalikiškoje visuomenėje į priekį kelią skynėsi laisvamaniai: tarp jų – tautos vedliai Basanavičius ir Šliūpas |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/2090286/tarpukario-katalikiskoje-visuomeneje-i-prieki-kelia-skynesi-laisvamaniai-tarp-ju-tautos-vedliai-basanavicius-ir-sliupas |website=Lrt.lt |date=14 October 2023 |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1930, the 500th death anniversary of Vytautas the Great was commemorated by building the [[Kaunas Mosque]], which replaced the older mosque which was built in 1906, for the [[Lipka Tatars]] who were settled in Lithuania by Vytautas the Great during the [[Middle Ages]].<ref name="Totoriai">{{cite web|title=Kauno totoriai|url=http://www.totoriai.lt/kauno_totoriu_istorija.htm|website=Totoriai.lt|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=7 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307025350/http://www.totoriai.lt/kauno_totoriu_istorija.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1934, the construction of the [[Christ's Resurrection Church, Kaunas|Christ's Resurrection Church]] was started as a monument to the Independence of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kristaus Prisikėlimo bazilika |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kristaus-prisikelimo-bazilika/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

After the outbreak of the World War II, many priests of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas]] and Kaunas Priest Seminary were repressed and killed during the Soviet and Nazis occupations of Lithuania, while since the start of the second Soviet occupation in 1944 the religious buildings in Kaunas were nationalized or abolished by the Soviets who also restricted priests and bishops rights.<ref name="Ka-Vle">{{cite web |title=Kauno arkivyskupija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-arkivyskupija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="Kks-Vle"/> Nevertheless, priests of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas regularly gathered secretly, transmitted information abroad, and since 1972 participated in the publishing of ''[[Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania]]'', which focused on [[USSR anti-religious campaign (1970s–87)|Soviet repressions against Catholics]] and human rights in Lithuania.<ref name="Ka-Vle"/> In the late 1980s and early 1990s, following the start of the [[Sąjūdis]] movement and the restoration of the independence of Lithuania, the returning of the nationalized church property began and church institutions were restored or newly created, while Cardinal [[Vincentas Sladkevičius]] was appointed as Archbishop of Kaunas.<ref name="Ka-Vle"/> According to 2023 statistics, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas had ~430,000 residents of who 334,000 were Catholics.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistika |url=https://kaunoarkivyskupija.lt/statistika/ |website=KaunoArkivyskupija.lt |access-date=1 September 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Kaunas European Capital of Culture.png|thumb|Logo of the 2022 European Capital of Culture]]
[[File:M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas in 2018.jpg|thumb|[[M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum]]]]

Kaunas is a city centered around culture. The [[Centras eldership|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. 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.<ref name="Tanks"/> [[Centras eldership|Central Kaunas]] is defined by two pedestrian streets: the 1.6&nbsp;km long [[Laisvės alėja]] (Liberty Avenue), a central street of the city, lined by [[Tilia cordata|linden trees]] and decorated with flower beds.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biliukevičiūtė |first1=Jurgita |title=Laisvės alėja |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/laisves-aleja/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=12 June 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

The [[Centras eldership|Old Town]] is the historical center of Kaunas. The streets in Old Town have been turned to pedestrian sidewalks, so it is best to tour the place by foot. Prominent features of the Old Town include [[Kaunas Castle]], the [[Town Hall, Kaunas|Town Hall]], and the historical [[Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas|Presidential Palace]]. The Town Hall in Kaunas played an important role in the Medieval Times as a center for trade, festivals, and criminals were brought here for punishment. The Town Hall was originally built with wooden frames, however, after numerous fires in 1542 they began to construct buildings with stone. 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 Town Hall is still a center of culture today, it holds weddings and is the home of the Museum of Ceramics.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lithuania: A State at the Centre of Europe|last=Semaska|first=Algimantas|publisher=Algimantas|year=2013|isbn=978-609-423-011-0|location=Vilnius|pages=65–76}}</ref>

Other historical, cultural features of Kaunas include:
[[File:Žaliakalnis funicular.jpg|thumb|right|[[Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway]]]]
* [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]], [[Eternal flame]], and Statues of [[Lithuanian national renaissance]] figures are located in the Vienybės square in front of the [[Vytautas the Great War Museum|War museum]]
* [[Kaunas Fortress]], one of the largest defensive structures in Europe, occupying 65 km2 (25 sq mi), a 19–20th century military fortress, which includes a [[Holocaust]] site of the [[Ninth Fort]]
* [[House of Perkūnas]]
* [[Interbellum]] [[functionalism architecture]] complexes
* Two [[funicular]]s – [[Žaliakalnis Funicular Railway]] and the [[Aleksotas Funicular Railway]]
* Lithuanian open-air Ethnographic Museum displaying the heritage of Lithuanian rural life in a vast collection of authentic resurrected buildings is situated east of Kaunas on the bank of [[Kaunas Reservoir]] in a town of [[Rumšiškės]]
* [[Kaunas Cultural Centre of Various Nations]]

===Museums===
[[File:Siručio rūmai.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum]], located in the [[Siručiai Palace]]]]
[[File:LAM 2008-09 Anbo-1.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Lituanica]]'s replica and [[ANBO I]] in the [[Lithuanian Aviation Museum]]]]
Kaunas is often called a city of museums, because of the abundance and variety of them. The museums in Kaunas include:
* the [[War Museum of Vytautas the Great]]
* the [[M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum]], commemorating the work of the early 20th century [[avant-garde]] artist [[Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis|M. K. Čiurlionis]] who sought to combine painting and music into a single [[Media (arts)|artistic medium]]
* the [[Žmuidzinavičius Museum]] (best known as the ''Devils' Museum''), which houses a collection of more than two thousand sculptures and carvings of [[devil]]s from all over the world, most of them of folk provenance. Of particular interest are the [[Adolf Hitler]] and [[Joseph Stalin]] devils, together doing the dance of death over a playground littered with human bones
* [[Lithuanian Aviation Museum]]
* [[Museum of the History of Lithuanian Medicine and Pharmacy]]
* [[Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas|Historical Presidential Palace]], displaying exhibits from the [[interwar]] period
* [[Kaunas Museum for the Blind]]
* [[Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum]]
* [[Kaunas Picture Gallery]]
* [[Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery]]
* [[Povilas Stulga Museum of Lithuanian Folk Instruments]]
* [[Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum]]
* [[Chiune Sugihara|Sugihara]] house-museum
* The so-called ''ab'' underground [[Printer (publishing)|printing house]] was a part of the [[nonviolent resistance]] press during the Soviet times. Now it is the branch of Kaunas War Museum, located {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} north of Kaunas in a small Saliu village, near the town of [[Domeikava]]. Although the ''AB'' printing house worked regularly, it was never detected by [[KGB]].<ref>[http://www.muziejai.lt/kaunas/karo_muziejus.en.htm#ab Underground Printing-House "ab" The Branch Museum of Vytautas the Great War Museum] Retrieved on 29 April 2011.</ref> It was included into the Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites of Lithuania in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://195.182.68.156/DB/pilnas.jsp?mc=24807 |title=Pilnas aprašas |access-date=29 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810153112/http://195.182.68.156/DB/pilnas.jsp?mc=24807 |archive-date=10 August 2011}} The Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage Sites: Unique object code: 24807. Retrieved on 29 April 2011.</ref>
* The apartments of some famous Kaunas natives, including [[Paulius Galaunė]], [[Adam Mickiewicz]], [[Juozas Grušas]], [[Balys Sruoga]], [[Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas]], [[Salomėja Nėris]], [[Juozas Zikaras]], [[Vincentas Sladkevičius]] have been turned into public museums.<ref>[http://www.muziejai.lt/D_bazes/Muziejai_DB/Savivaldybes_muziejai.en.asp?skdr=110 Museums in Kaunas] Retrieved on 9 June 2011.</ref>

===Theatres===
[[File:Kaunas State Philharmonic in 2024.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas State Philharmonic]]]]
Kaunas is notable for the diverse culture life. Kaunas Symphony Orchestra is the main venue for classical music concerts. There is an old [[circus]] tradition in Kaunas. There was established static circus in the Vytautas park of Kaunas in the beginning of the 19th century. The only professional circus organisation in Lithuania, the Baltic Circus, was founded in Kaunas in 1995.<ref>[http://www.cirkas.lt/?m1=item20060510015154 The Baltic Circus Home Page]. Retrieved on 29 October 2010.</ref> Kaunas theatres play an important role in Lithuanian society. There are at least seven professional theatres, many amateur theatres, ensembles and abundant groups of art and sports. Some of the best examples of cultural life in Kaunas are theatres of various styles:
* [[Kaunas State Drama Theatre]]
* [[Kaunas State Musical Theatre]]
* [[Kaunas Pantomime Theatre]]
* [[Kaunas Chamber Theatre]]
* [[Kaunas Dance Theatre Aura]]
* [[Kaunas State Puppet Theatre]]

==Cityscape==

===Urbanism and architecture===
{{wide image|Vytautas the Great Bridge from hill, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Panorama of the [[Centras eldership|Kaunas Old Town]] as seen from [[Aleksotas Hill]] with [[Church of Vytautas the Great]] and [[Kaunas Cathedral Basilica]] visible.|dir=rtl}}
[[File:Tower in Kaunas City Wall.jpg|thumb|Authentic surviving fragment of the [[Wall of Kaunas|Kaunas Defensive Wall]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas defence wall |url=https://www.visitkaunas.net/kaunas-defence-wall.html |website=VisitKaunas.lt |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref>]]
The city plan is mixed. The rectangular [[Old Town, Kaunas|old town]] at the confluence of the [[Nemunas]] and the [[Neris]] rivers is rich in valuable buildings and their complexes. During the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic period]], the [[Kaunas Castle]] (13th–16th centuries), [[Old Kaunas Ducal Palace]] (15th century), [[Church of Vytautas the Great]] (beginning of the 15th century; also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), [[Church of Saint Nicholas, Kaunas|Church of Saint Nicholas]] (late 15th century), [[St. George the Martyr Church, Kaunas|St. George's Church and the Bernardine Monastery]] (1472), [[Church of St. Gertrude, Kaunas|Church of St. Gertrude]] (15th–16th centuries; also has [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] elements), [[Kaunas Cathedral Basilica]] (construction began in the 15th century; later was reconstructed and expanded), [[Town Hall, Kaunas|Kaunas Town Hall]] (construction began in 1542; later gained late [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] and early [[Classical architecture|Classicism]] forms), [[House of Perkūnas]] (late 15th century – early 16th century), residential houses in the Town Hall Square, Vilnius and Kurpių Streets were built.<ref name="KaunasArchitecture">{{cite web |title=Kauno architektūra |url=https://www.vle.lt/Straipsnis/Kauno-architektura-125061 |website=[[Vle.lt]] |language=lt |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> The ensemble of the [[Kaunas Priest Seminary|Church of the Holy Trinity and the Bernardine monastery]] (started in the late 16th century), the so-called Napoleonic House (16th century) has Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and [[Mannerist architecture|Mannerist]] architecture features.<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> The Renaissance remains of Kaunas defensive fortifications have survived (2nd half of the 17th century).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

