Europe Explored » bastion https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 City of Kaunas – heart of Lithuanian culture, tradition and history https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/23/city-of-kaunas-hearth-of-lithuanian-culture-tradition-and-history/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/23/city-of-kaunas-hearth-of-lithuanian-culture-tradition-and-history/#comments Sat, 23 Jul 2011 13:44:17 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4702 Modern and vibrant city of Kaunas with its 416 thousand inhabitants is the second largest city in Lithuania and became the cultural and industrial center of the Kaunas region. It is saved in the memories of local peoples as a bastion of post-Soviet mafia, but also has many advantages, which attract tourists from all over […]

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Modern and vibrant city of Kaunas with its 416 thousand inhabitants is the second largest city in Lithuania and became the cultural and industrial center of the Kaunas region. It is saved in the memories of local peoples as a bastion of post-Soviet mafia, but also has many advantages, which attract tourists from all over Europe.

Kaunas is located in central Lithuania, about 100 km west of Vilnius, at the confluence of rivers Neris and Nemunas, which are two largest rivers of Lithuania. According to a legend the city was founded by a son of two young lovers Milda and Daugerutis, who was begotten in a cave near the present city of Kaunas. Archaeologists are of the opinion that Kaunas was founded in the 13th century, but the first written mention dates from 1361.

Today Kaunas is an important shipping port, with nice architecture and many museums. The historical center is located around the square Rotušės aikštė. Vilniaus gatvė paved street is the main artery crossing the magical Old Town. In the 13th century, this street was even connected with the capital city of Vilnius. In the vicinity of this street you can visit the museum of folk music and instruments. Perhaps the most expressive building is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul from 1410, which has a baroque look. Inside the cathedral there are nine altars and the tomb of Kaunas’ priest and poet Maironise.

Do not miss the visit to remains of Kaunas castle, there is repaired tower, the walls and moat. The castle was founded in the 13th century and served as an important base on the western border of Lithuania.

In Kaunas there are nine view-points, which offer beautiful views of the Old and New Town.


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Kremnica – historic town with the oldest mint in the world | Slovakia https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/15/kremnica-historic-town-with-the-oldest-mint-in-the-world-slovakia/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/15/kremnica-historic-town-with-the-oldest-mint-in-the-world-slovakia/#comments Sun, 15 May 2011 06:58:36 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=3800 Kremnica is a historic city with a rich mining and mint tradition. It is located in the central part of the Slovak Republic, in Kremnica mountains at an altitude of 561 m. Near the town of Kremnica there is one of the geographic centres of Europe. Kremnica has now about 6,000 inhabitants. During the reign […]

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Kremnica is a historic city with a rich mining and mint tradition. It is located in the central part of the Slovak Republic, in Kremnica mountains at an altitude of 561 m. Near the town of Kremnica there is one of the geographic centres of Europe. Kremnica has now about 6,000 inhabitants.

During the reign of Hungarian kings Kremnica was a free royal mining town. Gold and silver were mined here from the 10th century. Kremnica ducats – one of the most valuable coins in Europe were minted here, as well as Czechoslovak and then Slovak coins, but also for many countries around the world.

Mint in Kremnica is significant because it works continuously since its founding in the 14th century until today, as the only one in the world. Mint in Kremnica offers its visitors the opportunity to see the interesting exhibits of coins, and walk through the old mint from 1881-1889. There is a preserved area with part of the historical plant and machinery.

Mint in Kremnica is open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:00. And on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30.

Admission for adults is € 2.66 and € 1.49 for children. Museum of coins and medals is managed by the Slovak National Bank

Other sights in Kremnica
Kremnica is really rich in historical monuments. The dominant feature of the town is Kremnica Castle from the 13th century and its defensive system. There you can see also St. Catherine Castle from the mid 15th century, Charnel of St. Andrew from the 13th century (Romanesque rotunda with preserved charnel-house) and a small clock tower from the 14th century.

Since 1970, the castle complex is a national cultural monument. Also noteworthy is the Town Hall of 14th century, Mining bastion, the Immaculata sculpture from the years 1760 – 1765, town house dating back to 1441 and the Roman – Catholic parish from the 14th century.


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