Town Hall Square

Cobbled old town square dominated by the White Swan town hall and 16th-century merchant houses

The Old Town Square is the historic heart of Kaunas, lined with 16th-century merchant houses that have been restored to something approaching their original condition. The centrepiece is the Town Hall — a Renaissance building with a distinctive white tower that earned it the nickname "White Swan." The square itself is large and atmospheric, particularly in the evening when it fills with people and the stone facades take on a warm light.

At one end of the square stands the Church of the Holy Trinity, at the other the Church of St. Francis Xavier. The lanes leading off the square — particularly toward the river — are among the most pleasant in the city for wandering, with a mix of galleries, cafes, and independent shops occupying the old stone buildings.

things to do sight
A story
The Town Hall was nicknamed the White Swan both for its colour and for the graceful neck-like tower that rises from its centre. It was built in the 16th century as a combined town hall, market, and prison, with cells in the basement. Today it functions as a wedding registry — couples photograph each other on the steps while tourists wander the square around them.