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People from Klaipeda will come to Kaunas on historical boats

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0300

Klaipeda's citizens promise to come to the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas on historical boats, so far Rusnenians intend to bring fish for sale.

Financed manufacturing himself

Currently participants of the trip are only preparing for navigation season.

"The event will be held on the 19-22 of May. We'll have to leave earlier, however I assume we'll reach Kaunas in two days", - stated the owner of the boat "Arka" ,manufactured on the background of the XIII c. "cog" sample, Viktoras Vladimirovas.

The replica of cog typical for Middle ages on the Baltic Sea the man was manufacturing on his own means. "Arka" was mounted in ship building company in Petrozavodsk under a special order.

"The means, which I've got from the cut up fishing boat ,I decided to invest into this boat. Part of the funds I had to take as a loan from the bank", - stated Viktoras

Dressed in Merchant clothes

V.Vladimirovas expects to arrive to Kaunas on Medieval ship and show up in a festival dressed like a merchant.

"Nemunas is shallow in many places, nevertheless, the underwater part of "Arka" is only one meter long. It is possible to go on such a trip only on plane bottomed boats", - explained the man.

A wooden boat, decorated in carvings, attracted much attention in old sailing-boats regatta "Baltic Sail" in Rostock and Gdansk

This year in the festival of old sailing-boats in Denmark "Arka" intends to put up Lithuanian flag as well.

"Old exhibits abroad find supporters , but it is very hard to maintain such a boat in Lithuania ", - regretted the owner of"Arka"

Entertaining navigation is not very profitable. "The boat is taken out to the shore for half a year. We don't get any income in this period, but we have to pay tax anyway", - defined the man..

In case he could find a good buyer he would farewell his boat.

"For the time being the boat was evaluated by the property expert, who has not seen it, in a funny amount of 400 thousand Lt., however 240 thousand Eur (828 thousand Lt) for its construction was spent ", - said V.Vladimirovas.

Although this boat is a minimized cog copy ,it matches all boats specifications of that time..

There are appropriate bridges on the front and the back of Cog . "They were used for supervision, archers used to shoot from them", - explained Viktoras.

Rusnenians bustled as well

A group of people from Rusne promise to accompany the boat.

" We expect to reach Kaunas in five days by three boats called "Ūda", "Rusnietis" and "Vykintas" ", - said the citizen of Rusnė, Kęstutis Laukevičius.

One boat was manufactured by ship builder Simas Knapkis for Egidijus Latėnas, the other - by local company "Skatulė".

On board of Venter boats the trip should be full of impressions.

"We expect to stop in various places. Hope for attention from local people", - he pointed out.

Domantas Laukevičius ,the one who with his fellows crossed the Baltic Sea on canoe last year, together with his children will join his farther for the trip to Kaunas.

A blacksmith Egidijus Latėnas with his wife will also join, there will be enough space on their boat for the dog Kobra, who participates nearly in all trips.

"Egidijus intends to take bellows and to do blacksmith's jobs. He will demonstrate his skills at Hanseatic days. And we will take fish to offer people for sale", - stated K.Laukevičius.

Venter boat resembles "Kuren", but a bit smaller. One can use oars or wind with it.

French horns will awaken participants of Hanseatic days

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0300

Players of French horns of the union of Hanseatic cities assemble to the annual festival „Voltorne days".

„Valtorne is a special instrument, not everyone is able to play it well. Nevertheless only Voltorne is able to create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere", - stresses the Voltorne player, lecturer of Musical academy of Lithuania - Egidijus Stanelis.

That's why this instrument,founded in the late Middle ages is given a special attention by organizers of Hanseatic days.

On the initiative of Estonian musicians from 2005 the festival "Voltorne days" is annually included into program of the International Hanseatic days.

We'll be able to admire overwhelming melodies of voltornes in the courtyards of old town of Kaunas on the 19-22 of May.

E.Stanelis told that approximately 30 French horns players will arrive to Kaunas from 15 Hanseatic and other cities: Tartu, Pernu (Estonia), Ryga (Latvija), Helsinki (Finland), Osnabruck (Germany), Grand Novgorod (Russia).

The festival participants are mostly young players , will rehearse and prepare the program together, which will present to listeners of Hanseatic days.

Professional lessons in Voltorne academy in Kaunas will be headed by the well-known Voltorne experts, namely - Esa Tapani , professor of music school from Frankfurt Maine (Germany), Arvidas Klisanas, professor of music school from Latvia and Ludwig Rast, lecturer of music school from Saarbrucken (Germany).

Though the blower's profession seems a privilege of men, nevertheless women blow Voltorne as well and most probably we will see them in Kaunas.

„The goal of the Festival - to popularize French horn music, increase mastership of performers, but most important is to entertain listeners with the melodies of this splendid instrument", - stated E.Stanelis.

The repertory of the festival is still under preparation. Such world wide composers as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, Georgas Friedrich Haendel, Robert Schumann, Ludwig van Beethoven and others wrote for the Voltorne. Talented musicians intend to come to Kaunas, so far impressive concerts are expected.

About Voltorne

Voltorne (vok. Waldhorn - wood horn) - copper blowing instrument. Originated from bended French hunting horn, so that's the reason it is called French horn.
Straightened pipe of this horn makes approximately 3,7 m. It has been used in orchestra since the XVI century. Its modern view with mechanism dates to 1815 .
Until the beginning of the XIX c. the voltorne players used to change the level of volume by using various small pipes. They were of different length fixed into the main canal: the longer the pipe ,the lower the sound .
It is played in symphonic and blowing instruments orchestras, bands, solo.