[[File:Church of St Francis Xavier and Kaunas Town Hall (2017).jpg|thumb|left|[[Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas|Church of St. Francis Xavier]], built by the [[Jesuit]]s in 1666–1732, and [[Town Hall, Kaunas|Kaunas Town Hall]], dating to 1542]]
[[File:Pažaislis Monastery interior 1, Kaunas, Lithuania - Diliff.jpg|thumb|[[Pažaislis Monastery]] complex has the most [[marble]]-decorated [[Baroque]] church of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]]]
One of the most famous monuments of Baroque architecture is the ensemble of [[Pažaislis Monastery|Pažaislis Church and Monastery]] (started in 1667, architects G. Frediani, C. Puttini, P. Puttini).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> Other Baroque style buildings: [[Kaunas Lutheran Holly Trinity Church]] (1683; in 1862 Romanticism style bell tower was built, its architect was J. Woller), [[Corpus Christi Church, Kaunas|Corpus Christi Church]] (1690, in 1866 was reconstructed to an Orthodox church gained [[Eastern Orthodox church architecture|Byzantine forms]]), [[Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas|Church of St. Francis Xavier]] (1720; towers were built in 1725); Baroque and Classicism elements: the ensemble of the [[Church of the Holy Cross, Kaunas|Church of the Holy Cross]] (1690) and the Carmelite Monastery (1777), [[Siručiai Palace]] (18th century; also known as [[Maironis]] House, from 1936 is used as the [[Maironis Lithuanian Literature Museum]]).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

Forms of classicist architecture are typical in the [[Aukštoji Freda Manor]] (early 19th century), post station building complex (early 19th century; architect J. Poussier).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> Notable buildings of the [[Historicism]] period in Kaunas are: [[Kaunas State Musical Theatre]] (1892; architect J. Golinevičius; was expanded in the 20th century), [[St. Michael the Archangel Church, Kaunas|St. Michael the Archangel Church]] ([[Byzantine Revival architecture|Neo-Byzantine]] style; architect K. Limarenko), brick style Saulės Gymnasium building (1913; engineer F. Malinovskis, later E. A. Frykas), [[Kaunas Fortress]] (1889).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

[[File:Kaunas Central Post Office in 2020.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kaunas Central Post Office]] is one of the most recognizable buildings of [[interwar Lithuania]]]]
[[File:Aerial photo of Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, Lithuania by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Vytautas the Great War Museum, Kaunas|Vytautas the Great War Museum]] with tower of the [[Kaunas Carillon]]]]
[[File:Romuva Cinema in Kaunas, Lithuania in 2015.jpg|thumb|left|[[Romuva Cinema]], the oldest still operational [[movie theater]] in Lithuania, which was initially opened in 1940]]
In the first half of the 20th century, when Kaunas became the [[temporary capital of Lithuania]] in 1919, the city was extensively modernized and thousands of new buildings were built. From 1918 to 1940 more than 12.000 construction permits were issued in Kaunas, which was an extremely rapid growth for a relatively small-scale city (90.000 inhabitants) that fundamentally changed the city's character.<ref>{{cite web |title=Modernusis Kaunas: optimizmo architektūra, 1919–1939 |url=https://modernizmasateiciai.lt/unesco/ |website=modernizmasateiciai.lt |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref> The construction permits resulted in more than 10.000 buildings being built in the city and the area of Kaunas expanded 7,1 times during the interwar period.<ref name="IPKaunas"/> [[Neoclassical architecture|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. residential house of ''Ragutis'' factory, built in 1925<ref>{{cite web |title=Fabriko "Ragutis" gyvenamasis namas |url=http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/961?id=961 |website=autc.lt |language=lt |access-date=12 July 2020}}</ref>).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> The styles of Classicism and [[Modern architecture|Modernism]] intertwined in buildings built in the beginning of the 1930s (e.g. Faculty of Medicine at [[Vytautas Magnus University]], built in 1933, now belongs to the [[Lithuanian University of Health Sciences]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Faculty of Medicine at Vytautas Magnus University |url=http://www.autc.lt/en/architecture-objects/1022 |website=autc.lt}}</ref> [[Vytautas the Great War Museum]] and [[M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum]], built in 1936<ref>{{cite web |title=Vytautas the Great War Museum and M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum |url=http://www.autc.lt/en/architecture-objects/800 |website=autc.lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>), while Modernism and national style intertwined in the [[Kaunas Central Post Office]] (architect F. Vizbaras), built in 1932,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas Central Post Office |url=http://tarpukaris.autc.lt/en/search/object/64/kaunas-central-post-office |website=tarpukaris.autc.lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> [[Kaunas Garrison Officers' Club Building]] (architect S. Kudokas and others), built in 1937.<ref>{{cite web |title=Officers club Ramovė |url=http://www.autc.lt/en/architecture-objects/881 |website=autc.lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref><ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

The most notable [[Rationalism (architecture)|Rationalism]] style buildings in Kaunas are: [[Christ's Resurrection Church, Kaunas|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-Žemkalnis]], K. Reisonas), ''Pažangos'' with [[Art Deco]] decoration elements (architect F. Vizbaras), [[Physical Culture Palace|Physical Culture]] (architect V. Landsbergis‑Žemkalnis, now belongs to the [[Lithuanian Sports University]]), ''Prekybos, pramonės ir amatų'' (1938, architect V. Landsbergis‑Žemkalnis), ''Taupomųjų kasų'' (1939; architects A. Funkas, B. Elsbergas, A. Lukošaitis; now is the primary building of Kaunas City Municipality);<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> [[Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Kaunas|Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus]] (1938; architect A. Šalkauskis), Military Research Laboratory for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense (1938; architect V. Landsbergis‑Žemkalnis; now Faculty of Chemical Technology at [[Kaunas University of Technology]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Military Research Laboratory for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense |url=http://www.autc.lt/en/architecture-objects/1019 |website=autc.lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> [[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 1928–1937).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/> In 2023, the [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Centre included the Kaunas modernist architecture into the List of [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name="UNESCO"/>

After [[World War II]] buildings of pseudoclassical forms were built (e.g. [[Kaunas railway station]], built in 1953), complex engineering structures ([[Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant]], built in 1960). From the 7th decade of the 20th century Modernism style buildings were further developed. New residential areas were built (e.g. [[Kalniečiai]], completed in 1985), public buildings (e.g. Industrial Construction Design Institute, 1966,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pramoninės statybos projektavimo instituto rūmai ("Pramprojektas") |url=http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/209 |website=autc.lt |language=lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> House for Political Education (now part of [[Vytautas Magnus University]]), 1976),<ref>{{cite web |title=House for Political Education (now Vytautas Magnus University) |url=http://www.autc.lt/en/architecture-objects/570 |website=autc.lt |access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref> shopping malls (e.g. Girstupis, 1975, Vitebskas, 1980, Kalniečių, 1986), shops (Viešnagė, 1982, Merkurijus, 1983), galleries (e.g. [[Kaunas Picture Gallery]], 1978, [[Mykolas Žilinskas Art Gallery]], 1989), educational institutions (e.g. Faculty of Light Industry at Kaunas University of Technology, 1983).<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

[[File:Business center 1000 in Kaunas by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|Business centre decorated with a 1000 [[Lithuanian litas]] banknote design]]
In the late 20th century and early 21st century, buildings were built in Kaunas based on the projects of architects V. Adomavičius (e.g. Ąžuolynas Sports Center Complex, 2003), G. Jurevičius (e.g. Peugeot, Toyota, Lexus, Honda car showrooms), A. Kančas (e.g. Aleksotas Church of St. Casimir, 1997, company Kraft Foods Lietuva administrative and laboratory buildings complex, 2001, shopping and entertainment center Akropolis, 2007), A. Karalius (building materials salon Iris, 2002, block of flats ''Aušros namai'', 2005), D. Paulauskienė (e.g. Catherine's Monastery, 2000) E. Miliūnas (e.g. [[Žalgiris Arena]], 2001), G. Janulytė‑Bernotienė (e.g. Library and Health Sciences Information Center of [[Lithuanian University of Health Sciences]], 2007, Center for Science Studies and Business of Kaunas University of Technology Santakos Valley, 2013), G. Balčytis (e.g. Kaunas Bus Station reconstruction, 2017), G. Natkevičius (e.g. Moxy Kaunas Center Hotel), [[Algirdas Kaušpėdas|A. Kaušpėdas]], V. Klimavičius, D. Laurinaitienė.<ref name="KaunasArchitecture"/>

==Education==
===Primary and secondary education===
[[File:Kaunas, Maironio gimnazija, 2020.JPG|thumb|Kaunas Maironis University Gymnasium, the oldest operational school in Kaunas, which was moved to this then newly built building in 1863]]
[[File:Rector's Office of the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania in 2016.jpg|thumb|Building where since 1919 the Ministry of Education of Lithuania operated, later since 1921 the entire Cabinet of Ministers until 1940<ref name="SM"/>]]
At the time of paganism Lithuanian children were educated at home schools near [[Manorialism|manors]], however following the [[Christianization of Lithuania]] in 1387 schools began to be established near churches and the first [[parochial school]] in Kaunas was established in 1473.<ref name="datos.kvb.lt"/><ref name="SvietimasLDK">{{cite web |title=Švietimas Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/svietimas-lietuvos-didziojoje-kunigaikstysteje/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The ability to write was essential for Kaunas' merchants, craftsmen and employees of the offices of city self-government institutions work.<ref name="MokyklosAutc">{{cite web |title=Mokyklos Kaune XVI‑XVIII a. pirmojoje pusėje |url=http://kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt/lt/paieska/teksto-zinute/26/mokyklos-kaune-xvi-xviii-a-pirmojoje-puseje |website=Kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

