USEFUL INFORMATION
THE ORIGIN OF LITHUANIA’S NAME In the year 2009, 1,000 years will have elapsed since the fi rst mention of Lithuania in a written source, in the annals of the East German city of Kvedlinburg, in reference to the death of a missionary. The name Lithuania is derived from (one of many theories) the 11 km stream Lietauka. It is believed that the territory of Lithuanian land from where the name comes from, was between the middle of the Nemunas River and the Neris, where today Kernav?, Nemen?in? and Maišiagala are found. There where King Mindaugas ruled, that is where the Lietauka fl owed. The guess is that the stream gave the Lithuanian land its name, while the land gave the name Lithuania to the country.
FOREIGN EMBASSIES LOCATED IN VILNIUS Austria Gaono St. 6, N (8~5) 266 05 80 e-mail: wilna-ob@bmaa.gv.at Belarus Mindaugo St. 13, N (8~5) 266 22 11, 266 22 00 Consulate: Muitin?s St. 41, N (8~5) 213 22 55, 213 33 22 e-mail: bpl@post.5ci.lt www.belarus.lt Belgium K. Kalinausko St. 2b, N (8~5) 266 08 20 e-mail: vilnius@diplobel.org www.diplomatie.be/vilni Canada Jogailos St. 4, N (8~5) 249 09 50, fax 249 78 65 e-mail: vilnius@canada.lt, www.canada.lt China Algirdo St. 36, N (8~5) 216 28 61, 216 28 62 e-mail: chinaemb_lithuania@mfa. www.chinaembassy.lt Czech Republic Birut?s St. 16, N (8~5) 266 10 40 e-mail: vilnius@embassy.mzv.cz www.mzv.cz/vilnius Denmark T. Kosciuškos St. 36, N (8~5) 264 87 60 e-mail: vnoamb@um.dk www.ambvilnius.um.dk Estonia A. Mickevi?iaus St. 4a, N (8~5) 278 02 00 e-mail: sekretar@estemb.lt www.estemb.lt Finland Klaip?dos St. 6, N (8~5) 212 16 21, 212 27 75 e-mail: sanomat.vil@formin.fi www.finland.lt France Švarco St. 1, N (8~5) 212 29 79, 212 28 58, 212 24 84, fax 212 42 11, e-mail: ambafrance.vilnius@dipl www.ambafrance-lt.org Georgia D. Poškos St. 13, N (8~5) 212 78 48, fax 272 36 23 e-mail: embassy@georgia.w3.lt Germany Z. Sierakausko St. 24/8, N (8~5) 210 64 00, fax 210 64 46 e-mail: info@wilna.diplo.de www.deutschebotschaft-w Greece R?dinink? St. 2/Didžioji St. 33, N (8~5) 261 05 26, 261 05 27 fax (8~5) 261 05 36 e-mail: embassy@grembvil.w3.lt Hungary Republic Jogailos St. 4, N (8~5) 269 0038, 269 00 41 fax (8~5) 269 00 39 e-mail: offi ce@vengrijosambasada.lt Ireland Gedimino Ave. 1, N (8~5) 262 94 60, fax (8~5) 262 94 62 e-mail: ireland.vilnius@gmail.c Italy Vytauto St. 1, N (8~5) 212 06 20, 212 06 21, 212 06 22 e-mail: ambasciata@ambitvilnius www.ambvilnius.esteri.l Japan M. K. ?iurlionio St. 82b, N (8~5) 231 04 62, 231 04 63 Kazakhstan Birut?s St. 20a/35 N (8~5) 212 21 23, 231 30 40 Consulate: N (8~5) 231 30 70 e-mail: kazemb@iti.lt www.kazakhstan.embassy. Latvia M. K. ?iurlionio St. 76, N (8~5) 249 86 04, fax 249 74 63 e-mail: embassy.lithuania@mfa.g Malta Order Gedimino St. 56 b, N (8~5) 213 12 60, fax 213 11 30 The Netherlands Jogailos St. 4, N (8~5) 269 00 72 e-mail: VIL@minbuza.nl www.netherlandsembassy. Norway M?sini? St. 5/2, N (8~5) 261 00 00 e-mail: emb.vilnius@mfa.no, www.norvegija.lt Poland Sm?lio St. 20a, N (8~5) 270 90 01, 270 90 02 e-mail: ambpol@tdd.lt www.polandembassy.lt Portugal Gedimino Ave. 5, N (8~5) 262 05 11, fax 262 05 03 e-mail: vilnius@embportugal.lt Romania Vivulskio St. 19, N (8~5) 231 05 57, fax 231 06 52 e-mail: ambromania@romania.lt www.romania.lt Russia Latvi? St. 53/54, N (8~5) 272 17 63 e-mail: post@rusemb.lt www.rusemb.ltConsulate: N (8~5) 272 38 93 Spain Algirdo St. 4, N (8~5) 231 39 61 e-mail: emb.vilnius@mae.es Sweden Didžioji St. 16, N (8~5) 268 50 10, fax 268 50 30, e-mail: ambassaden.vilnius@fore www.swedenabroad.com/vi The Holy See (Vatican City State) T. Kosciuškos 28, N (8~5) 212 34 46, 212 36 96. e-mail: nuntiusbalt@aiva.lt Turkey Didžioji St. 37, N (8~5) 264 95 70, 264 95 71 e-mail: turemvil@eunet.lt, turkem@e-net.lt UK Antakalnio St. 2, N (8~5) 246 29 00, 246 29 07 e-mail: be-vilnius@britain.lt, www.britain.lt Ukraine Teatro St. 4, N (8~5) 212 15 36, fax 212 04 75 Consulate: Suvalk? 4, N (8~5) 233 07 82, fax 233 08 37 e-mail: ukrembassy@post.5ci.lt USA Akmen? St. 6, N (8~5) 266 55 00, fax 266 55 10 e-mail: mail@usembassy.lt www.usembassy.lt European Commission Naugarduko St. 10, N (8~5) 231 31 91, fax 231 31 92 e-mail: comm-rep-lithuania@ec.e www.eudel.lt
