Other sights in Kaunas

Lithuanian Zoo


            Lithuanian zoo this national importance object was established by Tadas Ivanauskas Lithuania zoologist and scientist in 1935. The park was established in Kaunas, not in capital city Vilnius, because Vilnius city at that time was occupied by Poland.
            Today it is home to about 2,850 mammals, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The zoo park is located in an amazing oak grove park, which is quite an interesting place to visit itself. This combination of Lithuanian national tree oak grove and amusing animals creates a family friendly environment for everyone.
See also Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum. Before establishing Kaunas Zoo park, Tadas Ivanauskas founded Zoological Museum in 1919, located in Kaunas, Laisves al. (Freedom av.).  The museum holds a large exhibition about natural science.

Resurrection church

            Officially this church is called Christ resurrection church, but everyone calls it just resurrection church, because after Lithuania’s independence was restored this church was built to symbolize waking nation. This church was of the most expensive projects during inter war in Lithuania. Planning began in 1922, but church wasn't finished until 2004 because in 1940 soviets occupied Lithuania. 

            When soviets occupied Lithuania they understood how much this church means to patriotic Lithuanians. So this church was turned into a radio factory. Soviets even hanged a propaganda advertisement from church tower saying “Glory to communist party of Soviet Union”. 

            Of course when Lithuania managed to break away from Soviet Union church was renovated and now it literally shines.

            You can get on its roof. This way you get to see Kaunas panorama. Picture on bottom of my blog was taken from this church's roof. What an awesome sight it is!   

            

Vytautas war museum

Named after Lithuanian hero Vytautas the great this museum offers a large exposition of various antiquaries, starting from the early ages, ending with WW2 artillery and some cold war antiquaries.

Interwar and WW2 artillery stands outside the building, everyone can touch them, get on them, kids can play with them and they can even try to break it, no one will say you anything. Because that artillery is build so solid that it is imposable to do something to it.

Lituanica ruins also are in this museum. Lituanica is the airplane that broke world record for longest flight on July 15, 1933. S. Darius and S. Girėnas were pilots that piloted this plane over Atlantic Ocean. For unknown reason this plane crashed in Germany during the flight from New York to Kaunas. Most of the plane was returned to Lithuanian government, but experts say that when the plane crashed the engine was running and some of planes parts were missing. It is guest that it might have been shot by Germans as they might thought that Lituanica was a spy plane. There is no official version.

In front of the museum there is Lithuanian liberty statue, a memorial to victims of “Red terror”, unknown Lithuanian solder memorial and a bell tower. During interwar there was a memorial to Lithuania troops that fought against Poland it is now removed for political reasons. 

Artillery in front of museum