In 1648, Kaunas [[Jesuit]] College ({{langx|la|Collegium Caunense}}) was established and until 1702 its status as ''collegium inchoatum'' settled down, which meant a [[high school]] with a shortened [[philosophy]] course.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kasperavičiūtė |first1=Vitalija |title=Jėzuitų ir Edukacims komisijos mokyklos Kaune: sąveika ir perimamumas (XVIII a.) |journal=Kauno istorijos metraštis |page=51 |url=https://etalpykla.lituanistika.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2002~1367184063033/J.04~2002~1367184063033.pdf |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Therefore, in the 16th–18th centuries Kaunas had education with levels from primary to secondary school and the studies met demands not only of Kaunas but also of the surrounding area.<ref name="MokyklosAutc"/>

On 14 October 1773, the [[Commission of National Education]] was created by the [[Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and the Grand Duke [[Stanisław August Poniatowski]], which supervised universities, schools and was responsible for other educational matters in the Commonwealth. Because of its vast authority and autonomy, it is considered as the first [[Ministry (government department)|Ministry]] of [[Education]] in European history and an important achievement of the [[Enlightenment in Poland|Enlightenment in the Commonwealth]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Norman |last=Davies |title=God's Playground: 1795 to the present |url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0 |url-access=registration |access-date=17 August 2024 |date=28 February 2005 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-12819-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/167 167]}}</ref> At the time the education province of Lithuania was assigned to be managed by [[Vilnius University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Edukacinė komisija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/edukacine-komisija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Following the [[Partitions of Poland|Third Partition of the Commonwealth]], Kaunas and [[Lithuania proper]] became a part of the Russian Empire. In 1843, the [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] of the [[Kražiai College]], one of the most important centers of education and Jesuit science in Lithuania, was transferred from [[Kražiai]] to Kaunas, and currently it is named [[Kaunas Maironis University Gymnasium]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kražių kolegija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kraziu-kolegija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Istorija |url=http://kmug.lt/apie-gimnazija/istorija/ |website=Kauno Maironio universitetinė gimnazija |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1848, Kaunas became capital of the [[Kovno Governorate]] which had 197 Lithuanian primary schools, however the education was greatly affected by the [[Lithuanian press ban]] (1865–1904) and [[Russification]] policies, especially after the 1863 [[January Uprising]].<ref name="SvietimasRI">{{cite web |title=Švietimas Lietuvoje Rusijos imperijos valdymo metais |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/svietimas-lietuvoje-rusijos-imperijos-valdymo-metais/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Nevertheless, Kovno Governorate was one of the leading governorates by population [[literacy]] – 55,3%, compared to the average of 19% of population (9 years or older) of the Russian Empire in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno gubernija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-gubernija/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="RastingumasVle">{{cite web |title=Raštingumas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/rastingumas/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

[[File:School notebook cover with Vytautas the Great, printed in the 1930s in Lithuania.jpg|thumb|150px|School notebook cover with Vytautas the Great, an example of patriotic education in interwar period Lithuania<ref name="patriot"/>]]
Following the adoption of the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania]] in 1918, the [[Government of Lithuania]] was soon forced to retreat from [[Vilnius]] to Kaunas in January 1919, therefore since 1919 the [[Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania)|Ministry of Education of Lithuania]] operated in Kaunas.<ref name="SM">{{cite web |title=Tarpukario Lietuvą menantis pastatas Kaune: čia buvo sprendžiami svarbiausi valstybės klausimai |url=https://www.delfi.lt/multimedija/archyvas/zvilgsnis-i-lietuva/tarpukario-lietuva-menantis-pastatas-kaune-cia-buvo-sprendziami-svarbiausi-valstybes-klausimai-73750532 |website=DELFI |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> These events resulted in the influx to Kaunas of Lithuanian intellectuals (e.g. [[Jonas Jablonskis]], [[Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas]]) and teachers who began educational activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prieš 100 metų Kaunas tapo laikinąja sostine |url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/pries-100-metu-kaunas-tapo-laikinaja-sostine-56-1081994 |website=15min.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> During the [[interwar period]] the Lithuanian [[educational system]] was transformed based on Western countries examples and the [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania]] adopted the Primary Schools Act which required 7-11-year-old children to attend free primary education for four years (the primary education was prolonged to six years in 1936) and many new schools for various ages pupils were established.<ref name="Svietimas18-40">{{cite web |title=Lietuvos Respublikos švietimo sistema 1918–1940 |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-respublikos-svietimo-sistema-1918-1940/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Moreover, children were taught [[patriotism]] from an early age, later children joined [[Ateitis]] and [[Lietuvos Skautija]] organizations, while school notebooks covers for pupils were printed with famous Lithuanian personalities portraits (e.g. [[Vytautas]], [[Birutė]], [[Jonas Basanavičius]], etc.).<ref name="patriot">{{cite web |title=Tarpukaris: vaikų patriotizmą ugdė ir sąsiuvinių viršeliai |url=https://kaunas.kasvyksta.lt/2018/06/17/kultura/tarpukaris-vaiku-patriotizma-ugde-ir-sasiuviniu-virseliai/ |website=Kaunas.kasvyksta.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1922, the [[Kaunas Art School]] was established in Kaunas and it was the only public [[art school]] in interwar Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno meno mokykla |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-meno-mokykla/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1931, Jonas Laužikas established a [[special education]] school in Kaunas which was the first such type school in Lithuania and it still operates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pirmosios vaikų su intelekto negaliomis mokyklos direktorė: baisiausia buvo sovietmečiu |url=https://www.delfi.lt/seima/klasiu-kovos/pirmosios-vaiku-su-intelekto-negaliomis-mokyklos-direktore-baisiausia-buvo-sovietmeciu-96126273 |website=Delfi.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The overall improvement of education system during the interwar period resulted in 92% of literacy rate of the population in Lithuania in 1939 (mostly only part of the older age inhabitants were still illiterate).<ref name="RastingumasVle"/>

In January 1919, the [[War School of Kaunas]] was established as a [[military school]] for [[junior officer]]s, while since 1921 the [[senior officer]]s studied at the [[Higher Officers' Courses]] which in 1932 became the Higher Military School when a department of the [[Defence Staff (Lithuania)|General Staff]] was established, however both institutions were dissolved in 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aukštieji karininkų kursai |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/aukstieji-karininku-kursai/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

The [[occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] in 1940 and in 1944 resulted in the [[Sovietization]] of Lithuanian education system which also affected education in Kaunas until 1990, while many students, teachers, and lecturers departed to the Western Europe or faced [[Soviet deportations from Lithuania|Soviet deportations]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Švietimas Lietuvoje sovietinės okupacijos metais (1940–1941 ir 1944–1990) |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/svietimas-lietuvoje-sovietines-okupacijos-metais-1940-1941-ir-1944-1990/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Following the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania in 1990, the Lithuanian education system was once again significantly reformed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lietuvos Respublikos švietimo sistema po nepriklausomybės atkūrimo |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-respublikos-svietimo-sistema-po-nepriklausomybes-atkurimo/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Currently, Kaunas has a network of state-funded schools: 6 primary schools, 17 [[progymnasium]]s, 20 gymnasiums, and 43 private pre-school and general education institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno miesto savivaldybės švietimo stebėsenos rodikliai |url=https://www.kaunas.lt/svietimas/kauno-miesto-savivaldybes-svietimo-stebesenos-rodikliai/ |website=Kaunas.lt |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> The [[Kaunas University of Technology Gymnasium]] is one of the best ranked gymnasiums in Lithuania (2nd in 2024).<ref>{{cite web |title=Naujausiuose švietimo reitinguose – geriausios gimnazijos, savivaldybės lyderės ir keistos tendencijos |url=https://www.lrytas.lt/lietuvosdiena/svietimas/2024/05/08/news/naujausiuose-svietimo-reitinguose-geriausios-gimnazijos-savivaldybes-lyderes-ir-keistos-tendencijos-31771701 |website=lrytas.lt |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> Most of pupils in Kaunas later studies in the universities or colleges as Lithuania is one of the world's leading countries in [[OECD]]'s statistics of population with tertiary education (58.15% of 25–34-year-olds in 2022).<ref>{{cite web |title=Population with tertiary education |url=https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm |website=OECD |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref>

