About the Church
The Church of St George the Martyr (Franciscan) in Kaunas stands in the western part of the Old Town, near the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris. It is one of the oldest and most valuable Gothic shrines in Lithuania.
The Bernardine monastery was established here in 1468, and construction of the masonry church began in 1471; although the exact date of completion is unknown, the shrine was already in use by 1503. It is classed among the monuments of Late Gothic – the hall-type three-nave space is covered by cross vaults, the chancel is supported by characteristic buttresses, and the walls are built of dark red brick, with diamond and cross patterns of blackened brick used for decoration. A Baroque tower rises above the chancel.
Over the centuries the church was repeatedly ravaged by fires and wars, and in 1812 the retreating army of Napoleon set up an ammunition store here. During the Soviet era the shrine was turned into a pharmaceutical warehouse, and in 2005 it was returned to the Franciscans, who began restoration work.
The Bernardine monastery was established here in 1468, and construction of the masonry church began in 1471; although the exact date of completion is unknown, the shrine was already in use by 1503. It is classed among the monuments of Late Gothic – the hall-type three-nave space is covered by cross vaults, the chancel is supported by characteristic buttresses, and the walls are built of dark red brick, with diamond and cross patterns of blackened brick used for decoration. A Baroque tower rises above the chancel.
Over the centuries the church was repeatedly ravaged by fires and wars, and in 1812 the retreating army of Napoleon set up an ammunition store here. During the Soviet era the shrine was turned into a pharmaceutical warehouse, and in 2005 it was returned to the Franciscans, who began restoration work.