FULL DAY TOUR TO KAUNAS: CITY TOUR AND MUSEUMS

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania, first mentioned in an old manuscript of 1361. It is situated in the valley of two longest rivers of Lithuania, the Nemunas and the Neris. The town itself became an example of a confluence of people and cultures, an attractive blend of architecture and nature. The town has seen many ups and downs, but has stayed a source of forces for resistance, a guard of national identity, and has once actually been the temporal capital of Lithuania.

The tour includes: the Old Town of Kaunas with its St George's Church, Kaunas Castle built at the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris rivers, the courtyard of the Theological seminary, the Town Hall Square surrounded by former 16^th - 18^th century merchants’ dwelling houses and baroque churches - the Jesuit Church and the Cathedral, the Church of Vytautas dating back to the 14^th century and the Perkunas (Thunder) House (no visits inside); a walk on the central street- Freedom avenue - bustling with street vendors, musicians, full of cafes and souvenir shops; afternoon visits include Ciurlionis Picture Gallery and Devils’ Museum.

• M.K. Ciurlionis Picture Gallery preserves and exhibits the works of the famous Lithuanian artist, Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, who painted and composed music at the turn of 20^th century.
• Devils’ Museum contains a collection of sculptures and carvings of devils collected by the Lithuanian painter Antanas Zmuidzinavicius. His private collection gave start to the museum which now houses several thousand devil figurines both local and from all over the world.

Optional

Pazaislis Monastery and Church

located in splendid isolation among the fields and woodlands of the right bank of the Nemunas River is a striking Baroque ensemble in Northern Europe. Founded in 16662 by the Great Chancellor Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac for order of the Camaldolese Hermits. The main construction has been built until 1674 and further finished until 1712. The building and the dome was founded after 1755 by king’s chamberlain Michal Jan Pac.

• The IX Fort Museum. A fortress dating from 1882, and a death camp during the Nazi occupation, this structure currently houses a museum focusing both on extermination of Jews by Nazi as well as deportations of Lithuanians by the Soviets.