===Tertiary education===
[[File:The First Palace of the University of Lithuania in Kaunas, Lithuania in 1925.jpg|thumb|The University of Lithuania in 1925, a university which legacy is shared by three universities in Kaunas, while its former First Palace (pictured) is currently the [[Assembly hall|Aula]] of the [[Kaunas University of Technology]].]]
[[File:Grand Hall of the Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|Vytautas Magnus University Great Hall in the Student's Square]]
[[File:Student Campus of the Kaunas University of Technology in Kaunas, Lithuania in 2016.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Kaunas University of Technology [[Campus]]]]
[[File:Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics in 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas Clinics|Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos|url=http://www.lsmuni.lt/en/structure/medical-academy-/university-hospitals/hospital-of-lithuanian-university-of-health-sciences-kauno-klinikos.html|website=Lsmuni.lt|access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref>]]
Until the 20th century Kaunas had no tertiary education institutions as the [[Vilnius University]] (est. 1579) for centuries was the only [[university]] in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], but it was closed in 1832 by the [[tsarist]] authorities and the [[Council of Lithuania]] desired to revive it in the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Universitetas Vilniuje tarpukariu: nuo prašmatnių pokylių iki išdaužytų langų |url=https://www.15min.lt/gyvenimas/naujiena/ar-zinai/universitetas-vilniuje-tarpukariu-nuo-prasmatniu-pokyliu-iki-slibino-gatvese-ir-mustyniu-1634-1215398 |website=15min.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> However, during the [[Vilnius Region#Vilnius dispute|conflict for the Vilnius Region]] the Lithuanians were unable to maintain control in the since 1918 declared capital [[Vilnius]] with the remnants of the Vilnius University which was firstly [[Battles for Vilnius (1918–1919)|captured by the Bolsheviks]] in January 1919, then by the [[Żeligowski's Mutiny|Polish forces in November 1920]] and was eventually annexed by Poland in 1922 which left a newly restored Lithuania without any tertiary education institutions, therefore Lithuanian intellectuals sought to promptly establish it.<ref name="KurStoti">{{cite web |title=Lietuvos universitetas – nuo 1922 m. iki dabar |url=https://www.kurstoti.lt/s/4575/lietuvos-universitetas-nuo-1922-m-iki-dabar |website=Journal Kur stoti |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Already in the fall of 1919 a memorandum of Lithuanian cultural workers to establish a tertiary education institution in Kaunas was handed to the Government of Lithuania, however it was rejected due to difficult political and financial situation.<ref name="KurStoti"/> Nevertheless, on 27 January 1920 the Lithuanian intellectuals who initiated the memorandum decided to establish (without the permission and financial support of the Government) the Higher Courses with six divisions which was the first higher education institution of a restored Lithuania.<ref name="KurStoti"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Aukštieji kursai |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/aukstieji-kursai/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> On 16 February 1922, the Higher Courses were reorganized to the [[Vytautas Magnus University|University of Lithuania]] and in March an autonomy was granted, while in 1930 it was renamed after [[Vytautas the Great]] commemorating his 500th death anniversary.<ref name="LU">{{cite web |title=History of the University of Lithuania |url=https://www.vdu.lt/en/history-of-university-of-lithuania/ |website=VDU.lt |date=31 May 2022 |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref> The status of the university diminished during the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet and Nazi periods]] and on 31 October 1950 it was even reorganized to two [[institute]]s.<ref name="LU"/> In 1988, the issue of re-establishment of the university was raised, while in March 1989 the Re-establishment Council was elected and in April 1989 re-established Vytautas Magnus University.<ref name="LU"/> Currently, VMU is among three percent of the best ranked universities worldwide per [[QS World University Rankings]] (741–750) and is the second largest Lithuanian university according to the number of enrolments.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apie VDU |url=https://www.vdu.lt/lt/apie-vdu-kaune/ |website=VDU.lt |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Neužleidžia pozicijų: VDU pagal įstojusiųjų skaičių išlieka antru Lietuvoje ir pirmu Kaune |url=https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/mokslas-it/neuzleidzia-poziciju-vdu-pagal-istojusiuju-skaiciu-islieka-antru-lietuvoje-ir-pirmu-kaune-1290-2105764 |website=15min.lt |date=4 September 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

The [[Kaunas University of Technology]] also traces its origins to the interwar VMU as a part of it was reorganized in 1950 by the Soviets to the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, however in 1990 its university status was restored.<ref name="KTU">{{cite web |title=Apie KTU |url=https://ktu.edu/universitetas/ |website=KTU.edu |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Currently, the KTU is ranked 751-760 worldwide per QS World University Rankings and has over 1,000 academicians along with over 7,000 students.<ref name="KTU"/> Moreover, KTU is a member of the [[European Consortium of Innovative Universities]].

The [[Lithuanian University of Health Sciences]] is yet another university which traces its origins to the interwar VMU as a part of it was reorganized in 1950 by the Soviets to the Kaunas Medical Institute, but in 1998 its university status was restored as the Kaunas Medical University which in 2010 was merged with the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy to form a single university and currently is the largest Lithuanian university in the field of [[biomedical sciences]].<ref>{{cite web |title=LSMU istorija |url=https://lsmu.lt/lsmu-istorija/ |website=LSMU.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

The [[Lithuanian Sports University]] (est. in 1934, granted university status in 2012) is a unique tertiary education institution in Lithuania which specializes in the training of physical education, sports and wellness specialists of which it has already prepared 15,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apie LSU |url=https://www.lsu.lt/apie-lsu/ |website=LSU.lt |date=6 October 2017 |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

Some Lithuanian tertiary education institutions has its divisions in Kaunas: Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, [[Mykolas Romeris University|Mykolas Romeris University Faculty of Public Security]], [[Vilnius Academy of Art]] Kaunas Faculty of Art.

Non-university tertiary education in Kaunas is provided by Kaunas College, Kaunas Technical College, Kolpingo College, Kaunas College of Forestry and Environmental Engineering, SMK College of Applied Sciences, St. Ignatius of Loyola College, V. A. Graičiūnas School of Management, Vilnius Cooperative College Kaunas Branch.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aukštosios mokyklos Kaune |url=https://www.imones.lt/aukstosios-mokyklos/kaune |website=Imones.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

The Santaka Valley is an integrated Science, Studies and Business Centre (Valley) which is one of the largest and most modern in [[Baltic states]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Slėnis Santaka |url=https://nivc.ktu.edu/slenis-santaka/ |website=KTU.lt |access-date=17 August 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>

The network of tertiary education institutions which attracts a high number of students (e.g. 40,000 in 2023) resulted in Kaunas being nicknamed the "student city" for decades and in 2024 Kaunas was included in the worldwide list of the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2025.<ref name="Students">{{cite web |title=Kaunas ranked among the best student cities in the world |url=https://en.ktu.edu/news/kaunas-ranked-among-the-best-student-cities-in-the-world/ |website=KTU.lt |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref>

===Libraries===
Kaunas has numerous libraries. The most important is the Kaunas County Public Library. It was established as the Central Library of Lithuania in 1919. A part of its collection was transferred to [[Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania]] in 1963.<ref>[http://www.lnb.lt/lnb/selectPage.do?docLocator=9&inlanguage=en&pathId=15 Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. Historical Outlines] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302104328/http://www.lnb.lt/lnb/selectPage.do?docLocator=9&inlanguage=en&pathId=15 |date=2 March 2012}} Retrieved on 30 December 2011.</ref> Now the Kaunas County Public Library holds more than 2.2 million volumes in its collection and functions as a [[Legal deposit|depository]] library of the [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426050628/http://en.kvb.lt/node/2 Kaunas County Public Library] Retrieved on 9 December 2011.</ref>

==Parks, leisure, and cemeteries==
[[File:VMU Botanical Garden in Kaunas 2019-07-15.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden]]]]
[[File:Jiesios piliakalnis 2007-06-09.JPG|thumb|right|[[Napoleon's Hill]]]]
The city of Kaunas has a number of parks and public open spaces. It devotes 7.3% of its total land acreage to parkland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aplinka.kaunas.lt/?pg=39&lang=1&menu_id=11|title=Aplinkos apsauga. Kauno miesto savivaldybė; Kauno miesto želdynų sistemos formavimas|access-date=11 December 2010|language=lt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722151617/http://aplinka.kaunas.lt/?pg=39&lang=1&menu_id=11|archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref> [[Ąžuolynas]] (literally, "Oak Grove") park is a main public park in the heart of Kaunas. It covers about 63 hectares and is the largest urban stand of mature oaks in Europe. To protect the unique lower landscape of [[Kaunas Reservoir]], its natural ecosystem, and cultural heritage [[Kaunas Reservoir Regional Park]] was established in the eastern edge of Kaunas in 1992.

By the initiative of a prominent Lithuanian zoologist [[Tadas Ivanauskas]] and biologist [[Constantin Andreas von Regel|Constantin von Regel]] the [[Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden|Botanical Garden]] was founded in 1923.<ref name="VMABG">{{cite web |title=VDU Botanical garden |url=https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/see-and-do/sights/nature/vdu-botanical-garden/ |website=Visit.Kaunas.lt |access-date=18 January 2023}}</ref> It serves not only as a recreational area for public, but also serves as a showcase for local plant life, and houses various research facilities.<ref name="VMABG"/> In addition, Kaunas is home to [[Kaunas Zoo]], the only state-operated [[zoo]] in all of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apie Mus |url=https://www.zoosodas.lt/apie-mus/ |website=Lietuvos zoologijos sodas |access-date=18 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, and arts is [[Petrašiūnai Cemetery]] in Kaunas. It is also the burial site of some [[Signatories of the Act of Independence of Lithuania|signatories of the 1918 Act of Independence]]. There are four old [[Jewish cemeteries of Kaunas|Jewish cemeteries]] within city limits. Furthermore, since 1959 there is the [[Ramybė Park]] which is a [[public park]] located in the territory of the Kaunas City Old Cemetery, which was established in 1847.

On 23 September 2018, [[Pope Francis]] visited Kaunas' [[Santakos Park]] as part of a tour of the Baltic states.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.intertlc.co.uk/news/santakos-park-in-kowno-lithuania-secured-by-tlc-fencing-during-pope-francis-visit/|title=Santakos Park in Kaunas, Lithuania, Secured by TLC Fencing During Pope Francis' Visit|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Lithuanian Shilling of Jonas Kazimieras Vaza with his portrait and Vytis (Waykimas), minted in Kaunas, 1665.jpg|thumb|Coin of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], minted in [[Kaunas Mint]], 1665]]
[[File:Building of the Bank of Lithuania in Kaunas in 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Bank of Lithuania]] Palace in Kaunas was built in 1924–1928 with sumptuous interior and splendid exterior in order to showcase the economic capability of a newly restored Lithuania<ref>{{cite web |last1=Inytė |first1=Vėjūnė |title=Šie rūmai Kaune stulbina prabanga – norėtų pamatyti kiekvienas |url=https://www.lrytas.lt/bustas/architektura/2018/11/06/news/sie-rumai-kaune-stulbina-prabanga-noretu-pamatyti-kiekvienas-8102559/ |website=[[lrytas.lt]] |access-date=13 July 2020 |language=lt |date=6 November 2018}}</ref>]]
[[Kaunas Mint]] produced coins of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] from 17 October 1665 to 15 January 1667 during the reign of Grand Duke [[John II Casimir Vasa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno monetų kalykla |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-monetu-kalykla/ |website=[[Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia]] |access-date=1 August 2021 |language=Lithuanian}}</ref> During the [[interwar period]], the Kaunas Mint was reestablished in 1936 and produced coins of the Republic of Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |last=Remecas |first=Eduardas |title=Kauno monetų kalykla |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-monetu-kalykla-1/ |website=[[Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia]] |access-date=1 August 2021 |language=Lithuanian}}</ref>