Festival „Valtorne days 2011"

20 May, from 20 to 21 h.,-- the stage near Blessed Virgin Mary (Grand Vytautas) church.
21 May, from 12 to 13 h., - Courtyard of Kaunas castle
22 May, from 13 to 14 h., - Kaunas Jesuit church (Rotušės sq. 8).

Medieval carnival clatter in Kaunas old town at night

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Kaunas Medieval carnival is expecting for a long-legged troupe from Kretinga.

The Event will be decorated by banner-bearers from Italy „Storici Sbandieratori delle Contrade di Cori".

"Most probably we won't overpass Venice carnival, but the event must be amusing", - expects company "Hanza Kaunas 2011" director Darius Rumšas.

Up to the program of the International Hanseatic days on the 19-22 of May the Medieval carnival will proceed three days and nights from Friday till Sunday.

It will spread from Vilnius street, starting from underway, up to Town hall square. Well known traditional folk art and crafts fairs wont run on this time - the street will change the colouring .

At day time street artists will be the leaders: mimes, wizards, fakirs, acrobats , clowns, jugglers. Medieval flags will be held by youths and boys from colorfully dressed choirs, hearing ability will be tested by loudness of drums, trumpets and fanfare.

Nevertheless mostly noticeable in gay carnival walking demonstration must be the long-legged from youths and children theatre studio of Kretinga district "Atžalynas". The pupils of the director Algimantas Verbutas see the world from very high, much higher than Arvydas Sabonis, because they are long-legged 1,5 m. high.

The troupe, established 9 years ago participated in International street theatre festivals as well as in the events of various cities. Trained boys are able to stand on long legs up to three hours. They can do that not only on the flat surface, but on slopes as well , they are also capable of taking stairs and changing trousers.

Medieval carnival in Kaunas old town will include the parade of archaic technique. Approximately 100 old vehicles and motorbikes will move along Vilnius street and Town hall square straight to the confluence of the rivers, where everyone will be able to survey technical masterpieces from the close.

D. Rumšas hopes to organize grill championship, various culinary shows in Vilnius street. Medieval receipts will be introduced, old dishes tasted in the open air.

At 10 p.m. the carnival members will be changed by dancers. They will go on dancing until early hours - 3 a.m.

The art leader of the International Hanseatic days Andrius Žiurauskas told that there would be 5 stages in Vilnius street. Instructors will teach salsa, tango, break, folk, line and other dances.

"Carnival will be impressive in case we participate in it ourselves. Thus I invite participants of the event to sew clothes, make masks and become funny Medieval characters for a few days. Believe me , such carnivals - the best way to relax and the excellent drug against stress", - encouraged A.Žiurauskas.

European knights will fight the spears on the bank of the Nemunas river

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

About 100 knights from various countries of Europe, six armored warriors included, will show their might, on the arena close to Daugirdas amphitheatre, on the bank of the Nemunas river.

During the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas for the first time in Lithuania a tournament of warriors will be held. A woman - European champion Caroline Egemalm will participate in it as well as a multiplex champion of Europe Klass Lundberg consented his participation in the competition.

Glittering shells, wind flattered flags, noisy audience and a herald who will announce a winner of the tournament...

There was no more impressive show in the great Duchy of Lithuania and in all Medieval Europe as the warriors' contest. Brave men would come together to try their power, earn respect and attract ladies.

Organizers of the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas on the 19-22 of May plan the fight of knights ,doughboys also riders, still unseen in Lithuania.

Military clubs of Middle Ages from Germany, Belorussia, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Sweden, France, Italy, Latvia intend to send to Kaunas contest their best participants.

Armored men will have an unexpected challenge , as Caroline Egemalm from Sweden- champion of Europe among women agreed to participate in knights' tournament.

„It is mostly presumable that from the hand of that woman not one man will fall down from the saddle", - comments company " Hanza Kaunas 2011" director Darius Rumšas with a smile.

Three participants from Sweden and Poland will come to the riders' contest.

The horses prepared for the event will be taken from Poland.

Lithuanians don't have riders' duels experience still, that's why they will participate only in demonstrative contest.

The main task for organizers now is to equip appropriately riders' tournament arena.

The heads of the public department of Kaunas municipality have undertaken the task of bringing about 200 cubic metres of sand to the Nemunas bank . The sand will be dusted in the territory of 50 m length and 20 m width on a special sheet.

Public utilities staff will set a special ring-fence , gates for horses' entrance and exit and a tribune for heads and judges of the event.

The arena will witness the fights of doughboys and riders as well as traditional pig race so much liked by children.

After the closure of the Hanseatic days public utilities have intention to equip the beach close to the confluence, there they will use the same sand which was utilized by riders. They plan is also to make benches and cabins for change there.

In the nearest future Municipality has promised to light the amphitheatre and other places at the confluence, take order of surroundings, basketball courts, toilets.

Director D.Rumšas while expecting plenty of foreign guests is worried about a number of deserted and neglected buildings in the old town.

„It would be nice that owners or assigned people from municipality could cover these buildings with special nets, as it is usual abroad. The old town has to be freed from nasty writings and drawings on the walls"- asks for assistance the organizer of the event.

International Choir Festival - Competition “Kaunas Cantat 2011"

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Dear musicians,
We invite You to take part in international choir festival competition "Kaunas Cantat 2011". You will have possibility not only take part in the program of the festival - competition but also join unique feast of Kaunas city. During Festival - competition "Kaunas Cantat 2011" there also will be held international medieval festival of union of Hansa cities.