7
LANGUAGE Lithuanian belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European group of languages. Two languages from this group, Lithuanian and Latvian, exist today while the third, Prussian, died out in the 18th century. Lithuanian is an infl ected language having a lot of endings for such purposes as declension of verbs etc. Practice is then needed in conversation to link a word with its ending for the appropriate meaning. Masculine endings in the nominative are -as, -is, -ys, while the feminine endings are -a, and -?. Lithuanian is pronounced phonetically according to its own alphabet with accent marks representing a few sounds that might be unfamiliar to you so consult the pronunciation column of the included vocabulary. For example, a diacritic hook under some vowels lengthens the sound etc. so it is an endeavour when to assign the right accent mark.
OFFICIAL INSTITUTIONS Municipal government of the city of Kaunas Laisv?s Ave. 96, LT-44251 N (8~37) 42 26 08, fax: (8~37) 42 54 52 E-mail: savivaldybe@kaunas.sav. www.kaunas.lt
Governor’s administration of the Kaunas region L. Sapiegos St. 10, LT-44501 Kaunas N (8~37) 205269, fax: (8~37) 209191 E-mail: kava@kaunas.aps.lt
Municipal government of the region of Kaunas Savanori? Ave. 371, 49500 Kaunas-43 N? (8~37) 305500, fax: (8~37) 305501 E-mail: info@krs.lt
Birštonas municipal government Jaunimo St. 2, LT-59206 Birštonas Administration: tel./fax: (8~319) 6 55 55 Council: phone/fax: (8~319) 5 68 30, www.birstonas.lt
CONSULATES IN KAUNAS Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Hungary Tiškevi?i? St. 14, 47296 Kaunas, N (8~37) 385755
Honorary Consulate of the Kingdom of Norway
S. Daukanto St. 27, 44249 Kaunas, N (8~37) 320456
www.exploring.eu
9
9 BIRŠTONAS R RO UNAS KA UNDI SPRING w w w.exploring.eu free copy GS SU N
NEWS 3 CONTENTS USEFUL INFORMATION Essential Information, Currency, Phones, Post Customs, Tourist information Facts about the state/country Offi cial institutions, Consulates, Embassies in Vilnius © UAB “VERSUS NOVUS”, A. Vivulskio 7-207, LT-03221 Vilnius N (+370 5) 2159687, ph./fax: (+370 5) 2159
USEFUL INFORMATION ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Time zone +2 GMT Form of writing dates year month day (2009 04 10) Work hours 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, lunch time 12:00 – 1:00 pm (But work hours are not strictly regulated, which is why some government institutions as well as private businesses can vary). Prior t
USEFUL INFORMATION CUSTOMS INFORMATION Persons arriving to Lithuania from other than the European Union countries, must obey some regularities and limitations for goods they carry. For example, import of chewing tobacco, meat, milk and their products in personal luggage is strictly prohibited. Sums
USEFUL INFORMATION FACTS ABOUT THE STATE Offi cial name Country’s symbols Form of government Head of state Legislative branch Executive branch Membership in international international organizations Republic of Lithuania tri-color flag; coat of arms parliamentary republic President Seimas (Parliame
USEFUL INFORMATION THE ORIGIN OF LITHUANIA’S NAME In the year 2009, 1,000 years will have elapsed since the fi rst mention of Lithuania in a written source, in the annals of the East German city of Kvedlinburg, in reference to the death of a missionary. The name Lithuania is derived from (one of ma
TRANSPORTATION 8 ARRIVAL TO KAUNAS By plane. The small air port is in Karm?lava, 12 km from the city, has enough room to land. The advantages of a small air port – formalities are quickly taken care of, baggage arrives promptly (only small airplanes land here so there are not many passengers) and
