Kaunas is the second largest city of Lithuania established on the banks of two rivers – the Nemunas River and the Neris river.
History of Kaunas begins back in the 11th century  (settlements found from the 9th century). Kaunas name for the first time was mentioned in Wigand of Marburg Chronicle in 1361. 
Kaunas was one of the most important cities in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for many years. It was also an important trade center and a river port with its own shipyards, storehouses and custom offices. Magdeburg rights were granted to Kaunas already in 1408, the first school opened in  1473, money mint in 1500, the first hospital opened - in 1519, the first wax and salt customs office in 1530, the first pharmacy - in 1540.

Kaunas became a border city of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The Nemunas river, that runs through the area of Kaunas was a border line between Russia and Prussia. A railway was built there back in those days (1861).
Kaunas became the Temporary Capital of Lithuania after the country regained its independence at the beginning of the 20th  century A rapid development of Kaunas began back in those days.  The Historical Presidential Palace, the House of Parliament, the Bank of Lithuania and many other interesting buildings of the Modern Period included on the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage can be found in Kaunas. Kaunas was the first city in the Middle and the Eastern Europe  that became a new member of the  UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2015.
Kaunas was the second largest industrial city of Lithuania during the Soviet period .  Typical Soviet-style buildings can be seen in some areas of the city.  The buildings are changing slowly today as result of renovation of their facades in order to give them  a much more attractive look.
Kaunas is a quickly developing green city in our days with its old and modern architecture, while at the same time it is a city of young people. There are 7 universities in Kaunas which make the city attractive for youth from Lithuania and abroad.
Come and take a part of Kaunas with you!
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