Built heritage in Kaunas and its

development

Saulius Rimas, Rimgaudas Miliukštis

Kaunas city municipality administration

Division of cultural heritage preservation

Helsinki, 2012

o Kaunas – the second largest city of Lithuania.

o 353 800 inhabitants (2008).

1361-1795 “Good old times”.

1795 Lithuania is incorporated into Russian Empire.

1882-1915 Fortress of Kaunas is built by Russian

Government.

1919-1940 Kaunas – capital city of Lithuanian state.

“Golden era”.

1940-1990 Soviet era.

Kaunas castle, established around 1361, had been used as a defense stronghold against

aggression of German Order state until 1410.

Built heritage preservation in Lithuania

• Lithuania has approved most of the international

UNESCO, ICOMOS and EUROPEAN

COMMISSION documents regarding the heritage

protection regulation - including policies of

historical buildings restoration.

• All main provisions of those documents had been

incorporated into the national legislation system.

Process of “patrimonisation”

1. Listing into the registry of cultural values 22 896 listed objects; ~ 1200 of them in Kaunas.

2. Granting of state’s or municipality’s

protection For ~ a quarter of all listed objects

3. Cultural monument’s status For the heritage objects of national importance only

Soviet era restoration. Stylistic approach.

Old town regeneration programs.

Modern day restoration practices and

challenges

“Daugirdas” hotel (2007)

Hotel Kaunas City (2011).

Archeological research of Kaunas castle in the 1950’s

The main problems of heritage preservation in

Kaunas

• Lack of finances both in the public and the private sectors;

• Ignorant attitude of the property owners;

• Legislative and bureaucratic restrictions.

The Legacy of Kaunas Fortress

IX-th Fort: “Auschwitz of Lithuania”.

Air Force Headquarters

Kaunas Oldtown in 2112?