TRANSPORTATION RENT A CAR AAA Autobanga Rent A Car M (New car, minivan, sport, convertable, JEEP rental, chauffer drives, 24 hour car delivery service, from 20 EUR/day, incl. free km. full insur. Mini lease (1-36) months) Kaunas offi ce: kaunas Airport, Karmelava Arrivals Terminal N?Mob. +370 645
TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION The cheapest way to travel in the city is by bus or trolleybus. City buses and trolleybuses cost 1,70 Lt for a one way ride, no matter the distance. Tickets for the city busses/trolleybuses can be purchased in all press kiosks, post offi ces, as well as from the
TRANSPORTATION DOMESRIC FAST TRAINS TIMETABLE Departs Kaunas Šeštokai 18:47 Kaunas Kybartai 07:55 09:55 15:15 17:20 19:25 05:05 05:48 08:06 08:30 12:16 13:35 18:46 19:50 20:44 Kaunas 1 Vilnius 05:05 05:48 08:06 08:30 09:55 12:16 13:35 15:05 16:10 17:10 17:52 18:46 19:50 20:44 Kaunas Marijampol? 06:
LEGEND On Saturdays On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays One way traffi c The final bus route stop The final trolleybus route stop Busses route trace Trolleybuses route trace Stops Bus station Trains station Airport Rivers’ harbor Funicular Hospital Church Tourists Information Centers Forests, parks,
SIGHTSEEING About the City 14 Origin of the Name of Kaunas The origin of the name of Kaunas has more than one legend. The oldest legend is Roman. It tells of the Roman Grand Duke Palemon, who in the 5th century A.D. while escaping from the warships of the Huns, landed in this country and establish
SIGHTSEEING History of Kaunas In the current place of Kaunas Old Town, in the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris Rivers, people lived in the ancient past. Their residences, from which the city of Kaunas grew, are mentioned for the first time in historical documents of 1361. As a defence against th
SIGHTSEEING 81 Kaunas Castle V?C – 1 86 Old Town (Vilniaus Street) V?B – 3 16 The Kaunas castle on Papilio Street is a reminder of old Lithuania, mentioned for the first time in 1361. There is very little information about the earlier castle. It is known that soon after it was constructed on the
SIGHTSEEING Sightseeing 84 Mansion of the President V?B – 3 Vilniaus St. 33 83 Perk?no Namas (House Of Thunder) V B – 1 Aleksoto St. 6 N (8~37) 30 29 94 E-mail: perkunonamas@one.lt A I-IV 10:00 am – 4:00pm; V 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, VII 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Guided tours reserved in advance. The buildin
SIGHTSEEING 82 Pažaislis Monastery Ensemble T. Masiulio St. 31, Kaunas N (8~37) 456485 A Holy mass VII 11:00 am. Open for excursions everuday except sunday I-V 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, VI 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Painting of the Camaldolese Mother of God 18 Pažaislis was famous not only f
SIGHTSEEING 77 Kaunas IX Fort Žemai?i? Sq. 73 N (8~37) 377715 E-mail: jmenciun@takas.lt http://www.9fmuziejus.o A I, III– VII 10:00 am – 6:00 pm KAUNAS BOTANICAL GARDEN Žilibero St. 6 Tel.: (8-37) 39 00 33, fax: (8-37) 39 01 33 E-mail: bs@fc.vdu.lt I-IV 8:00 am – 4:45 pm, V 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, VI-VI
SIGHTSEEING Churches 20 Kaunas has more than twenty houses of prayer. Most of them are Catholic. The Russian Orthodox, the Evangelical Lutherans, the Jews, and the Muslims also have their own houses of worship in Kaunas. Houses of prayer in Kaunas are various: from late Gothic to modern sacral arch
SIGHTSEEING 23 Church of Vytautas (Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven) V?A – 1 Aleksoto St. 3 N (8~37) 203854 A II-IV 6:00 pm, VII 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 6:00 pm. 16 Church of the Resurrection V?D – 6 Žemai?i? St. 31 N (8~37) 229222 Holy mass VII 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm, 6:00