Festival concerts with Your performances will be held in the best concerts halls, churches and monasteries of Kaunas city. You will have possibilities to choose recreational sightseeing tours to the most beautiful places of Lithuania. We suggest You take tours to the capital city Vilnius and Trakai castle near it, Pazaislis monastery in Kaunas, open-air folk museum of Rumsiskes, tour to the hill of crosses near Siauliai, geographical centre of Europe, park of soviet sculpture in Druskininkai, recreational programs in Baltic sea area and many other impressive places. Festival is sponsored by Kaunas Municipality and Curia of Kaunas Archdiocese. Applications are accepted until 30th of March, 2011.

More information:
http://www.kaunascantat.lt

The decoration of Hanseatic days – firemen’s cart

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

"What kind of wind has blown him to us?" - considered director of public institution "Hanza Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas after he has heard the voice of director of Kaisiadorys town firemen office Artūras Šalvaitis on the phone. The offer which he has instantly got from the latter was really pleasant.. The fireman who has been saving people and their wealth from fire tongues suggested to decorate the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas on the 19-22 May with the firemen attribute - the cart which was still in use at the second half of the XX c.

"We'll dress the fireman and take him on to the cart. Pulled by a few horses, it will run the streets of the old town", - assured D.Rumšas. Though this dream of the organizers can't come true, the firemen's cart will be exhibited for sure. The idea of the mission of this transport at the event is still under consideration.

"The majority of the cart's parts - original. Front and back carriers, wheels, manual water pump - these are inheritances of the XX c. . Fastening parts is a hand work of a blacksmith", - uttered Juozas Levulis , the employee of aviation museum , admiring the unique exhibit .

Two hoses for sucking and compression go next. Their length is from 20 to 40 m. The employee mentioned that the hoses used earlier by firemen were weaved from linen threads. Nowadays synthetic threads are used. Special sleeves are fixed on the ends of hoses and then syringes for fire extinguishing on them . Next --water, of course. An oak barrel usually contained 200 l of water.

"Would such a cart be able to extinguish a burning wooden house? The answer is with a question: Have you ever seen that contemporary fire- engine could do this? Of course if it arrives in time , is possible to help, but the cart could do the same" -- smiled J.Levulis.

Entertainments at the International Hanseatic days will proceed till early hours

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

The board of Kaunas municipality has approved the request to extend the time of the International Hanseatic days. On the request of the organizers the international event on the 19-22 of May will proceed from 8 to 3 a.m.. Earlier it was arranged only till 11p.m.

International Hanseatic days are held annually in one of the New Hansa Union cities .The program of this event contains cultural shows, crafts fairs, cities' presentations, forums, seminars. Kaunas is the only one Hanseatic city in Lithuania. It has started taking an active part in the activities of the New Hansa Union since 1992 .

On the 19-22 of May 2011 Kaunas will celebrate its birthday and will host International Hanseatic days. It is planned that about half a million guests and participants from more than 100 cities of Europe will visit „Hansa Kaunas 2011"

I n four days more than 100 shows will run on: a big Medieval fair with alley of crafts , Flower, Bread, Cheese, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Flee markets; Grand European knights tournament with riders' duels held for the first time in Lithuania; recorded air balloon feast; medieval carnival; international plain air of artists, and fire mystery above two rivers.

River flow will usurp flaming sculptures

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200

On the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris giant straw sculptures will grow up. They will invite passersby to the International Hanseatic days , and with the start of the event will flare up as a symbol of fragility of material world.

Will put girls' plaits on fire

An impressive show to the participants of the event is in the process of arrangements by sculptor Donatas Mockus from Kaišiadorys district together with his associates Dainius Jurevičius (Prienai) and Šarūnas Stirbys (Raseiniai ).

Friends make sculptures' sketches, search for resources, solve technical issues.

Artists asked for wood to do the framework, for wire, string, straws and 100 ltr. of used food oil to make straws water proof.

D.Mockus has already made several sketches . In one - devils' fight , in another - blacksmiths wag the hammers, in the third -- birds swing on reeds.

Nevertheless two long plaited girls are the most attractive to him. He is impatient to put them on swings and put their straw plaits on fire.

The artists will start binding 8-10 m sculptures on the 11 of May. On the eve of the festival sculptures will be put on rafts and will be floating on water for a few days.

At night of the 20^th of May fire mystery is going to be showed.. Straw works will become fire sculptures and in 15 min. will end their life.

"It is always attractive to play fire",- grins the sculptor Donatas Mockus.

Will use water power

His biggest trouble-- to make floating sculptures move . "The river ripples, so far I will try to use the power of the stream",- considered the artist.

He would like to create the sculpture as big as possible, to make it well seen from the far. After putting it on fire , the most important issue is to make it look not only as the fire . "The fire has to become the body of the sculpture, only then it will be considered as a creative work", - stated D.Mockus.

The impression most probably will be increased also by reflections on the water. Sculptures will be made from natural resources, that's why there wont be any negative impact on the nature.

D.Mockus prefers unstable materials, because they are soft, easily manageable. He has already created sculptures from ice and sand. Straws and fire are familiar to the artist as well.

Intends to invite Latvians

The works to be floated on the Nemunas and the Neris are still under consideration. Seven big sculptures will be floating close to the confluence spike, a bit further the smaller ones will be spread.

