A country's history in one building
Noble seat, war ruin, Soviet property, cultural centre.
Aidas U. — CC BY 3.0 · Wojsyl — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Juliux — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Augustas Didžgalvis — CC BY-SA 4.0
A red brick manor on the bank of the Nemunas river west of Kaunas, built in the early seventeenth century, its name meaning literally the red manor after the colour of its brick. The building went through what Lithuania went through. It was raised as a noble family's seat in the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, passed through other noble owners, was partly destroyed in the First World War, nationalised in the Soviet period and used for administration, then restored after independence and turned into a cultural centre. Today it holds a small museum, exhibition rooms and an arts centre, and hosts concerts and events. The surrounding grounds are open, and the view over the river from the terrace is the best thing about it. Practical points: museum entry is ticketed and the grounds are open and free. The distance from Kaunas is about fifteen kilometres — half an hour by bus or car. Hours can be affected by events being held — check before going.
Noble seat, war ruin, Soviet property, cultural centre.
The view over the Nemunas is the best thing here.
Concerts and exhibitions are held here — not a silent museum.
Raudondvaris, west of Kaunas
The dvaras is a common form in Lithuania: a noble family's country seat with the house, service buildings, grounds and sometimes a church. There were hundreds in the country, and most were destroyed or left to decay in the Soviet period after confiscation. Those that survived and were restored after independence became cultural centres and museums, and they are among the best things to visit outside the cities.
The Nemunas valley regional park, Kaunas Castle and the old town. Raudondvaris sits on the road west out of Kaunas towards the valley, so it is a logical stop on a half-day trip.
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