Kaunas, Lithuania

The capital city of Lithuania is Vilnius but since it is a bit of a detour we decided to make the next biggest city Kaunas the main focus of our trip through Lithuania. As you drive through the country side of the Baltic states it has to be said that you could be just about anywhere. The landscape is just like driving through lowland Scotland, a few farms, some trees, some agricultural planting and as always the leaping deer signs.

We arrived in Kaunas in the mid morning and once again the sun was shining for our trip. I was struggling to reverse into a narrow space in the carpark when a guy waved to us that he was leaving and that we might be better in his space. Initially I thought that there was no point but when we saw his space we realised that he was in one of only two or three big spaces designed for motorhomes. Bingo, the nice chap drove out and we slipped into a perfect space. 

First up is the almost mandadtory POHOP although it must be said that his plinth is somewhat lacking in the impressive plinths department. Nevertheless he, himself, is quite impressive.

“Laisvės karys” (the Freedom Warrior), also known as the Vytis Monument. It portrays a galloping knight brandishing a sword and shield — the national symbol of Lithuania, Vytis, which also features prominently on the country’s coat of arms. The statue was unveiled on 14 July 2018, marking the centenary of Lithuania’s restored independence. It's situated near Kaunas Castle at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers, blending historical significance with scenic placement


Behind the castle lies the Cathedral and once again, I have done the research for you. Do not say that I am not kind to you. This is Kaunas Cathedral Basilica, officially named the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul
It's the largest Gothic church in Lithuania and the only basilica-style church in the country. Originally built in the early 15th century. It underwent Baroque and Renaissance-style reconstructions in the 17th and 18th centuries and was elevated to cathedral status in 1895 then to a basilica in 1926, when the Archdiocese of Kaunas was established.


The town square is (and has been for some time) undergoing some renovation work. It is going to be pretty amazing when it is finished but in the meantime it is all fenced off to keep the public out of the way of the workmen.


This is Kaunas Castle, a Gothic style castle and the first stone castle in Lithuania built around 1361

Later we crossed the river to go up the funicular railway because the view from the top is said to be spectacular. Of course all advertising uses that kind of language to entice you to the top. Anyway we decided to see it for ourselves and headed to the bottom of the funicular hoping that there would not be too long a queue. As we got closer we could see that there was certainly no long queue and as we got closer still we could see that there was no queue at all. Harrah, hurrah, no queue. Alas and alack there was a reason for that. It was because the funicular closes for lunch 12-1pm. I suppose the operators need to get their break. It was 12.30 and we pondered about waiting. We had read that many people walked back down the steps so we decided we would walk up them. Are we crazy or what? Off we set. The phrase is usually onwards and upwards but ours was rather upwards and upwards. Funicular railways are usually pretty steep and this one fitted that bill.
However, after a couple of well earned rest stops we finally arrived at the top and were able to admire the aforementioned spectacular view.

You might just be able to see a building just to the right of the bridge with a smiley face on it? It looked like a smiley face from the top and indeed it still looks like a smiley face when you get close up. I am still not sure if that is an accident but it is some sort of sun dial. The mouth is numbered 1 - 12 and the "nose" has a pointy arrowlike protrusion which casts a shadow onto the "mouth". The shadow was between VI and VII so it was neither correct for the time nor the date. My research found out this. Installed in 1986 during the Soviet era, when showing local Kaunas solar time rather than Soviet time was itself a subtle act of defiance. The clock displays the true solar time for the city, not the national standard time. That still does not really account for the shadow between VI and VII at about 2pm?? Suggestions welcome.


Having walked to the top we took the railway back down. As expected it was like stepping back in time but it shows that these things were built to last.

So that brings to an end our Kaunas adventure or at least as much of it as I can relay in this post. Next stop we'll be in Poland.
Take care
D, S and MJ



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