This is not an easy work to do for the artists, that's why they are going to invite three colleagues from Latvia for assistance. The team of fire artists could be supported much by the arrival of Karlis Ile, living in Riga. He is an experienced artist in this area , annually organizes similar projects.

"International Hanseatic days - an exclusive event, so far we wish to look solid", - said D.Mockus.

Russians will come to Kaunas on a boat

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0200

15 managers of culture, 7 journalists, many businessmen , artists, government authorities, orchestra – such is the crew of Velikiy Novgorod (Russia) headed by the city mayor Juryj Bobryshev intending to visit International Hanseatic days in Kaunas. Furthermore: Novgorod Hanseatic youth group has made a decision to come to our city on an archaic boat.

Merchant trip repetition

Although there are even 13 New Hanseatic Union cities in Russia, Velikij Novgorod is of the primary importance. The city had the honor of organizing International Hanseatic days in 2009 m.

The deputy director for culture of municipality administration of the city Olga Popova is the member of the presidium of the New Hanseatic Union, famous for brave undertakings.

An International Hanseatic press club for popularizing Hanseatic ideas in the world was established last year on her initiative. An assistant of Kaunas mayor Dainoras Lukas. participates in the activities of that club.

This year Novgoroders are apt to repeat the march of the old Novgorod Republic merchants – to reach Kaunas by boat.

Obstacle - Sovetsk bridge

Novgoroders have a flat-bottomed sailer upon possibilities for trips to other Hanseatic cities.

This time Russian merchants will have to make more than 200 km distance by Volchov river. They will cross Ladoga lake then, river Neva and will reach the Baltic sea..

The trip to Kaunas by shallow Curonian lagoon and the river Nemunas is considered to be mostly complicated. There are many shoals in the Nemunas bed, that's why it is dangerous for bigger boats.

The biggest obstacle - Tilsit (Sovetsk) bridge. In order to sail under it is necessary to demount the stems of the sailer.

Boats from Germany, Netherlands, Poland and other Hanseatic cities have had intentions to come to Kaunas, but captains are endangered by Sovetsk bridge. Nevertheless for the persistent Russians this obstacle seems surmountable. Veliky Novgorod delegation has already made arrangements with Kaliningrad region executives for solving technical problems.

Novgoroders' sailer will arrive to Sovetsk a few days before the event. Together with local colleagues sailors will demount stems, switch on the diesel engine and all travelers hope to successfully arrive Kaunas. Later our local river staff will help to mount stems, fix sails and berth the sailer in a safe place.

Viking boats

Director of public institution „Hanza Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas is charmed by Russians' activity and sorry that the Nemunas has not been prepared enough for shipping still.

The Veliky Novgorod boat wont be the only decoration of the International Hanseatic days.

The organizers of the event promise to bring stylized oared Viking boats from Birstonas to sail the Nemunas between Kaunas and Kačerginė.

Kaunas has started contacts with Klaipėda sea museum, so they hope to receive a few archaic Curonian boats - "kurėnai".

Back to the Lithuanian Duchy

Veliky Novgorod is the city in the west of Russia ,by the Volchov river, not far from Ilmen lake. The population of it is nearly 300 000. people.

It is one of the oldest cities of Russia, established in the early V-VI c.

Up to the IX c. it was under Vikings. The patriarch of Russian monarchs Rurik in 862 m. became the Duke of Novgorod.

Since the XII c. Novgorod was the capital of independent Duchy. In XIII-XV c. the city prospered especially due to the trade with Hanseatic cities. The merchants of the city were known for valuable fur market.

Republic of Novgorod had the traits of democracy. The main unit of the city management was the city gathering - "večė", which used to choose and administer dukes , solve war and peace matters, release laws.

The selected duke had to take care of civil trials and rule the army. Among Novgorod dukes there were the ones of the Lithuanian origin.

Lithuanian Duchy had a great influence on Novgorod Republic. The Dukes - Daumantas, Gediminas, Kęstutis and Vytautas are recorded in the millennium monument of Russia, in Novgorod

In the XV c. Novgorod was occupied by Moscow Duke Ivan III.

Novgorod Kremlin and other impressive architectural monuments of the city, such as Sofia Orthodox church ,have survived till our days.

Challengers of Hansa days make a tour around Europe

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0200

18-20 of February International Hansa days were introduced in International tourism fair NAVARTUR Pamplona(Spain).

Although International Hansa days in Kaunas will be held only on the 19-22 of May, 63 cities have already registered to the Event . The list of them is increasing every day.

Tourism information centres in Lithuania and abroad make a great impact in popularizing the biggest feast in the history of Lithuania.

The organizers are mostly thankful to the head of TIC in Spain Raimundas Michnevičius.

In spite of the fact that there is no any Hansa city in Spain, but the story of the Lithuanian attracted many Spaniards and Catalans.

A mobile stand with information about Hansa days in Kaunas has travelled through majority of Spain cities. It was introduced in the 6^th International tourism fair NAVARTUR on the 18 -20 February, held in Pamplona city of Navar region.

7 journalists from Barcelona and many tourists from other Spanish regions expect to come to Kaunas.

International Hansa days are also actively promoted by the staff of tourism and image department of Kaunas Municipality.

Leaflets and other promoting literature of Hansa days was distributed on the 20-23 of January in tourism fair MATKA 2011 in Helsinki (Finland) as well as on the 17-20 February in the the fair BIT 2011 in Milan (Italy)

In March people from Kaunas expect to visit another three international fairs in Berlin (Germany).In the fair ITB 2011 a mobile stand will be exhibited and leaflets distributed.

