Kėdainiai: Market Square, Minaret and Churches
Accommodation in Kėdainiai
Kėdainiai brings together market history, religious buildings and a city park with a range of ways to get active. The Old Market Square dates back to the 15th century; synagogues and churches point to other historical chapters. The park has paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as an area for inline skating and skateboarding. The 28-metre-high minaret makes an unusual impression. Those looking to combine culture and outdoor activity will find a variety of topics to include in their travel plans.
Market Square and Jewish architectural history
The Old Market Square in Kėdainiai was established in the 15th century as the town’s first market square. It offers a tangible starting point for exploring the early history of the market. The synagogue complex on the square was built from the late 18th century to the first half of the 19th century. The Great Summer Synagogue was built in the 18th century after the older synagogue was destroyed by fire. The square’s history thus encompasses several phases of construction.
On 16 August 2002, a Multicultural Centre opened in a synagogue on the Old Market Square. The Old Town of Kėdainiai is protected by the state as a national urban monument. The Glassmakers’ Houses are also among the town’s historic landmarks; they date from the 17th century.
Minaret and churches
One particularly striking building is the 28-metre-high minaret. It was built in 1880 to adorn the park and commemorate the wars with Turkey. It is Lithuania’s only freestanding minaret; of the structures built at the time, only the minaret has survived. Its history offers a different perspective from the architectural history of the Old Market Square.
The churches also reveal different historical details. The single-nave Lutheran church preserves original 17th-century wall paintings. The Evangelical Reformed Church was funded by Krzysztof II Radziwiłł and Anna; their son Janusz II Radziwiłł completed it in 1652. The surviving paintings and the well-documented completion date of the church each offer a distinct view of the town’s history.
City park and outdoor activities
Kėdainiai City Park is part of the former Kėdainiai manor estate. It has paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as an area for inline skating and skateboarding. This provides a range of ways to get active in the park, from walking and cycling to activities on wheels or a skateboard.
Crafts and a guided tour of the Old Town
Arnet’s House adds another chapter to the town’s architectural history: this architectural monument is a tangible testament to the Scottish community that lived in Kėdainiai in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Traditional Crafts Centre in the house offers workshops in weaving, ceramics and wood carving for adults and students or schoolchildren. Alongside the historic buildings, traditional crafts thus provide another concrete topic to explore on your trip.
A walking tour of the Old Town offers insights into its most significant historic buildings and the town’s history. If you plan to take this guided tour, confirm the booking details directly with the provider.
When looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether your trip will focus primarily on exploring history, or whether you would also like to plan time for outdoor activities in the city park and traditional crafts.
Discover more destinations: Kaišiadorys, Piliuona, Altoniškiai, Pašuliai, Šiluva, Garliava, Prienai, Rumšiškės
For the broader travel overview: Kaunas District.
