How Kaunas constructed a house for town visitors (austeria)

Address: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m., Šv. Gertrūdos g. 33

After the repeated complaints from Kaunas visitors and travellers, Kaunas townspeople decided to construct a house for visitors – austeria. It was decided to construct this wooden house to save public money. The construction continued from 1777-1779, but the interior works were discontinued after the Permanent Council banned the construction of wooden buildings because of the danger of fire. Thus, it was decided to construct a stone austeria, which could become the pride of town. The masonry and roof works were carried out in 1781-1784, and the interior works continued in 1785-1786. Austeria was a rented institution. In 1792 the building became desolate, partially through the fault of the tenants and also through the vandalism of the foreign army.

Liudas Glemža