The participants of the fairs in Moscow (Russia) and in Paris (France) will get to know of Hansa days in Kaunas as well.

Hansa spirit moved Ryga and Barcelona

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0200

"The interest in the International Hansa days is quickly increasing", - stated director of public institution „Hansa Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas, after his arrival from the 18th international tourism fair „Balttour".

A movie under competition

Representatives from 33 countries participated in the event held in Ryga. Among more than 200 stands two were from Lithuania.

Kaunas people arrived to Rygą for promotion of the 31th International Hansa days which will be held in the city on the 19-22 of May.

There were possibilities to get not only leaflets and attributes of the event at the Lithuanian stand , but to taste home made brandy and bard.

After a special "Balttour" commission has declared a competition of documentaries ,the movie of Arvydas Liorančas about Hansa days in Kaunas was included into it.

There are even 8 Hansa cities in Latvia, so far it is expected that in spring event the delegation of Latvian brothers will be one of the biggest in Kaunas.

Catalans are mostly active

International Hansa days are also actively promoted in other foreign countries: four mobile festival stands travel through various European fairs , informative material about the event is actively spread by tourism information centres abroad (TIC).

Especially much attention is paid to German cities, to which inviters of the event have travelled not for once.

Though there are no Hansa cities in Spain, but the interest in Kaunas Hansa days is not less than in neighboring Latvia. "This is for the merit of Lithuanian TIC staff in Spain "- happily comments D.Rumšas.

Kaunas will host a group of Catalan and Spanish journalists , eight of them is from Barcelona.

Journalists intend to bring colleagues from other countries. 4 journalists from Italy, 5 - from France and the same number from Great Britain are preparing for the trip.

The list of cities increases

"Balttour" fair in Ryga has ended an intensive publicity of Hansa days abroad.

Organizers are still in the process of preparing informative leaflets for LISCO ferries .Kaunas international airport also helps to advertise the event.

It is attempted to summon the fans of the event in the social internet site "Facebook" .

55 cities have already been registered into international Hansa days in Kaunas. The list increases every day.

Contributor of Hanseatic Days – honorary consul in Netherlands

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Honorary consul of Lithuania in Netherlands Lina van Kesteren-Sotničenkaitė brought good news to the organizers of the International Hanseatic Days while visiting Kaunas.

The guest has presented a preliminary list of Netherland's delegation to the director of the public institution "Hanza Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas. It includes government authorities, businessmen, energetic experts, culture and tourism operators almost from 30 cities of the country.

All these people are taken care by the young woman personally. "Dutch are waiting for Hanseatic Days with enthusiasm", - told the honorary consul smiling.

Originated from Kaunas L.van Kesteren-Sotničenkaitė got married to the Dutch and has already been living in the country for 12 years, in the city Groningen with the population of nearly 200 thousand people.

One of the most important city institutions - university. Groningen province is closely related with agriculture and water sports.

L.van Kesteren-Sotiničenkaitė dedicates much time and energy with the aim to help her motherland, especially her native Kaunas.

The biggest task of the honorary consul now - to find permanent premises for the consulate in Holland.

The woman dreams of establishing business and tourism information centre with the consulate. "I see many unused possibilities. Lithuanians and Dutch - small nations, but could move the mountains together", - said the consul.

L.van Kesteren-Sotničenkaitė noticed, that the Dutch of the older generation like travelling, especially by motor homes. However they lack information about places of interest, possibilities for rest and services in Lithuania.

Experts of energetic, scientists and managers of high schools would like to go into cooperation.

Managers of university of Groningen intend to visit Hanseatic Days in Kaunas as well.

Lithuanians could learn from the Dutch, how to decrease bureaucracy in municipalities, expand bike tourism, solve social, education problems.

The consul was pleased that her ideas were actively supported by the heads of Kaunas, especially by vice mayor Rimantas Mikaitis.

The Lithuanian has noticed that Dutch are pedantic, plan everything in advance. Consequently she not only booked hotels and restaurants for the members of Netherland's delegation, but took care of their leisure an culture program.

Organizers of the event expect for 500 thousand guests on the 19-22 of May .

One more impressive news to the respecters of Hansa: European commission has added Hansa tourism into five priority tourism destinations and intends to pay more attention to it.

Hansa artists will decorate Kaunas Santaka park

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0200

Before the opening of the International Hanseatic Days in Kaunas on the 19 th of May, one will have a possibility to watch a group of working artists next to the church of St. George the sufferer and the Kaunas castle already from the 5^th of May.

25 creators from 16 cities of New Hansa union will organize here an International plein air "Confluence". The patron of the artists will be the head of the gallery "Art park" Arvydas Žalpys.

The organizers of the event are responsible for accommodation, catering of guests as well as for necessary work materials and their work place.

The artists were informed that their works would be exhibited in the open place at the confluence, so they have to be water, sun resistant and stand the other influences of the nature.

Art projects have to reflect the motto of the International Hanseatic Days in Kaunas "Remember - Revive - Be proud".

Kaunas Municipality promised rewards to creators, that's why the works will remain in the city.

Majority of artists will come from Germany , Poland, Russia, Sweden and France.

Planned projects - sculptures, installations, pictures, ceramic works.

Stanislaw Nowodworski from Gdansk (Poland) asked the organizes of the plein air for 5 m length and 60 cm diameter oak chunk for gouging out a sculptural composition symbolizing a flock of birds at the Confluence.