Kaunas is a large center of [[Industrial sector|industry]], trade, and [[Tertiary sector of the economy|services]] in Lithuania. 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. Recently [[information technology]] and [[electronics]] have become part of the business activities taking place in Kaunas. In addition, the city also has large [[construction]] industry which includes, but is not limited to commercial, housing and road construction.<ref>[http://www.kaunas.aps.lt/ava/selectPage.do?docLocator=169B1A586C0211DCB0B5746164617373&inlanguage=en&pathId=639 Kaunas County Governor's Administration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322111322/http://www.kaunas.aps.lt/ava/selectPage.do?docLocator=169B1A586C0211DCB0B5746164617373&inlanguage=en&pathId=639 |date=22 March 2012}} Retrieved on 8 April 2011.</ref>

Primary foreign investors in Kaunas are companies from the Sweden, United States, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, and Russia.<ref>[http://www.businesslocater.net/index_NEW.php?action=city.Kaunas European Business Guide. Kaunas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106025753/http://www.businesslocater.net/index_NEW.php?action=city.Kaunas |date=6 January 2012}} Retrieved on 8 December 2011.</ref>
Head offices of several major International and Lithuanian companies are located in Kaunas, including largest [[Generic drug|Generic Pharmaceuticals]] producer in Lithuania "[[Sanitas]]", producer of sportswear AB "[[Audimas]]", one of the largest construction companies "[[YIT]] Kausta", JSC "Senukai", largest producer in Lithuania of strong alcoholic drinks JSC "[[Stumbras]]", Finnish capital brewery JSC "[[Ragutis]]", JSC "[[Fazer]] Gardesis", JSC "[[Stora Enso]] Packaging",<ref>[http://www.storaenso.com/about-us/mills/lithuania/kaunas-mill/Pages/welcome-to-kaunas-mill.aspx Stora Enso.Kaunas Mill] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003183333/http://www.storaenso.com/about-us/mills/lithuania/kaunas-mill/Pages/welcome-to-kaunas-mill.aspx |date=3 October 2011}} Retrieved on 3 September 2011.</ref> producer of pharmaceuticals, and the only producer of [[Homeopathy|homoeopathic]] medicines in Lithuania JSC "Aconitum".<ref>[http://www.aconitum.lt/eng/about-us.html Pharmaceutical company "Aconitum"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109212836/http://aconitum.lt/eng/about-us.html |date=9 November 2011}} Retrieved on 3 September 2011.</ref> Its geographic location causes Kaunas to be considered one of the largest logistics centres in Lithuania. The largest wholesale, distribution and logistics company in Lithuania and Latvia JSC "Sanitex",<ref>[http://www.sanitex.eu/index.php?&plid=436&cl=content&tpl=8d145dc67c4323e21.92150749 Sanitex. Distribution & Logistics] Retrieved on 3 September 2011.</ref> as well as a subsidiary of material handling and logistics company [[Dematic]] in the Baltics<ref>[http://www.dematic.com/ee Dematic Europe and South America] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214085909/http://www.dematic.com/ee |date=14 February 2012}} Retrieved on 10 February 2012.</ref> have been operated in Kaunas. Currently, Kaunas Public Logistics Centre is being built by the demand of national state-owned [[railway]] company [[Lithuanian Railways]].<ref>[http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/sectors/masstransport/portslogistics/businessopportunity/116597.html UK Trade&Investment. Lithuania – Development of Kaunas Public Logistics Centre] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120805194052/http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/sectors/masstransport/portslogistics/businessopportunity/116597.html |date=5 August 2012}} Retrieved on 10 February 2012.</ref>
The "Margasmiltė" company currently has been working on a project that concerns exploitation of Pagiriai [[anhydrite]] deposit. The project includes mining of anhydrite, a mine with underground warehouses, building the overground transport terminal, as well as an administrative building. The Pagiriai anhydrite deposit is located {{Convert|10.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} south from the downtown of Kaunas, at a {{Convert|2.2|km|mi|abbr=on}} distance to the southwest from the [[Garliava]] town. The resources of thoroughly explored anhydrite in the Pagiriai deposit amount to 81.5 million tons.<ref>[http://www.anhydrite.lt/page2.php JSC "Margasmiltė". Anhydrite mining] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426032445/http://www.anhydrite.lt/page2.php |date=26 April 2012}} Retrieved on 7 December 2011.</ref>

The Lithuanian Central Credit Union—national [[cooperative federation]] for [[credit unions]] established in 2001, is located in Kaunas. At present the Lithuanian Central Credit Union has 61 members.<ref>[http://www.lku.lt/en/lithuanian-central-credit-union.html Lithuanian Central Credit Union] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211132716/http://www.lku.lt/en/lithuanian-central-credit-union.html |date=11 December 2011}} Retrieved on 7 December 2011.</ref>

[[File:Akvariumas 2006-12-02.jpg|thumb|right|Aquarium in the [[PLC Mega]] shopping center]]
There are also some innovative companies located in Kaunas, such as leading wholesaler of computer components, data storage media "ACME group", internet and TV provider, communications JSC "Mikrovisata group", developer and producer original products for TV and embedded technologies JSC "Selteka". Joint Lithuanian-German company "Net Frequency", based in Kaunas, is a multimedia and technology service provider. Kaunas is also home to R&D department of [[Dassault Systèmes|Dassault Systemes]] producing world-leading modeling tools software [[CATIA]]. A [[Light-emitting diode|LED]] lighting assembly plant was opened in Kaunas by South Korean company LK Technology in February 2011.<ref>[http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=37703&ins_print Koreans open LED lighting assembly plant in Kaunas]. Retrieved on 16 March 2011.</ref> JSC "Baltic car equipment" is one of the leaders in Baltic countries, in the field of manufacturing electronic equipment for automobiles. It also specialises in development of new [[telemetry]], data base creation, [[mobile payment]] projects.<ref>[http://www.bce.lt/about-us.html Baltic Car Equipment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203103245/http://www.bce.lt/about-us.html |date=3 February 2012}}. Retrieved on 12 March 2012.</ref> [[Kaunas Free Economic Zone]]<ref>[http://www.ftz.lt/ Kaunas Free Economic Zone Home page]. Retrieved on 25 October 2010.</ref> established in 1996 has also attracted some investors from abroad, including the development of the new 200 MW [[Cogeneration|Cogeneration Power Plant]] project, proposed by the Finnish capital company [[Fortum]] Heat Lithuania.<ref>[http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/2012/01/24/fortum-heat-lithuania-is-planning-to-build-a-power-plant-in-kaunas/ Fortum Heat Lithuania is planning to build a power plant in Kaunas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914131144/http://www.lithuaniatribune.com/2012/01/24/fortum-heat-lithuania-is-planning-to-build-a-power-plant-in-kaunas/ |date=14 September 2012}} Retrieved on 12 March 2012.</ref> Before its disestablishment, [[Air Lithuania]] had its head office in Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.airlithuania.lt/Default.asp?DL=E
 |title=Home page
 |publisher=[[Air Lithuania]]
 |date=6 August 2002
 |access-date=15 January 2010
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020806045559/http://www.airlithuania.lt/Default.asp?DL=E
 |archive-date= 6 August 2002
 |url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[Kaunas Hydroelectric Power Plant]] is the largest one in Lithuania.

Some notable changes are under construction and in the stage of disputes.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}} The construction of a new landmark of Kaunas—the [[Žalgiris Arena]]—began in the autumn of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kamane.lt/en/titulinio_blokai/e_redakcijos_balsai/tekstas217|title=Kamanė; Blessing to Open Kaunas Arena Facades|access-date=17 May 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727100654/http://www.kamane.lt/en/titulinio_blokai/e_redakcijos_balsai/tekstas217|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref> It was completed in August 2011. Currently discussions are underway about the further development of the [[Vilijampolė]] district on the right bank of the [[Neris]] River and the [[Neman|Nemunas River]], near their confluence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kamane.lt/en/titulinio_blokai/e_redakcijos_balsai/tekstas183/e_balsas_view?paieska=vilijampolė&SearchableText=vilijampolė|title=Kamanė; Exam of New Architecture in Vilijampolė and near Kalniečiai Park|access-date=15 December 2009}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In October 2017, an automotive parts and technologies manufacturer [[Continental AG]] decided to invest over 95 million [[euro]]s to build a new factory in Kaunas, which is the largest direct investment from a foreign country.<ref>{{cite web|title="Continental" statys gamyklą Kaune: ruošia 1 tūkst. darbo vietų|url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/verslas/continental-statys-gamykla-kaune-ruosia-1-tukst-darbo-vietu.d?id=76199541|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref>

Kaunas is also known for its [[programmer]]s, 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Povilaitis |first1=Nerijus |title=JAV milijardierius verslui pasirinko Kauną: gatvėse jo niekas neatpažįsta, o darbuotojai uždirba tūkstantines algas |url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/verslas/jav-milijardierius-verslui-pasirinko-kauna-gatvese-jo-niekas-neatpazista-o-darbuotojai-uzdirba-tukstantines-algas.d?id=83393091 |website=[[DELFI]] |access-date=4 February 2020}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{historical populations|1897|70920|1923|92446|1959|214348|1970|305116|1979|370419|1989|422931|2001|378943|2011|315993|2021|298753|align=right|cols=1|source=pop-stat.mashke.org<ref>{{cite web |title=Cities of Lithuania|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/lithuania-cities.htm|date=2024-04-15}}</ref>}}Today, with more than 94% of its citizens being ethnic [[Lithuanians]], Kaunas is one of the most Lithuanian cities in the country.

