Kaunas is Lithuania’s second-largest city and a major centre of its economic, academic, and cultural life. Historically, it served as the capital of the Kaunas Governorate under the Russian Empire (1843–1915) and later as Lithuania’s temporary capital between 1920 and 1939, when Vilnius was under Polish control.
During the interwar period, Kaunas became known for its vibrant cultural scene and remarkable modernist architecture, which earned the city the European Heritage Label and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023. It is also the first city in Central and Eastern Europe designated as a UNESCO City of Design.
Situated at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, Kaunas is the capital of Kaunas County and home to several universities and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas. In 2022, it was named a European Capital of Culture. The wider metropolitan area has around 400,000 inhabitants.