The artists think that assembling birds and joining rivers have similar energy.

The other representative of the plein air asked for 600 kg of iron. There are also the ones wishing to throw out ceramic works.

Lithuanians are also willing to decorate the confluence with their works. A special commission comprising representatives from Kaunas department of Lithuanian union of artists as well as the ones from the gallery "Art park" will recruit the best of them. An overall recruitment of the participants of the plein air will be made by commission from professional artists, art critics, architects and representatives of international organization "HANSEartWORKS" .

The citizens of Kaunas will be able to see the exhibition of works in the open air created in the plein air all the summer round.

The director of the Public institution "Hanza Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas thinks that the park for the memory of Hanseatic Days could be established in the future..

Artists have participated in the International Hanseatic Days since 2005.

Exhibitions of artists took place already in Osnabrük, Salzwedel, Velikij Novgorod, Pärnu.

Edmundas Mališauskas,
Communication manager of the International Hanseatic Days in Kaunas
Tel.: +370 699 94101
www.hanzakaunas.lt, Facebook Hanza Kaunas

With the most beautifull celebrations!

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0200

“Hanza Kaunas 2011” team.

Opportunity, which occurs once per 100 years

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0200

New Hansa League leaders hope that in 2011 Kaunas will host a spectacular celebration

It is a great concern and large investment for the International Hanseatic days city.

But finaly added toil bear fruit - festival increases the flows of the foreign tourists up to 30 percents. This was told by New Hansa League leaders during the Commission meeting in Kaunas on November 19 - 21.

The group of 45 persons - the members of Presidium and Commission of the NHL visited the spaces of Kaunas Old Town in which the International Hanseatic days will take place in May 19th - 22nd.

„Kaunas is a great city for Hanseatic days. I see that preparatory works rapidly progressed", - the efforts was evaluated positively by the president of the New Hansa League, the Mayor of Luebeck (Germany) Mr. Bernd Saxe.

Guests especially enjoyed the large Confluence Park and the correct structure of the City Hall Square.

Culture is very important

B. Saxe noted with satisfaction that Kaunas festival program focused on cultural events.

Kaunas will present 7 international festivals during the Hanseatic days representing the city anually: „Kaunas Jazz", Pažaislis classical music festival", „Operetta at Kaunas castle", „Suklegos" (folk music), „Padūduokime Kaunui", „Kaunas Cantat" (sacral music), Lithuanian boys choral music festivals.

Other New Hansa League cities will also represent their cultural groups, handicrafts, culinary heritage. Kaunas is waiting delegations from over 100 European cities, so there will be an opportunity to see a very colorful palette of cultures.

The New Hansa League combines 176 cities, which have over 20 million inhabitants. „This is a powerful community", - mentioned Mr. B.Saxe.

Investment pays off

International Hanseatic days held annually in a different city of the union. Celebration's budget organizers plan by available recourses, because cities are different size and not all of them are equally wealthy. To compare in Hamburg (Germany) there are almost 2 million inhabitants and in Parnu (Estonia) - just 45 thousands population.

Mr. B. Saxe said that the budget average of International Hanseatic Days reach from 1 to 1.5 million euros. It is also important how urban communities succeed in focusing to work together.

„We will try to suprise not only our guests, but ourselves as well", - promised Mayor Andrius Kupčinskas and assured that the forthcoming elections won't disrupt the organizational work of celebration.

The next year budget of Kaunas municipality has not been approved, but the city leader said that funds for the International Hanseatic days should suffice. "For other such opportunity we can expect unless after one hundred years, "- noted Kaunas leader.

The festival is important for all Lithuania, so it is expected to receive the support from the Government.

Hanseatic League Presidium member Olga Popova also had a lot of cares in 2009, when had to organize the International Hanseatic days in Velikiy Novgorod (Russia).

O. Popova is the Deputy of city administration Director of Culture and Youth Affairs.

She said that Velikiy Novgorod invested into the streets, restored many buildings of the Old Town. Results: after the celebration, Velikiy Novgorod were collected more taxes, increased the number of tourists, while in the whole Russia flows of tourists was significantly reduced.

Kaunas also hope that in 2011 there will be much more foreign tourists than in last years. In May the tourists will be attracted to the colorful Hanseatic days and in late August - the European men's basketball championship.

It is planned that the International Hanseatic Days in Kaunas will visit about half a million people.

Therefore it is considered that tourists could be flown by special flights to this festival.

Vilnius can also expect the increase flows of tourists because as many festival participants plan to spend at least one day in the Lithuanian capital.

Symbol - Tree of life

The report of the International Hanseatic days of 2010 in Parnu was also presented during the Commission meeting in Kaunas.

The „YouthHansa" discussed separately.

There will be approximately 100 tents surrounding the Town Hall square in several semicircles for the Medieval fair. Tents of 6 square metres size will be provided for smaller delegations and in bigger tents of 25 sq.m. size will settle bigger delegations.

Guests will be able to trade, show their crafts and culinary heritage, to promote their cities.

The International Hanseatic days art director Andrius Žiurauskas presented the symbol of the festival - Tree of life. This tree of life will be settle in the Town Hall square and will represent all Hansa cities' coats of arms.

Tree of life is already dominate on the twelve advertising tents of the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas. Soon there will be more. The symbol was created by designer Jolanta Šmidtienė and it will also decorate many different souvenirs.

A.Žiurauskas also noted that there will be 7 stages in the Old Town and the biggest one will be in „Santaka" park where the main concert of Medieval music stars „Corvus Corax" will take place.