[[Ethnic group|Ethnic composition]] As of the last census in 2021, out of a total population of 298,753:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/gyventoju-ir-bustu-surasymai1 |title=2021 Census – Lithuanian Government Department of Statistics}}</ref>
# [[Lithuanians]] – 94.4%
# [[Russians]] – 2.9%
# [[Ukrainians]] – 0.3%
# [[Polish people|Poles]] – 0.4%
# [[Belarusians]] – 0.2%
# Other – 1.4%

[[Ethnic group|Ethnic composition]] in 2011, out of a total of 315,933:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.gov.lt/uploads/Lietuvos_gyventojai_2011.pdf |title=2011 Census – Lithuanian Government Department of Statistics |access-date=30 September 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
# [[Lithuanians]] – 93.6%
# [[Russians]] – 3.8%
# [[Ukrainians]] – 0.4%
# [[Polish people|Poles]] – 0.4%
# [[Belarusians]] – 0.2%
# Other – 1.6%

According to the official census of 1923, there were 92,446 inhabitants in Kaunas:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statistikouzrasai.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/lietuvos-gyventojai-pirmojo-1923-m-rugsc497jo-17-d-visuotinio-gyventojc5b3-surac5a1ymo-duomenys.pdf|title=Official results of the 1923 census in Lithuania}}</ref>
[[File:Sinagoga Zamenhofo 7.JPG|thumb|right|The Neviazh Kloyz is one of the remaining former synagogues located in the Kaunas Old Town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Žydai Lietuvoje {{!}} Kaunas|url=http://www.zydai.lt/lt/content/viewitem/680/|website=www.zydai.lt|access-date=5 April 2007}}</ref> The complex was built in the 19th century and also served as a community house and school.<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 m. Europos žydų kultūros dienos atgarsiai|url=http://www.heritage.lt/naujienos/2007/zydu_kulturos_dienos_atgarsiai.html|website=www.heritage.lt|access-date=2 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215233134/http://www.heritage.lt/naujienos/2007/zydu_kulturos_dienos_atgarsiai.html|archive-date=15 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]
* [[Lithuanians]] – 58.9% (54,520)
* [[Jews]] – 27.1% (25,044)
* [[Polish people|Poles]] – 4.5% (4,193)
* [[Germans]] – 3.5% (3,269)
* [[Russians]] – 3.2% (2,914)
* [[Belarusians]] – 0.2% (171)
* [[Latvians]] – 0.1% (123)
* Other – 2.4% (2,212)

[[Russian Empire Census|1897 Russian census]] revealed the following linguistic composition in the city (by [[First language|mother tongue]], out of 70,920):<ref>Первая Всеобщая перепись населения Российской Империи 1897 г. Таблица XIII. Распределение населения по родному языку. Т.Т.1–50. С.-Петербург: 1903–1905</ref>
# [[Yiddish]] 25,052 – 35%
# [[Russian language]] 18,308 – 26%
# [[Polish language]] 16,112 – 23%
# [[Lithuanian language]] 4,092 – 6%
# [[German language]] 3,340 – 5%
# [[Tatars|Tatar]] 1,084 – 2%
# Other 2932 – 4%

==Municipality council==
[[File:Kaunas City Municipality main building in 2010.jpg|thumb|Kaunas city municipality main building]]
[[Kaunas city municipality]] council is the governing body of the Kaunas city municipality and is responsible for municipality laws.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teisinė informacija |url=http://www.kaunas.lt/administracija/teisine-informacija/ |website=Kaunas.lt |publisher=Kaunas City Municipality |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Veikla |url=http://www.kaunas.lt/administracija/veikla/ |website=Kaunas.lt |publisher=Kaunas City Municipality |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=lt}}</ref> The council is composed of 41 members (40 councillors and a mayor) all directly elected for four-year terms.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=http://en.kaunas.lt/municipality/city-ciuncil |website=Kaunas.lt |publisher=Kaunas City Municipality |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

The council is the member of the [[Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ALAL Members |url=https://www.lsa.lt/en/alal-members/ |website=Lsa.lt |publisher=Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (ALAL) |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

===Mayors===
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* 1995–1997 – Vladas Katkevičius ([[Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Conservative]])
* 1997 – [[Alfonsas Andriuškevičius]] ([[Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Conservative]])
* 1997–2000 – Henrikas Tamulis ([[Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Conservative]])
* 2000 – [[Vytautas Šustauskas]] ([[Lithuanian Liberty Union|Liberty Union]])
* 2000 – Gediminas Budnikas ([[Lithuanian Liberty Union|Liberty Union]])
* 2001–2002 – Erikas Tamašauskas ([[Lithuanian Liberal Union|Liberal]])
* 2002–2003 – Giedrius Donatas Ašmys ([[Lithuanian Social Democratic Party|Social Democrat]])
* 2003–2007 – Arvydas Garbaravičius ([[Liberal and Centre Union|Liberal-Centrist]])
* 2007–2011 – [[Andrius Kupčinskas]] ([[Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Conservative]])
* 2011 – [[Rimantas Mikaitis]] ([[Liberal Movement (Lithuania)|Liberal]])
* 2011–2015 Andrius Kupčinskas ([[Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats|Conservative]])
* since 2015 – [[Visvaldas Matijošaitis]] ([[Vieningas Kaunas]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor's office |url=http://en.kaunas.lt/municipality/mayor |website=Kaunas.lt |publisher=Kaunas City Municipality |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Transportation==
===Airports===
[[File:Kaunas Airport Terminal in 2008.jpg|thumb|Kaunas International Airport]]
[[Kaunas International Airport|Kaunas International Airport (KUN)]] is the second-busiest airport in Lithuania and the [[List of the busiest airports in the Baltic states|fourth-busiest airport in the Baltic states]]. 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. Irish [[Low-cost carrier|low-cost airline]] [[Ryanair]] announced Kaunas Airport as their 40th base and first in [[Central Europe]] in February 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/|title=Ryanair|website=www.ryanair.com}}</ref> The smaller [[S. Darius and S. Girėnas Airport]], established in 1915, is located about {{Convert|3|km|spell=in}} south of the city centre. It is one of the oldest still functioning [[airport]]s in Europe used for tourism and [[air sports]] purposes and now hosts the [[Lithuanian Aviation Museum]].

===Bus stations===
[[File:Kaunas Bus Station in 2017.jpg|thumb|Kaunas Bus Station]]
Kaunas bus station went through a major renovation and reopened in 2017.<ref>{{cite web | title=Pradedama Kauno autobusų stoties rekonstrukcija | website=15min.lt | date=2015-07-01 | url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/pradedama-kauno-autobusu-stoties-rekonstrukcija-56-513188 | language=lt | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Naująją Kauno autobusų stotį planuojama atidaryti kitų metų sausį | website=15min.lt | date=2016-11-17 | url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/lietuva/naujaja-kauno-autobusu-stoti-planuojama-atidaryti-kitu-metu-sausi-56-713183 | language=lt | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref> The bus station services domestic and international bus lines. After reconstruction, the bus station has multiple shops and cafes. The total indoor floor area is 13 thousand m2. More than half of the total floor area is underground, mostly for vehicle and bicycle parking. It is Lithuania's largest and busiest bus station with more than 20 bus gates.<ref>{{cite web | title=Didžiausia autobusų stotis – Lietuvos rekordai | website=Lietuvos rekordai – Lietuvos rekordų svetainė | date=2017-09-05 | url=https://rekordai.lt/rekordai/didziausia-autobusu-stotis/ | language=lt | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=Informacija | first1=Ekonomikos Ir Finansų | last2=Garkauskas | first2=Paulius | title=Finišo tiesioji: didžiausia autobusų stotis Lietuvoje netrukus atvers duris | website=Delfi verslas | date=2016-11-17 | url=https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/nekilnojamas-turtas/finiso-tiesioji-didziausia-autobusu-stotis-lietuvoje-netrukus-atvers-duris-72891082 | language=lt | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Finišo tiesioji: didžiausia autobusų stotis Lietuvoje netrukus atvers duris | website=DELFI | date=2023-08-18 | url=https://www.delfi.lt/fotogalerijos/finiso-tiesioji-didziausia-autobusu-stotis-lietuvoje-netrukus-atvers-duris.d?id=233372 | language=lt | access-date=2023-08-18}}</ref>

===Highways===
Kaunas is served by a number of major motorways. [[European route]] E67 is a [[highway]] running from [[Prague]] in the Czech Republic to [[Helsinki]] in Finland by way of Poland, Kaunas, [[Riga]] (Latvia), and [[Tallinn]] (Estonia). It is known as the [[European route E67|Via Baltica]] between [[Warsaw]] and Tallinn, a distance of {{convert|670|km|0|abbr=on}}. It is the most important road connection between the [[Baltic states]]. Kaunas also is linked to [[Vilnius]] to its east and [[Klaipėda]], on the [[Baltic Sea]], via the [[A1 highway (Lithuania)|A1]] motorway and [[Daugavpils]] (Latvia), via [[European route E262|E262]]([[A6 highway (Lithuania)|A6]]) highway.

===Bridges===
[[File:Kaunas at night.jpg|thumb|[[Vytautas the Great Bridge]]]]
The construction of the Kaunas Railway Tunnel and Railway Bridge across the Nemunas river helped move goods from the eastern part of [[Russian Empire]] west to the [[German Empire]] and Kaunas grew rapidly in the second part of the 19th century. The oldest part of Kaunas was connected with [[Žaliakalnis]] neighbourhood in 1889. The city increased once more when it was connected by bridges with [[Aleksotas]] and [[Vilijampolė]] districts in the 1920s.[[Kaunas#cite note-41|[2]]]

Since Kaunas is located at the confluence of two rivers, there were 34 bridges and viaducts built in the city at the end of 2007, including:
* [[Vytautas the Great Bridge]], connecting [[Old Town (Kaunas)|Old Town]] with [[Aleksotas]] across the [[Neman|Nemunas]]
* [[M. K. Čiurlionis Bridge]], an automotive bridge across the Nemunas
* [[Lampėdžiai Bridge]] across the Nemunas that serves as western [[Bypass (road)|bypass]] of Kaunas
* [[Petras Vileišis Bridge]], connecting [[Old Town (Kaunas)|Old Town]] with [[Vilijampolė]] across the [[Neris]] River
* [[Varniai Bridge]], connecting [[Žaliakalnis]] with Vilijampolė across the Neris River
* [[Railway Bridge, Kaunas|The Green railway bridge]], built in 1862

