Resurrection Basilica

About this place

The Resurrection Basilica is a huge white Roman Catholic church on Žaliakalnis hill in Kaunas and the largest basilical church in the Baltic states. It stands out for its modernist design, its tall tower visible across the city and an open roof with a wide view over Kaunas. After Lithuania regained independence in 1918, the idea arose of a new church expressing gratitude for freedom. A committee formed in 1926 and the city donated land in 1928. Karolis Reisonas won the design competition, though the final plan was not approved until 1933. The first cornerstone came from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem in 1934, and walls and roof were done by 1938. Work stopped during the Second World War, and the building served as a storeroom and later a factory in the Soviet period. It was finally consecrated in 2004 and completed in 2005. Inside is a long, bright white nave with tall narrow windows and a polished floor, in a plain style unlike the country's Baroque churches. From the roof you see a broad paved terrace with the tower at its centre, and beyond it the rooftops of Kaunas, the domes of St Michael's and suburban trees. The basilica lies about 2.1 km from Kaunas Town Hall in a straight line, and you can reach the hill by the old funicular or on foot. It is a working church, so dress modestly and speak quietly. Check roof hours, which change with the season, and avoid mass times when going in.