For those who enjoy travelling slowly and sustainably, especially cyclists (but not only them), Kaunas has a new offer – a route recommended by locals and a magnet puzzle called ‘Surink Kauną’ (Collect Kaunas).
“Colourful magnets undoubtedly encourage people to visit as many sites as possible – the success of the ‘Surink Lietuvą’ (Collect Lithuania) project proves just that. Launched seven years ago, the idea got our country moving and opened up fascinating hidden corners across the land for tourists. So, if you’ve ever dreamt of a single city becoming a colourful puzzle, Kaunas invites you to start making that dream a reality,” says Agnė Kriaučiūnienė, Head of the Tourism and Marketing Department at ‘Kaunas IN’, the agency presenting the route.
The ‘Surink Kauną’ route consists of two parts – 11 colourful magnets and a card with sites recommended by Kaunas residents themselves in all Kaunas elderships (administrative districts). The digitised card with the objects, like other ‘Kaunas IN’ routes, can already be found on the website kaunastika.lt.
“We compiled the list of sites through a public survey – we invited Kaunas people to share their favourite, most iconic, and dearest places in their elderships. We received suggestions for locations that surprised even us. Then, we consulted with the Kaunistics Department of the Ąžuolynas Library, whose team often suggests real gems for our routes,” reveals A. Kriaučiūnienė about the creative process.
Kalniečių park, photo by A. Aleksandravičius
J. Grušas museum
Brastos skveras
Marvelė river valley, photo by A. Aleksandravičius
“It all started with Kaunas,” smiles Eglė Majauskaitė-Zubkovienė, the illustrator behind both ‘Surink Lietuvą’ and the new ‘Surink Kauną’. Brimming with creativity, the Kaunas native recalls drawing the first map of her hometown nearly ten years ago – this creation became a birthday gift from Kaunas to its residents.
“It was my secret dream – to draw Kaunas as I see it, putting together everything I know, what I feel, and what it all means to me,” reminisces the creator, who soon after received an invitation from Lina Baublienė, the mastermind behind ‘Surink Lietuvą’, to join the project. By the way, the initial idea for the puzzle was municipal coats of arms: “It didn’t really excite me, so I suggested something a bit more cheerful,” confides the illustrator, whose ideas have already caught on in Latvia, which introduced its own puzzle last year. And well, this year, the idea was destined to return to Kaunas!
The ‘Surink Kauną’ route is quite extensive and winds through various, even very unexpected, corners of Kaunas. Those deciding to explore Dainava will discover a building reminiscent of a banknote; in Šančiai – a unique clown museum; and in Vilijampolė – peculiar ‘half-houses’ (pusiniai medinukai). Near the recommended sites to visit, there are also places where you can purchase the eldership magnets. Project representatives have made an effort to find such locations in every part of Kaunas, sometimes even several – ranging from pizzerias and family-run shops to museums and other cultural institutions. It didn't take much convincing for representatives of these places to get on board – many are familiar with 'Surink Lietuvą' and are delighted that such an initiative is being launched in Kaunas. ‘Surink Kauną’ enthusiasts will find all participating institutions on a special project subpage.
Pizeria "Ipanema"
Balys and Vanda Sruogos House-Museum
“The new route can be explored in many different ways – perhaps you are a true fan of your eldership, so you want to buy its magnet? Please, visit the ‘Surink Kauną’ ambassadors near your home. Of course, we recommend not limiting yourself to ‘your own backyard’ and exploring the route prepared together by all Kaunas residents,” invites A. Kriaučiūnienė to travel.
“But what about the rivers? Which eldership owns the Nemunas, and which – the Neris?” you might already be wondering. The ‘Kaunas IN’ representative reassures the curious: “Since Eglė drew the map including the rivers, we’ve depicted them on the magnetic board as the city’s arteries, around which Kaunas was built. For those sticking their Kaunas [puzzle] onto the fridge, we will gift the river sticker and the card with recommended objects to visit to everyone who buys the Centre magnet at our Tourist Information Centres at Laisvės al. 36 and Rotušės a. 15.”