===Railways===
[[File:Rekonstruotas Kauno tunelis.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas Railway Tunnel]]]]
[[File:Žaliakalnis funicular.jpg|thumb|235x235px|Žaliakalnis funicular. Started operations in the 1930s.]]
Kaunas is an important railway hub in Lithuania. First railway connection passing through Kaunas was constructed in 1859–1861 and opened in 1862.<ref name="litrail.lt">http://www.litrail.lt/wps/portal/!ut/p/c1/pZDBDoIwDIafhQcw7TY3uI4EBUJGwpwiF8KBmCUCHozPL-jJA-Vge2q-fG3-QgNzj93L37qnn8buDjU0qj1GokwOKUcsQo1cytyauGRxijO_rnOnCLvKN2zDKDthpF1Z_sdtEYuN3JflU6rFldL45dRnCC5OjPYNzT_pqf1Lvh9eRplCXsiz1ft5DBWYdBp6sP0Ij8E5V6PPfLbTOgjeA3OhEw!!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfRzgzT0VGSDIwMEw3QTAyNTVKU05CTzFSVjQ!/ {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722152238/http://www.litrail.lt/wps/portal/%21ut/p/c1/pZDBDoIwDIafhQcw7TY3uI4EBUJGwpwiF8KBmCUCHozPL-jJA-Vge2q-fG3-QgNzj93L37qnn8buDjU0qj1GokwOKUcsQo1cytyauGRxijO_rnOnCLvKN2zDKDthpF1Z_sdtEYuN3JflU6rFldL45dRnCC5OjPYNzT_pqf1Lvh9eRplCXsiz1ft5DBWYdBp6sP0Ij8E5V6PPfLbTOgjeA3OhEw%21%21/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfRzgzT0VGSDIwMEw3QTAyNTVKU05CTzFSVjQ%21/|date=22 July 2011}} History of Lithuanian Railways. Construction of First Railways. Retrieved on 7 April 2011.</ref> It consisted of [[Kaunas Railway Tunnel]] and the [[Railway Bridge, Kaunas|Railway Bridge]] across the Nemunas river. [[Kaunas Railway Station]] is an important hub serving direct passenger connections to Vilnius and Warsaw as well as being a transit point of [[Pan-European corridor]]s I and IX. Some trains run from [[Vilnius]] to [[Šeštokai]], and, Poland, through Kaunas. International route connecting [[Kaliningrad]], Russia and [[Kharkiv]], Ukraine, also crosses Kaunas. The first phase of the [[Standard gauge]] [[Rail Baltica]] railway section from [[Šeštokai]] to Kaunas was completed in 2015.

=== Hydrofoil ===
There used to be a [[hydrofoil]] route serving [[Port of Nida|the Port of Nida]] through Nemunas and across the [[Curonian Lagoon]]. It has been repeatedly discontinued and reopened, so the most current status is unclear. The company still exists and has its boats in working condition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitlithuania.net/index.php/component/content/article/136-river-transport/602-qrocketq.html|title=Visit Lithuania|website=www.visitlithuania.net|access-date=4 January 2013|archive-date=1 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501194044/http://www.visitlithuania.net/index.php/component/content/article/136-river-transport/602-qrocketq.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2017}}

===Public transportation===
[[File:Trolleybus in Kaunas, Solaris Trollino 12 (2019).jpg|thumb|[[Solaris Bus & Coach|Solaris]] Trollino 12S trolleybus with the distinctive lime green color in Kaunas]]
The public transportation system is managed by ''Kauno viešasis transportas'' (KVT).<ref name=kvt-en-main>{{cite web|title=Kauno viešasis transportas (KVT)|publisher=KVT|url=http://www.kvt.lt/en|access-date=6 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302154028/http://www.kvt.lt/en|archive-date=2 March 2011}}</ref> There are 14 [[trolleybus]] routes, 43 [[bus]] routes.<ref name=kvt-en-bus>{{cite web|title=Schedules: Buses|publisher= Kauno viešasis transportas (KVT)|url=http://www.marsrutai.info/kaunas/?a=p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> In 2007 new electronic monthly tickets began to be introduced for public transport in Kaunas. The monthly [[Electronic ticket|E-ticket]] cards may be bought once and might be credited with an appropriate amount of money in various ways including the Internet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas card |url=https://www.kvt.lt/en/tickets/kaunas-card/ |website=Kvt.lt |publisher=Kauno viešasis transportas |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Previous paper monthly tickets were in use until August 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://transportas.kaunas.lt/index_en.php?page=160 |title=Kaunas city public transport. General information |access-date=15 December 2009 |archive-date=26 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126104443/http://transportas.kaunas.lt/index_en.php?page=160 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Kaunas is also one of the major river ports in the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]] and has two [[pier]]s designated for tourism purposes and located on the banks of [[Neman river|Nemunas]] river and [[Kaunas Reservoir]]—the largest Lithuanian [[artificial lake]], created in 1959 by damming the [[Neman River|Nemunas]] near Kaunas and [[Rumšiškės]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Menas valdyti energiją|publisher=[[Lietuvos Energija]]|url=http://www.lpc.lt/repository/leidiniai/LE_bukletas_A5.pdf|access-date=19 May 2011|language=lt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221060410/http://www.lpc.lt/repository/leidiniai/LE_bukletas_A5.pdf|archive-date=21 February 2011}}</ref>

In 2015, ''Kauno autobusai'' bought four [[Van Hool AGG300]] to serve the mostly populated 37th route. These are the longest buses used in the [[Baltic states]].<ref>[http://www.delfi.lt/verslas/transportas/kauno-gatvese-ilgiausias-autobusas-baltijos-salyse.d?id=67384666 Kauno gatvėse – ilgiausias autobusas Baltijos šalyse] {{in lang|lt}}</ref> The bus station in Kaunas underwent reconstruction for six months and reopened on 23 January 2017. It is the largest and most modern bus station in Lithuania.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vz.lt/2017/01/23/atidaroma-rekonstruota-kauno-autobusu-stotis|title=Verslo žinios|last=Stasaityte|first=Vytene|date=January 2017}}</ref> In 2017, ''Kauno autobusai'' began planning to cardinally upgrade the trolleybuses and buses park till the end of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|title="Kauno autobusai" ruošiasi kardinaliam transporto priemonių parko atnaujinimui|url=http://kaunas.kasvyksta.lt/2017/08/29/eismas/kauno-autobusai-ruosiasi-kardinaliam-transporto-priemoniu-parko-atnaujinimui/|website=Kas vyksta Kaune|date=29 August 2017|access-date=29 August 2017|language=lt-LT}}</ref> The new Mercedes-Benz minibuses were introduced on 2 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas tęsia viešojo transporto atnaujinimą: įsigijo 30 mažųjų autobusų |url=https://www.15min.lt/gazas/naujiena/gatve/kaunas-tesia-viesojo-transporto-atnaujinima-isigijo-30-mazuju-autobusu-221-1196652 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=30 September 2019 |language=lt}}</ref> The first new trolleybuses Škoda 26Tr Solaris were publicly introduced on 30 September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Į gatves išrieda specialiai Kaunui Lenkijoje pagaminti troleibusai: įrengtos net USB jungtys |url=https://www.15min.lt/gazas/naujiena/gatve/i-gatves-isrieda-specialiai-kaunui-lenkijoje-pagaminti-troleibusai-irengtos-net-usb-jungtys-221-1209746 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=30 September 2019 |language=lt}}</ref> In November 2019, ''Kauno autobusai'' signed a contract for 100 new model units of [[MAN Lion's City]] 12 [[hybrid electric bus]]es, which replaced over half of city's old buses.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miknevičius |first1=Lukas |title="Kauno autobusai" už 24 mln. Eur perka 100 hibridinių autobusų |url=https://www.vz.lt/transportas-logistika/2019/11/22/kauno-autobusai-uz-24-mln-eur-perka-100-hibridiniu-autobusu |website=vz.lt |access-date=24 November 2019 |language=lt}}</ref>

Kaunas public transport has a [[mobile app]] ''Žiogas'' ({{langx|en|Grasshopper}}) which allow to purchase and activate digital tickets using a [[smartphone]].<ref name="Ziogas">{{cite web |title=Kaip Kaune keliauti su Žiogu? |url=https://www.kvt.lt/vaziuok-su-ziogu-ir-zymek-bilieta-akimirksniu/ |website=Kvt.lt |publisher=Kauno viešasis transportas |access-date=6 September 2021 |language=lt}}</ref> After reaching the E-ticket card's monthly fee (28 Eur), the remaining trips are free of charge until the end of the month.<ref name="Ziogas"/>

Kaunas has two funiculars: [[Žaliakalnis Funicular]] and [[Aleksotas Funicular]]. Both are from the 1930s. [[Aleksotas Funicular]] works every day from 7am to 7pm (a break from 12pm to 1pm). [[Žaliakalnis Funicular]] works from Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas funiculars |url=https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/see-and-do/top/kaunas-funiculars/ |website=Visit.Kaunas.lt |access-date=21 January 2023}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Kauno sporto hale.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kaunas Sports Hall]]]]
[[File:Darius and Girėnas Stadium by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Darius and Girėnas Stadium]]]]
[[File:Žalgirio Arena in 2023 by Augustas Didžgalvis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Žalgiris Arena]]]]
Sports in Kaunas have a long and distinguished history. The city is home to a few historic clubs such as: [[LFLS Kaunas|LFLS Kaunas football club]] (est. 1920), LFLS Kaunas baseball club (est. 1922), [[Granitas Kaunas]] (handball club, [[EHF European League|EHF Cup]] champions in 1987), Žalgiris basketball club (est. 1944, [[EuroLeague]] champions in 1999).