SIGHTSEEING 20 Church of St. Michael the Archangel – Kaunas Garrison (Sobor) V?H – 4 Nepriklausomyb?s Sq. 14 N (8~37) 226676 A? I-V 12:00 pm, VI 10:00 am, VII 10:00 am, 12:00 pm 8 Church of St. Gertrude V?B – 4 Laisv?s Ave. 101a N (8~37) 229965 A I-VI 8:00 am, 6:00 pm, VII 9:00 am, 11:00 am 22 Ch
SIGHTSEEING 19 Synagogue V?C – 4 Ožeškien?s St. 13 15 Petraši?nai Church of St. Vincent de Paul V?K – 4 R. Kalantos St. 38 N (8~37) 453028 A I-V 8:00 am, 5:30 pm, VI 10:00 am, 5:30 pm, VII 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 5:30 pm Before the construction of the church, here lived the Capuchin monks. In 1937 the
SIGHTSEEING Museums 24 27 National Art Museum of Mikalojus Konstantinas ?iurlionis V?C – 5 V. Putvinskio St. 55 N (8~37) 229475, fax (8~37) 222606 Reservations for guided tours (8~37) 323603 A? II-VII 11:00 am–5:00 pm Y 5 Lt E-mail: info@smic.lt , MKC@takas.lt http://www.ciurlionis.l Return to the
SIGHTSEEING 40 Kaunas Picture Gallery V?G – 4 K. Donelai?io St. 16 N (8~37) 221789 A? II-VII 11:00 am – 5:00 pm 43 Historical Museum of Communication V?B – 3 Rotuš?s Sq. 19 N (8~37) 424920 A? III VII 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Here you can get an introduction to contemporary (from 1945) Lithuanian and emi
SIGHTSEEING 57 Kaunas’ Tadas Ivanauskas Zoological Museum V?C – 4 Laisv?s Ave. 106 N (8~37) 229675 A? II VII 11:00 am – 7:00 pm 49 House of Sugihara V?H – 5 Vaižganto St. 30 N (8~37) 423277, mob. 8-698 02184 A October – May I-V 12:00 pm 4:00 pm, JuneSeptember I-V 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, VI-VII 11:00 am
SIGHTSEEING 36 Maironis Museum of Lithuanian Literature V?B – 1 Rotuš?s Sq. 13 N (8~37) 200410, fax: (8~37) 207477 A?? II VI 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Y?Adults – 4 Lt, children – 2 Lt 45 “Chocolate School” AB “Kraft Foods Lietuva”, Taikos Ave. 88 N? (8~37) 305110 A III 12:00 pm -1:00 pm E-mail: rbagdoniene
SIGHTSEEING Monuments 28 63 The Man (“Žmogus”) V?H – 4 Nepriklausomyb?s Sq. 12 59 Monument to Romas Kalanta V?B – 4 Laisv?s Ave. (City Garden) The imposing nude figure of a young man (sculpt. P. Maz?ras) was erected in 1991 in front of Mykolas Žilinskas Gallery. Not everyone was pleased with this
LEISURE Cultural Leisure If you plan on attending performances or shows you can visit the Lithuanian theatre internet page www.scena.lt in advance, reserve or buy the ticket on time. Then you can have a purposeful and memorable evening. The amateurs of the theatre will for sure find something inter
LEISURE Recreation Get to know the city by riding a bicycle LET’S SPEND OUR FREE TIME TOGETHER! 30 In Kaunas, the bicycle path system was in the planning stage more than 20 years ago. At this time in Kaunas there are 47 km of bike paths. There are bike paths in Kleboniškio wood, Jonavos Street,
A7 53 LIEPÂJA Grobiòa Durbe Aizpute A8 Cîrava 36 Skrunda A9 Slampe Jaunpils Brocçni 22 Kalnciems A9 Olaine 58 44 ðekava Salaspils 35 Baldone Vecumnieki Ogre 69 53 41 31 Çrgïi Madliena 36 42 Madona Ru Lubâna Bçrzpils T 42 LIEPÂJA A 11 Priekule 51 Kalvene Nîgrande 42 Vaiòode 2
IN LITHUANIA Birštonas, “the Homestead by the Salty Water” 32 Birštonas Tourism Information Center Jaunimo St. 3, LT-59206 Birštonas Tel./fax. +370 319 65 740 E-mail: info@visitbirstonas.lt www.visitbirstonas.lt Birštonas – resort town located in the center of the Great Nemunas Loops Regional Park
IN LITHUANIA Birštonas Sacral Museum Birut?s St. 10, LT-59217 Birštonas Tel. +370 319 65 699 E-mail: muziejus@sakralinis.lt , www.sakralinis.lt A III – VII 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Entrance free. Prices for guided tours of the museum (groups of 1-20 persons): Children LTL 10, Adults LTL 20. In a foreign
LODGING 34 LEGEND V N Map Reference (Old Town) Telephone Credit Cards M Accepted HOTELS J Bar/Restaurant F Air Conditioning S Parking Lot R Conference Room T Gym L B E K U Sauna Pool Bowling Wi Fi Terace HOTELS ???? Best Western “Santakos viešbutis” RF?L?S? (VB–3) J. Gruodžio 21, Kaunas N?
