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Discover Kaunas Old Town – 8 Charming Lithuanian Gems for Travelers
The oldest extant construction in Kaunas Old Town is the castle tower and wall fragments. The medieval Kaunas Castle was built at the meeting point of two rivers – Nemunas and Neris – to repel frequent Crusader attacks. Constructed in the latter half of the 14th century, the enclosure-type castle lost strategic importance after the…
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Discover Kaunas Lithuania – A Historical Guide to Eastern Europe
Kaunas Lithuania’s second-largest city sits at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris, the two largest rivers of the country. The name “Kaunas” was originally used as a person’s first name, later as a surname. The city was strongly influenced by its status as the provisional capital during the inter-war period and by the growth…
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Explore Beautiful St. Anne and Bernardines Churches In Charming Vilnius
St Anne & Bernadine Ensemble One of Vilnius’s most famous architectural monuments is the Gothic Church of St. Anne. It was possibly built at the end of the 15th century by the Prague architect Benedikt Rejt. The church’s exterior has hardly changed, but the interior now has historic features from the early 20th century. Thirty-three…
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Discover Charming Vilnius Cathedral Square – Your Lithuania Travel Guide
Today the main building of the castle complex is Vilnius Cathedral, thought to have been on the site of an altar for a sacred fire and the worship of the god Perkunas (Thunder) in pagan times. King Mindaugas built the first Christian church here in 1251. The pagan cult revived after his death. Grand Duke…
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Vilnius Outside Old Town 5 Amazing Places To Visit
The Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius opened late in 1992 in the building where the Soviet security agencies, known to the world as the KGB, operated for almost 50 years. Its exhibitions deal with the painful and dramatic times in the history of Lithuania in the 20th century: the loss of independence, brutal reprisals…
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Discover the Vibrant Artistry of Jonas Rimsa – A Lithuanian Painter
Jonas Rimša (Lithuanian) or Jonas Rimsa (June 12, 1903 – March 13, 1978) is one of the most vivid artists of the Lithuanian diaspora to have promoted Lithuania abroad. Honored in the cultural sphere in Bolivia, he received the highest distinction given to civilians, the Condor de Los Andes award. He was also made an…
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Trakai Karaite or Trakai Karaim
Not to be confused with the larger world Judaic Karaite movement, the Lithuanian Trakai Karaite (or Karaim, or even sometimes Karaimic) are as perplexing as the confusion surrounding their name suggests. Grand Duke Vytautas and the Trakai Karaite Settled in Trakai from the Crimea by Grand Duke Vytautas at the end of the 14th century,…
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Vilnius University A Brief History
Vilnius University is the oldest and largest institution of higher education in Lithuania. It marks the beginnings of science and culture, not only for Lithuania but also, for neighboring countries. It’s a place where an educated Lithuanian society formed for over 400 years. Many well-known people studied and taught here, such as the poet Mathias Casimirus…