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Incentive Travel
Member of RCD Room Concept Design
Maironio st.13
LT-01124 Vilnius, Lithuania
Ph.(+370 620 67477)
Fax (+370 5 212 22 40)
E-mail: incentivetravel@rcd.lt

Kaunas is the second largest city in Lithuania. After the Russians occupied Vilnius in 1919, the State Council and the Cabinet of Ministers as well as other institutions moved to Kaunas. After the Poles occupied Vilnius in 1920, Kaunas became a temporary capital and the major city of Lithuania. In 1920, the constituent Parliament gathered in Kaunas to lay legal foundations to the restored state. 
During the years of independence Kaunas has grown a lot, the number of citizens has increased and industry began to thrive as numerous industrial sectors were developing. At that time the country was quite strong economically, that is why a funicular was built in Kaunas, many buildings were renovated and numerous new architectural masterpieces were constructed. In 1924 a bus line was introduced, and the city water-supply was built in 1928. But the period of well-being was stopped by the Soviet occupation.
Vilnius once again became the capital. The destroyed city was actively restored yet even quicker the Soviets tried to destroy everything that reminded of the life of independent Lithuania. Various means were used to deal with the incompliant. One of the most “famous” public protests against the Soviet rule was that of R.Kalanta who in 1972 burned himself in the square in front of the Musical Theatre in Kaunas.
After the restoration of independence Kaunas has experienced hard times trying to attract investors. The third largest Lithuanian city, Klaipeda, gets a lot more. There is a constant hostility between the people of Vilnius and Kaunas, and at present a possibility of uniting the two cities is being debated.