LODGING Sfi nksas ???? (VH–3) Aukštai?i? 55/ V. Kudirkos 19a, Kaunas N?(+370 37) 301982, fax (+370 37) 301983 E-mail: hotelsfi nx@takas.lt, www.sfi nksas.lt M?J?R?F?L?S GUEST HOUSE G?li? 50, Ringaudai Kaunas N?(+370) 37 567766, fax (+370 37) 563863 e-mail: info@nemunastour.com, www.nemunastour.
SHOPPING SERVICES SOUVENIRS Gintarinis suvenyras Vilniaus 14, Kaunas, N (+370 37) 225126 A I-V 10.00–18.30, VI, VII 10.00-17.00 E-mail: info@amberhouse.lt, http://www.amberhouse.l ANTIQUE SHOPS Antiquarius Šv.Gertr?dos 56, Kaunas N (+370 37) 205685, A I-V 11.00–18.00, VI, VII E-mail: galerija@vab
CAFES RESTAURANTS TRADITIONAL FOOD The average Lithuanian, if asked about the national dishes, without blinking an eye would offer cepelinai (potato and meat dish), v?darai (intestines stuffed with potatoes) or potato pancakes. And even though the potato only reached Lithuania in the 17th century,
CAFES RESTAURANTS Geras Vyno r?sys?M?F?D? 38 Laisv?s al. 75 / Maironio 24, Kaunas N mob. +370 685 08662, tel/fax (+ 370 37) 207233, 236990 A I-IV 10.00-22.00, V 09.00-19.00, VI,VII 10.00-24.00 E-mail: info@gerasvynorusys.lt www.gerasvynorusys.lt Europa Restaurant M? D ?CF? U ? H?K J.Gruodžio 19
CAFES RESTAURANTS PIZZAS CanCan Pizza ?M?F?H? ? Islandijos pl. 32, Kaunas N mob. (+ 370) 659 90408 A I-VII 10.00-24.00 E-mail: dp2.2@delano.lt www.cancan.lt 39 CanCan Pizza M?F?H Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 49, Kaunas N mob (+370) 659 90406 A I-VII 08.00-24.00 E-mail: dp2.4@delano.lt www.cancan.lt
CITY NIGHTLIFE 40 BOWLING Bowling center “Švyturys” M F? B ?? Baršausko 66A, Kaunas (PC MOLAS) N (8~37) 409502 A I-VII 12.00-24.00 E-mail: info@boulingassvyturys. www.boulingassvyturys.l NIGHTCLUBS N?mob. +370 614 40029 A I-III 11.00-24.00, IV, VII 11.00-02.00, V,VI 11.00-06.00 E-mail: combo@comb
MAP A 1 B C D 1 41 2 2 3 BEST WESTERN SANTAKA M. KARPENKO 3 4 4 5 5 6 OLD TOWN MAP LEGEND Bus Station Church Cinema Concert Hall Embassy Hospital Hotel Information centre Market Monument Museum Parking Place of Interest Post Offi ce Theatre Train Station 6 C D 9 A B www.exploring.e
42 Bus Station Hospital Museum Parking Train Station Gas station Theatre Beach Hotel Information centre Monument Post Offi ce Viewpoint KAUNAS CITY Embassy Market Place of Interest Municipality MAP Church 9 Cinema Concert Hall 5 4 3 2 1 E E City Guide F F G G Nr. 6 / Spring 2009
MAP H I J K 1 43 2 3 4 MAGNUS 5 I J K 9 H www.exploring.eu
Explore with Don’t travel alone! “Exploring” city guide is absolutely the best source of information for guests of Lithuania. While visiting the capital of Lithuania look for “Exploring Vilnius”. At the seaside ask for “Exploring Klaip?da, Palanga, Neringa”. In the provisional capital ask for “Explo