Twelve information kiosks will be settle in the busiest places of the Old Town so the festival guests will be able to orientate easily. City maps, brochures, festival programes and other information publications will be devided in these kiosks.

Organizers will try to keep the city alive at the night time as well. The museums of the Old Town plan to be open till 2 am. Security will be ensured by armored police forces.

The public transport will wait for nocturnal festival participants and guests.

The Hansa ideas will be disseminate

There was talked a lot about the spread of the Hanseatic ideology during the meeting.

Hanseatic League for many years fosters community, mutual support, advocates for greater urban self-government, attaches great importance to cultural exchanges, trade, ecology, seeks to involve young people to this community.

The book outlining the New Hanseatic League in thirty years will appear next year.

Recently established the international Hansa Press Club is determined to expand the information field. The Club intends to highlight the cooperation between the cities and promises to organize tours for journalists.

The Hanseatic travel passport is under preparation and will also promote tourism in the Hanseatic League. The traveler will be able to participate in the lottery after he visited various cities of the Hanseatic League and earned a certain amount of stamps.

Polish representatives suggests to strenghthen cultural relations. Gdansk is determined to organize music and theatre festivals of Hansa cities.

Commission members emphasized the importance of developing the economic relations and actively contribute to the European unity. The discussion will be continued in May, during the Economic forum of the Hanseatic League.

Edmundas Mališauskas,

The XXXI st International Hanseatic Days in Kaunas

Communications manager

Tel.: +370 699 94101

Working group meeting of the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0300

There were presented organization process of the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas and problems encountered.

The director of PI "Hanza Kaunas 2011" Mr. Darius Rumšas presented the budget of the festival and expected incomes from the Lithuanian government, Kaunas city municipality, sponsors. Art director Mr. Andrius Žiurauskas suggested many spaces of the Old Town for various different events of the festival. Designer Mrs. Jolanta Šmitienė after two months of painstaking work suggested united style of the festival for decorating the town, souvenir production, etc. The Lithuanian Tree of Life was chosen as a symbol of the Hanseatic days in Kaunas with lots of playful shapes which will remind transparent candies related to many festival events. Suggested festival spaces and united style both were approved by the Hanseatic days working group.

There were discussed about the Old Town streets and buildings in the state of emergency repair and the lighting of few spaces for the Hanseatic days. Kaunas strive to welcome guests of the International Hanseatic days fully dressed.

International Press Club „Hansa Media“

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0300

The international press club „Hansa media" was founded in Welikij Nowgorod to promote cities of New International Hanseatic League. Kaunas is the only one Lithuanian city belongs to this union.

Kaunas Mayor's adviser on public relations Dainoras Lukas was elected to the board of the new organization and took a part at the International press club „Hansa media" founder's meeting.

„Kaunas, as well as dozens of other cities, supports the proposal of Welikij Nowgorod administration to establish such club. It is clear that in order to disseminate more information about the cities of the union more coordinated efforts are needed. The press club was established for this purpose and will join together the Municipalities's public relations staff and all journalists interested in activity of international union „New Hansa", - mentioned Dainoras Lukas.

The residence of the „New Hansa" in Luebeck (Germany) will be informed about the foundation of the press club. The Press center of Welikij Nowgorod administration will koordinate the activity of the press club.

An International Hanseatic days of 2009 were held in Welikij Nowgorod and received particularly good evaluations. „Hansa union movement is very popular in Russia. During the press club foundation meeting one of the leaders of Welikij Nowgorod even recognized half-jokingly that Russia would agree to pay substantial money to Kaunas if it agrees to transfer an international Hanseatic organizating rights to any other Russian city. But even now there is known which cities are going to hold these festivals untill 2033", - mentioned D. Lukas.

The International Hanseatic days in Kaunas will be held on May 19th - 22nd of 2011. Russian journalists were interested how is Kaunas preparing to this festival. They were particularly interested in the news that the guardian of the International Hanseatic days in Kaunas became President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite.

It is known that the group of culture managers from Russia will visit Kaunas on the Hanseatic days for the special monitoring of the festival organizing.

The New Hanseatic League was founded in 1980. It is an organization of cities, which are economically and politically active, seeking to collaborating and once belonged to the old Hanseatic League. It currently brings together 175 European cities from 15 countries. Kaunas is the only one Lithuanian city belong to the international union the New Hanseatic League.

Counsil secretariat information

The participants of International Hansa festival book Kaunas hotels in advance

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0300

Next year an International Hansa festival first will take place in Kaunas. This Monday, Kaunas Mayor Andrius Kupcinskas and his deputy Rimantas Mikaitis met Kaunas hotels owners to discuss the festival participants accommodation issues.

An International Hansa festival will be held on 19 - 22 May of 2011, during the traditional Kaunas city days. Every year, a member of Hansa cities union has been designated as the international center of Hansa days and it brings thousands of participants from the twin cities, wich present their local cultural, economical and social values.

Some cities delegations had already booked hotel rooms, but the most reservations hotels will receive from November.

„We hope that all delegations will book rooms in advance, but it is always a possibility that some of them will do it at the last minute. Our city shouldn't be expensive for festival participants, so it is very important that hotels would be well-meaning and wouldn't increase rooms prices", - mentioned Mayor A.Kupcinskas.

Tha head of Kaunas State Philharmonic Justinas Krepsta mentioned that International Hansa festival isn't an ordinary event, this festival is very important to it's artistic sense. „We strive to attract cultural groups to this festival as many as we can, so that the festival would be amazing for all. We all have to strive to make this celebration memorable", - said J. Krepsta.

