Kauno rotušė

About the museum

The Kaunas Town Hall stands in the heart of the Old Town, on Rotušės aikštė (Town Hall Square). Magdeburg rights were granted to Kaunas in 1408 by Grand Duke Vytautas, and on 28 July 1542 the act of laying the foundations of a new brick town hall was signed. From that building the present town hall grew over time. In 1562–1808 the magistrate sat in it; during the tsarist occupation it housed a self-government institution with limited powers, and in 1918–1940 the city council.

For a short time, 1897–1910, the first Kaunas city museum was also housed in the building. Later it moved to larger premises, and in 1935 it was liquidated; many of its collections went to the new state Vytautas the Great Museums. The act establishing the Kaunas city history exhibition was signed in the town hall on 11 March 2001, and the building was finally handed over to the museum in 2015. Marriages are still registered in the town hall.

Major restoration works adapting the building for the museum were completed in 2024, to the design of the architects’ studio “Processoffice” and the architect Loreta Janušaitienė. In the renovated town hall a new exhibition has opened, in which Kaunas is presented through its people, nature, infrastructure and everyday rituals. It occupies all floors of the building, and in the attic there is a pavilion for changing exhibitions.

Highlights

• Nineteen exhibition spaces across all floors of the building
• Exhibition of the Kaunas districts in the basement
• Kaunas symbols, rituals and the balcony
• Town hall tower with a panorama of the city
• Pavilion for changing exhibitions in the attic

Permanent exhibition

• Kauno miesto ekspozicija – Nineteen spaces explain what a city is and what kind of city Kaunas is: the city districts are presented in the basement, and on the first floor nature, infrastructure, Kaunas symbols and everyday rituals.

Founded

2015

Operated by

Kauno miesto muziejus

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On the last Sunday of each month, on 16 February, 11 March, 6 July, during the events of the International Museum Night, and on the Saturday of the Kaunas city birthday festival.

Free admission for pre-school children, pupils and accompanying persons, orphans, social-assistance recipients, persons with disabilities and accompanying persons, persons aged 80 and over, foreigners who have fled from Ukraine, Lithuanian museum workers and ICOM members (on presentation of a document). A 50% discount applies to students, pensioners, victims of occupations, freedom fighters, soldiers and riflemen. Tickets can be paid for at the box office in cash or by card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

Ramps are installed at higher thresholds, and a lift serves all floors (108 x 80 cm, door width 66 cm). Some spaces are hard to reach because of the heritage character of the building; their content is presented on an NFC tag marked “For those who cannot enter”. The building can be reached only through Town Hall Square, whose paving is uneven. The information boards have tactile elements; the exhibition is accompanied by an audio guide, some elements are described by sound, information is given in Lithuanian Sign Language, and audio recordings are subtitled. Help phone: +370 658 75715.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational sessions for families and young children are held, for example “Mažylių trečiadienis” (Toddlers’ Wednesday).

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum rents out halls; the White Hall is used for wedding ceremonies.

Plan your visit