City plan of Kaunas in 1774
Authentic surviving fragment of the Kaunas city wall

The Kaunas city wall (Lithuanian: Kauno miesto gynybinė siena) was a masonry defensive wall in Kaunas, an important city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[1][2][3][4] Its construction began in the early 17th century as a result of Kaunas' prosperity and medieval city's standards, however it was unfinished due to later wars and economic reasons.[1]

The city wall surrounded Kaunas from the eastern side and had land fortifications: bastions, redans, artillery batteries, fortified towers.[5] In 1607 multiple gates of the city wall were mentioned named after Neris river (on a road to Ukmergė; later renamed to Panerių or Raginės after the name of the suburb), Lithuania's capital Vilnius, and Tatars which were built along the main roads of the city.[5]

A small part of the city wall with a tower is preserved in the courtyard of the Kaunas State Musical Theatre.[2][4]

References

  1. ^ a b Varsackytė, Rasa; Balkus, Mindaugas. "Kaunas: Dates and Facts. Overview of Kaunas History". Kaunas County Public Library. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b Mekiša, Rytis. "Tarp mito ir tikrovės: Kauno miesto gynybinės sienos". Kamane.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. ^ Rickevičienė, Raimonda (25 April 2021). "Kauno gynybinė siena ir atminties saugojimas". Lithuanian National Radio and Television (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Kauno miesto sienos liekanos ir Malūnininko bokštas". PamatykLietuvoje.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b Bertašius, Mindaugas. "Kauno miesto gynybinė siena". Kaunosenamiestis.autc.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 5 February 2023.

54°53′48″N 23°54′18″E / 54.89667°N 23.90500°E / 54.89667; 23.90500

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