Kaunas, the City of Museums
If visiting museums is your kind of pastime, then Lithuania’s second largest city just might be the perfect destination for you.
Kaunas is a surprisingly wonderful city, boasting a very rich history. It is believed that the town was founded in 1030, but the first mention only comes in the 13th century in the records of the Teutonic Knights. That’s when the first brick castle was built, later becoming the largest fortress of its time. In the Middle Ages, the city was an important commercial centre and the main port of trade with Western Europe. Due to its continuous development, Kaunas eventually became the temporary capital of Lithuania between 1920–1940.
Nowadays, Kaunas is a vibrant student city, featuring an incredible ensemble of valuable cultural and architectural monuments. But the most impressive thing about this city is its abundance of artistic and educational museums, some of which are very interesting and unique.
The Žmuidzinavičius Museum, better known as the Museum of Devils, is one of the strangest museums in the world. It features more than 3,000 devils represented in sculptures, amulets, and art objects. Some represent folk myths, while others are practical objects. There are even items that express modern political ideas, such as a sculpture portraying Hitler and Stalin as devils in a dance of death in a playground cluttered with human bones.
If you want to test the operation of some ancient telegraph devices for yourself, you can try this at the Communication History Museum. This is a great place to discover the interesting development of the post office throughout history and to admire some unique, still functioning antique devices. If postage doesn’t strike your fancy, those passionate about flying machines of all kinds should check out the Lithuanian Aviation Museum’s collection.
The Kaunas Museum for the Blind was the first museum of its kind in all of the Baltic States and one of the first in Eastern Europe. The exhibits here can be perceived through touch, sound, and smell. It’s located in the dungeons of St. Michael the Archangel Church.
In Kaunas you can also visit the War Museum of Vytautas the Great, which houses historical artefacts pertaining to Lithuania and Kaunas from prehistoric times to the present day, including a large collection of historical weapons.
An amazing collection of craftsman-made crockery, tile stove ornaments, and huge roof tiles can be admired at the Ceramics Museums, which is located in the cellars of the Kaunas Town Hall. Additionally, the apartments of some important Kaunas personalities have also been turned into public museums.
Overall, there are around 40 different museums in Kaunas, all of which deserve your attention. So, if you ever find yourself in this stunning city, just ask for a printed city guide and start visiting.
Written by Alexandra Palconi.
Photos via Flickr.
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We have also written about Košice, the unique cave bath of Miskolctapolca, Kraków.
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