Kaunas is home to some historic venues such as: the main stadium of the city—[[Darius and Girėnas Stadium]] (total capacity after renovation 15,315), which is also the home stadium for [[soccer]] clubs from Kaunas and the [[Lithuanian national football team]] established in 1923, and [[Kaunas Sports Hall]], completed in 1939 for the [[Eurobasket 1939|Third European Basketball Championship]]. Darius and Girėnas Stadium is also used as the only large [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] stadium in Lithuania. On 16 October 2022 the Darius and Girėnas Stadium was reopened as a [[UEFA stadium categories|UEFA 4th class stadium]] following a reconstruction for 43 million euros.<ref>{{cite web |title=120 minučių futbolo šventė Kaune: stadioną atidarė garsios sirgalių dainos ir sunki favoritų pergalė |url=https://www.delfi.lt/sportas/futbolas/120-minuciu-futbolo-svente-kaune-stadiona-atidare-garsios-sirgaliu-dainos-ir-sunki-favoritu-pergale.d?id=91504421 |website=[[DELFI]] |access-date=14 January 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

[[Ice hockey]] was first played in Lithuania in 1922. The first [[Lithuania Hockey League|Lithuanian ice hockey championship]] composed of four teams (LFLS, KSK, Kovas, and Macabi) was held in Kaunas, in 1926.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esportocentras.lt/ledoritulys.htm|title=Elektrėnų sporto, turizmo ir pramogų centras; Ledo ritulys|access-date=25 October 2010|language=lt|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814194838/http://www.esportocentras.lt/ledoritulys.htm|archive-date=14 August 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Kaunas Marathon 2015 by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|right|Kaunas Marathon in 2015]]

The [[Kaunas Marathon]] is an international marathon with thousands of Lithuanian and foreign participants every year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas Marathon |url=https://www.kaunasmarathon.lt/page/home |website=KaunasMarathon.com |access-date=14 January 2023}}</ref>

In July 1938 Kaunas, together with [[Klaipėda]] (where sailing and rowing competitions were held), hosted the [[Lithuanian National Olympiad]] that gathered the Lithuanian athletes from all around the world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuvos tautinė olimpiada ir Pasaulio lietuvių sporto žaidynės|url=https://olimpinis.muziejus.loa.lt/muziejus/istorija/lietuvos-tautine-olimpiada-ir-pasaulio-lietuviu-zaidynes/|website=Lietuvos olimpinis muziejus|access-date=8 December 2017|language=lt-LT|date=10 June 2016|archive-date=9 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209203917/https://olimpinis.muziejus.loa.lt/muziejus/istorija/lietuvos-tautine-olimpiada-ir-pasaulio-lietuviu-zaidynes/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[university status]] [[Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education]], founded during the [[interwar period]], is the only state-supported institution of tertiary [[physical education]] in Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |title=About University |url=https://www.lsu.lt/en/about-university/ |website=Lietuvos sporto universitetas |access-date=14 January 2023 |date=8 November 2017}}</ref> The [[National Football Academy of Lithuania|National Football Academy]]—the national centre for the training of the best Lithuanian young players of [[association football|football]] was established in Kaunas in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Academy |url=https://be1.lt/en/apie-akademija/#our-academy |website=Be1.lt |access-date=16 June 2024}}</ref>

[[BC Žalgiris]] is based in Kaunas. Žalgiris is considered as one of Europe's strongest basketball clubs and plays in the [[EuroLeague]]. Žalgiris plays its home games at [[Žalgiris Arena]], the largest indoor arena in the [[Baltics]]. The arena, which aside from sports also hosts concerts, was built in time for the [[EuroBasket 2011|European Basketball Championship]] of 2011 and hosted the tournament's [[EuroBasket 2011 knockout stage|knockout stage]]. The arena is used to host sports games as well as concerts. The city is also the birthplace or childhood home of many of the country's top [[basketball]] stars, among them [[Arvydas Sabonis]], [[Šarūnas Marčiulionis]], [[Zydrunas Ilgauskas]], [[Linas Kleiza]], [[Donatas Motiejūnas]] and [[Šarūnas Jasikevičius]]. The first [[golf]] club "Elnias" in Lithuania was opened in Kaunas in 2000.

[[Nemuno žiedas]] is the only in Lithuania [[motor racing]] circuit, situated in [[Kačerginė]], a small town near Kaunas.

A [[yacht club]] operates in the [[Kaunas Reservoir Regional Park]].

A round of the [[UIM F2 World Championship]] is held by the site of the old Kaunas Lagoon pier every year. The powerboat race is organised by Edgaras Riabko who also competes in the event.<ref>{{cite web|title=So that was 2020 – UIM F2 World Championship|date=21 December 2020 |url=https://www.powerboatracingworld.com/so-that-was-2020-uim-f2-world-championship/}}</ref>

Kaunas was one of the host cities for the [[2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup]].

On 19 December 2022 Kaunas was announced as a host city for the [[2023 EuroLeague Final Four]], the first in [[Sport in Lithuania|Lithuania's sports history]], and it was held in 19–21 May 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oficialu: Eurolygos finalo ketvertas vyks Kaune |url=https://www.delfi.lt/krepsinis/naujienos/oficialu-eurolygos-finalo-ketvertas-vyks-kaune-92069055 |website=Krepšinis.lt |access-date=10 August 2023 |language=lt}}</ref>

During 10–14 January 2024, Kaunas hosted the [[2024 European Figure Skating Championships]] in the [[Žalgiris Arena]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-08-31 |title=Kaunas – the heart of Lithuanian figure skating |url=https://ec2024kaunas.lt/en/kaunas-lietuvos-dailiojo-ciuozimo-sirdis-en/ |website=EC 2024}}</ref>

==Annual events==
[[File:Opera at the Kaunas Castle.jpg|thumb|right|Opera at the [[Kaunas Castle]]]]
[[File:Hansos dienos .jpg|thumb|right|[[Hanseatic League|Hanseatic]] Days in Kaunas]]
Kaunas is best known for the [[Kaunas Jazz Festival]], International Operetta Festival, Photo Art Festival "Kaunas photo" or [[Pažaislis Music Festival]], which usually run from early June until late August each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.kaunasjazz.lt/en/history/|website=www.Kaunasjazz.lt|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pažaislio muzikos festivalis – XXII|url=http://pazaislis.lt/|website=Pazaislis.lt|access-date=26 October 2017|language=lt-LT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Kaunas Photo – festival in Lithuania, since 2004|url=http://festival.kaunasphoto.com/|website=festival.Kaunasphoto.com|access-date=26 October 2017}}</ref> The open-air concerts of the historical 49-bell [[Kaunas Carillon]] are held on weekends. Probably the longest established festival is the International Modern Dance Festival, which first ran in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|title=About festival|url=http://dancefestival.lt/aura25/en/about-festival/|website=DanceFestival.lt|access-date=26 October 2017|date=5 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Kaziuko mugė|Kaziukas Fair]] Kaunas fork (beginning of March)
* International open-air "[[Kaunas Jazz Festival]]" (April–May)
* [[Kauno Miesto Diena|Day of Kaunas city]] (middle of May)
* Pažaislis music festival (June–August)
* Traditional folk music competition [[Grok, Jurgeli|"Play, Jurgelis"]] (November)
* [[Christmas tree]] lighting (end of November)

==Significant depictions in popular culture==
* Kaunas is one of the starting towns of [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] in the turn-based strategy game ''[[Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms#Teutonic campaign|Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania (M2TW-K-TC faction) |url=https://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Lithuania_(M2TW-K-TC_faction) |website=wiki.totalwar.com |access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>
* Some scenes of [[HBO]]'s miniseries ''[[Chernobyl (miniseries)|Chernobyl]]'' were filmed in Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web |title="Černobylio" kūrėjai atskleidžia serialo filmavimo vietas Lietuvoje: pamatykite, kuo žavisi visas pasaulis |url=https://www.15min.lt/pasaulis-kiseneje/naujiena/per-lietuva/cernobylio-kurejai-atskleidzia-serialo-filmavimo-vietas-lietuvoje-pamatykite-kuo-zavisi-visas-pasaulis-642-1152454 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref>
* HBO's [[Catherine the Great (miniseries)|miniseries ''Catherine the Great'']], featuring [[Helen Mirren]], was also filmed in the [[Pažaislis Monastery]] in Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Medd |first1=James |title=Where was Catherine the Great filmed? |url=https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/where-was-catherine-the-great-filmed |website=cntraveller.com |date=13 October 2019 |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
* The 2018 historical drama film ''[[Ashes in the Snow]]'' is partly based in 1941 in Kaunas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashes in the Snow |url=https://kaunasfilmoffice.com/filmografija/ashes-in-the-snow/ |website=Kaunas Film Office |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Kaunas}}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Lithuania}}
Kaunas is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Miesto partneriai|url=http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-partneriai/|website=kaunas.lt|publisher=Kaunas|language=lt|access-date=2022-03-30}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Białystok]], Poland
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Brescia]], Italy
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Brno]], Czech Republic
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Cava de' Tirreni]], Italy
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Ferrara]], Italy
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Grenoble]], France
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiratsuka]], Japan
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Kharkiv]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Linköping Municipality|Linköping]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Lippe (district)]], Germany
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Los Angeles]], United States
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Lutsk]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Lviv Oblast]], Ukraine
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Myślibórz]], Poland
*{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Odense Municipality|Odense]], Denmark
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Rende]], Italy
*{{flagicon|LVA}} [[Riga]], Latvia
*{{flagicon|ISR}} [[Rishon LeZion]], Israel
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[San Martín, Buenos Aires|San Martín]], Argentina
*{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Tampere]], Finland
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Tartu]], Estonia
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Toruń]], Poland
*{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Växjö Municipality|Växjö]], Sweden
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Vestfold og Telemark]], Norway
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Vestland]], Norway
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Wrocław]], Poland
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Xiamen]], China
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yaotsu, Gifu|Yaotsu]], Japan
<!--rest - other form of cooperation-->
{{div col end}}

The city was previously twinned with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaunas has canceled the cooperation with two Russian cities and will pass the ambulances to Ukraine |url=http://en.kaunas.lt/news/kaunas-has-canceled-the-cooperation-with-two-russian-cities-and-will-pass-the-ambulances-to-ukraine |website=kaunas.lt |access-date=8 January 2023 |date=1 March 2022}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Kaliningrad]], Russia
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia

==Honours==
A [[minor planet]] [[73059 Kaunas]], discovered by Lithuanian astronomers Kazimieras Černis and Justas Zdanavičius, in 2002, is named after the city of Kaunas.<ref name="JP: Small-body Database Browser">{{cite web | url = http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=73059 | title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser | access-date =7 December 2010 | publisher = [[NASA]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Das Vort]]'', defunct newspaper

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Kovno (town)}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{official website|http://www.kaunas.lt/}}
* [https://artsandculture.google.com/story/lwVhCwNnMHCqwQ Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939] UNESCO Collection on Google Arts and Culture
* [http://visit.kaunas.lt/ Tourist Information Centre of Kaunas region]
* [http://www.kaunasguide.org/ Kaunas Travel Guide]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Kaunas}}
* {{JewishGen-LocalityPage|2615427|Kaunas, Lithuania}}

{{Kaunas County}}
{{Municipalities of Lithuania}}
{{Hanseatic League}}
{{European Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kaunas| ]]
[[Category:Capitals of Lithuanian counties]]
[[Category:Cities in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Cities in Kaunas County]]
[[Category:Former national capitals]]
[[Category:Holocaust locations in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Magdeburg rights]]
[[Category:Municipalities administrative centres of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Kaunas County]]
[[Category:Trading posts of the Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Lithuania]]