Kaunas Travel Forum

How far is the famous IXth Fort from Kaunas? Can you walk there from the city centre or is there a bus?
IXth Fort is one of the reasons that I want to visit Kaunas. Actually, is there Emmanuel Levinas` Museum or at least a commemorative plaque where he was born?

Thanks for the info.

hi
IXth Fort is in Kaunas. It is rather far from city center to walk. But there are plenty of city busses and micro busses that go that direction. Sorry, i know nothing about the Levinas museum. Perhaps, people in memorial Fort will help you.
bye
Remi:)

Thanks! I don't think that there's a Levinas museum but it's one of the mostly famous natives of Kaunas in the world! He was a very prominent philosopher that was born in Kaunas but moved to Paris and wrote magnificent works pertaining to identity.
Anyway, but you can probably tell me if there are many daily buses from and to Vilnius from Kaunas as I want to spend the entire day in Kaunas and visit the Fort 9, the pagan temple of Perkunas, the old town and churches starting early morning and returning late to Vilnius where I have already booked my accodomation.

hi
i know about Levinas....some of his family lived in Kaunas. it is possible that his father and brother were among those killed in 9th fort.
No problem with busses. They go from Vilnius to Kaunas every 15-20min. It takes about 1 hour 25min. to go. Last bus to Vilnius goes sometime aroun 10 p.m. So you will have plenty of time. Almost all of your mentioned objects are in the center, except fort which you can reach in 15min. by microbus.
Remi

Thanks for info! So it looks I will have plenty of time to enjoy Kaunas!
It's so sad to acknowledge all the atrocities of the war that took place. As for Fort9, I'm particularly interested in seeing the famous graffiti in French "Nous sommes neuf cents Français" that is evoked in one of the books I've read.
Personally, I used to have a nanny by the name of Goras who was from Kaunas and I would like to visit her hometown and maybe find out if there are any Goras there and if she's still alive.
Cheers! :)
Ronald

hi
Goras isn't popular name in Lithuania, so it shouldn't be hard to find it in phone book. Unfortunally, we don't have books in phone-boxes. So better check the name in virtual phonebook before going to Lithuania:
www.telefonai.takas.lt
Lithuanian name show if it's a man(Goras) or a woman and if a woman is single(Goraite) or married(Goriene).Check those , too.
luck
Remi:)

Thanks for the tip on the name! I know she was never married so that means she is "Goraite" but I kept looking for "Goras" which is a name for the man. This is really a great help!

I can see it from my house :)
I don't know how much you are related to Jewish culture, but I suppose you are interessted in it as you want to see the IXth forth, soooo, I'd suggest you not to miss Jewish Synagogue in the center (close to Laisves Aleja) and Jewish cemetary. Then there're three jewish organisations in Kaunas, but I doubt you'll see there something interesting.

By public transport the easiest way to go to the IXth forth from the center is to use bus no.23. You can take it a) from the bus station stop b) From Laisves Aleja turn to the left at the fountain (white church at your back), go forward (you'll see a bank, restaurant "Pas Paolo", coffee-bar, etc) and you'll reach KESTUCIO STREET in 2 mins. there is a bus stop at the right.
The bus will bring you right to the stop "IX forto muziejus". it takes around 20-30 mins. to get there from the center. for general orientation - bus leaves the center, then goes up the "hill" you'll see a red building at the right, shop "iki" at the left, then the next stop will be at the supermarket "maxima" (a building like a box, later on market/bazaar is seen), after this you need to go 2 more stops. Look for the photos of IXth forth , you'll see it clearly on your left when the bus is approaching your stop. For returning the center - the same stuff.

Time table is here: http://213.197.143.125/kau/m.asp?S=-1&T=1152&k=0
only in lithuanian, sorry :)

Buy ticket at any kiosk say "bilieta autobusui" (bus ticket), cost ~80ct.
Wish you a good sight-seeing!

Thanks very much, Vysnaite! I was really lost for a while because I couldn't find any info online about how to get to the IXth Fortress! As always, the best thing is to ask the natives about things.

By the way, as a native Kaunasian, what are a must sites in the city that I shouldn't miss? I know the famous Perkunas' house, the Orthodox Church, the government buildings from the interwar years, but I guess there are some hidden treasures.