For years Kaunas has been a major center of nation's spiritual resistance and struggle for national identity. For twenty years Kaunas was a provisional capital of Lithuania. The spirit of activity and movement prevails in Kaunas today.

It was not accidental that precisely in Kaunas was the Independence Day, February 16th, first celebrated in 1988, when the liberation movement was beginning to make itself felt. The celebration took place at the Music Theatre square where Romas Kalanta set himself on fire in May, 1972, in protest of the Soviet regime. His name is and will always be the sacred symbol of free spirit and resistance for generations to come. Another significant place for every Lithuanian patriot is the War Museum Garden with the famous "Freedom" sculpture by J. Zikaras, the monument "For Those Who Perished for Lithuania's Freedom " and "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier".

Kaunas Old Town
Kaunas enjoys a remarkable Old Town which is a concentration of ancient architectural monuments: the remnants of the 13th century Castle, the Cathedral, the Jesuit and ST. Trinity Churches as well as the Old Town Hall, nicknamed the "White Swan" for its charming architecture. The Old Town Hall Square, the most important architectural accent of the Old Town, is reminiscent of the Middle Ages with the early Gothic Vytautas Church and the late Gothic Perkunas House not far away. The Old Town squares and buildings of the surrounding streets are brisk with numerous restaurants, bars and cafes as well as art galleries and Lithuanian folk art souvenir shops, popular among tourists.

There are over twenty-one thousand students at the Universities: Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, Agricultural University, Kaunas Branch of Vilnius University, as well as Kaunas Medical Academy, Institute of Physical Training, Veterinary Academy, Conservatoire, and Kaunas Branch of the Academy of Arts. Besides university education, there are 97 schools of general education, 12 professional (trade) schools and 13 colleges.

Kaunas is the centre of Lithuania's economic life, notable for the spread of industry and quick economic reform. In 1991 Kaunas began the privatisation of its State property for cash or one-off State payments. Annualy Kaunas is expanding its economy. Over 20 000 of local businesses use city advantages for transport and manufacturing activities

The main production sectors in Kaunas are the following:

The majority of city residents are employed in food, textile, light industries, furniture and construction material industries as well as in construction, transportation, retail and the service industries.

The Musical Theatre.

Kaunas is an important transport center with two intersecting transport axes. One of them connects Lithuania with the countries lying to the South. This is VIA BALTICA road. The other comes from the East and goes as far as Klaipëda city. This factor facilitates creating a free economic zone (LEZ) and encouraging investment. There are plans to build a railway line of the European standart reaching Kaunas, consequently, major motorways, waterways, airways and railways would intersect in Kaunas.

Kaunas, with its spirit of business and entrepreneurship, is the city on the move, rapidly developing into a real western city. Transfer of know-how, experience and education in every form is welcomed.