Kaunas - Rotušė

A settlement existed at the confluence of two large rivers, for many centuries, before Kaunas was first mentioned in written sources in 1361. At that time a brick castle was constructed. Only a year later the castle was captured after a siege and destroyed by the Teutonic Order. It was one of the most important victories of the Teutonic Knights in the 14th in Lithuania. The castle was rebuilt at the beginning of the 15th century.

In 1408 Kaunas was granted city rights by Vytautas the Great. Kaunas began to gain prominence since it was at an intersection of trade routes and a river port. In 1441 Kaunas joined the Hanseatic League. By the 16th century, Kaunas had a public school and a hospital and was one of the best-formed towns in Lithuania.

In 1665, the Russian army attacked the city, and in 1701 the city was occupied by the Swedish Army. Fires destroyed parts of the city in 1731 and 1732. After the final partition of the Polish–Lithuanian state in 1795, the city was taken over by the Russian Empire. During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon´s armee passed through twice, devastating the city both times.

When In 1862, a railway connecting the Russian Empire and Imperial Germany was built, Kaunas was a significant railway hub.

As WWII began, about 30,000 Jews were living in Kaunas, comprising about 25% of the city's population. Only very few survived the war.

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in 1542 the construction of the town hall in Gothic style was started after the previous building was completely destroyed by fire. 20 years later the building was completed. It originally had only one floor, without a tower, but with cellars, which also housed the prison. Still in the 16th century, the second floor and the tower were added in Renaissance style.

The town hall was also affected by the town fires in 1670 and 1732. From 1771 to 1780 it was reconstructed again. In the process, the tower was raised by one floor. The facade and interior were redesigned in the style of baroque and classicism.

In 1795 Kaunas fell to Russia during the third partition of Poland. The town hall was no longer needed. In the 19th century, the building was used for various purposes, such as the premises of the Russian Orthodox Church, an ammunition depot and the Russian theater were located here. In the years 1869 to 1944, the building again housed the city administration.
Since 1973 the old town hall has been used as a museum and a registry office.