M. Valančiaus Street is one of the oldest in Kaunas, and presumably one of the compositional axes in the plans of the middle ages town. At the northern end, in the lower part that reaches the River Neris, the street turned east and followed the riverbank towards the Raginė suburb. In the northern part of the street a distinct layer of early settlement with local and imported (polished black) ceramics, dated to the 14th century, has been discovered. The first stone buildings were constructed in the end of the 16th century – first half of the 17th century. Panerio square was situated at the northern end of the street; there is data available about the square from 1693. The square might have been a horse or animal market, established long before the recorded date.
Mindaugas Bertašius