The director of „Hanza Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumsas mentioned that usually feast participants come not only for festival. They stay more longer than three days to see the city and try some entertainment thus bring the financial benefits to the city's business industry.

New Hanseatic League was founded in 1980. It is an organization of cities, which are economically and politically active, seeking to collaborating and once belonged to the old Hanseatic League. It currently brings together 175 European cities from 15 countries. Kaunas is the only Lithuanian city belong to the international union the New Hanseatic League.

Published by Vilija Zukaityte.

International painters Plein Air

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0300

International painters Plein Air and open air exhibition “Santaka“

Kaunas city, as the organizer of the International Hanseatic days of 2011 , invites all Hansa cities to send their most prominent painters to the plein air wich will take place in Kaunas city from May 5th to May 22nd. The theme of the plein air will be “Santaka“, which means the Confluence of the two biggest Lithuanian rivers.

Painters will work and create outdoors in the Old Town, near the Kaunas castle. Two weeks after the beginning of plein air, the open air exhibition of works by the Hansa cities painters will be presented to the Hanseatic days audience.

Kaunas city will provide accommodation, catering and all the material for the delegated painters. The painters will be selected by the “HANSE ART“ group and a Commission appointed by Kaunas city. The artist`s works will remain in Kaunas as a memorial of the International Hanseatic days.

We invite all Hansa cities to register their proposed artists until December 31st of this year.

Requirements for the creative exhibits:

Artwork should reflect the Hansa Kaunas festival motto “Remember – Recover – Be Proud“.

The work should be consistent with the location and name of the exhibition “ Santaka“ (Confluence). Work process and the exhibition will take place near the XIV century Kaunas castle, which is on the confluence of Nemunas and Neris rivers.

Artwork should be created to withstand the natural elements.

Registration form

Hansa Town Festival 2009

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0300

It is already for the fifth time that Kaunas, the sole Hanseatic Town in Lithuania, romps around cheerfully. The festival is devoted to the millennium of the name of Lithuania this time. On the base of Vytautas Church in the quay of Nemunas beside the old wharf, from the very midday, knights and dames walk around, schools of courteous manners invite to learn, dancing lessons, knight tournaments, puppet-plays, concerts and traditional pig racing are organised. Here peas are steaming in huge pans and steaks are roasted on spits and beer is foaming up freely; charming witches with their brooms propped up prepare divers herbal infusions and weave magical spell. On the concrete downhill of the far bank of the river, the stripe of millennium woven from colourful square pieces of board catches one's fancy.

In the quay, various small houses, where craftspeople set out their wares, sprouted up like in a real town. Here one can get woodworking tools, earthen pots, mugs, souvenirs, metalwork; seldom can you see a genuine smith after all... Beekeepers ply with the golden honey, the handy women of the town cry advertising their knitting, rag dolls, baskets, fur and bouquets of dried flowers. And the natural autumn dahlias... so beautiful like a gorgeous carpet!

In the midtown, medieval gallows, an apparatus for execution stand prepared. I wonder whether the middle ages were notorious for crimes. Anyways, the town seems to be friendly now, nobody is calling for punishment so far, the townspeople walk around peacefully, trooped together or with the families, sup the beer, and the little ones ride the horses. Thus next to the gallows on the stage, music is played, knight tournaments take place and guest performances are given. As it is fitting for a reputable town, a chapel stands in an honourable place where a comely young sister keeps house thoroughly. The townspeople who have sinned more or less must be willing to confess their real or cock-and-bull sins at the end of the day...

The celebration goes on! I've also been there, drank beer and mead, the drinks ran over my beard. Remember to come round tomorrow! Guests are always welcome in the Hansa town!

You are welcome to view the gallery of the festival of the Hansa town.

Theatricalised Excursions arranged by “Our Odyssey”

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0300

1. The Old Town of Kaunas in the eyes of Klara
During the excursion, Klara, the daughter of the Kaunas marshal A. Masalskis, will conduct the townspeople to St. George Church where they will be able to hear stories about the builders of the church, the symbols in the interior and the hidden confessionals...
The townspeople will also be able to visit the inner courtyard of the monastery, to take a bricked up street in and have the opportunity to have a look at life of the young ordinands. The excursion will take place at 12 p.m. on August 22. Duration: 1 hour

2. The burgomaster's merits for Kaunas
Ona, the wife of the burgomaster of Kaunas, will tell the townspeople about the development of the town and about her husband the burgomaster's merits for the town. The visitors will also be able to hear about the Market square, the longest bridge in the world, Svirbigala and the great floods. The excursion will take place at 3 p.m. on August 22. Duration: 1 hour

3. The presidents and bohemia of the temporary capital
Adelė, a townswoman of the temporary capital, will speak about life of the presidents, bohemia and ethical and moral principles of the time. The excursion will take place at 11 a.m. on August 23. Duration: 1 hour

4. Notability of Kaunas
Marcelė, a sister of the well-known poet Maironis, will talk about her brother, friends and neighbours. You will learn the history of Kaunas Archcathedral Basilica, have an eyeful of the interior and visit the mausoleum of Maironis and the crypts. The excursion will take place at 2 p.m. on August 23. Duration: 1 hour

The price of one excursion is 15 litas per person. We offer a special ticket to you: 40 litas all four excursions in.
Registration Tel: 20 78 79, 8 698 03091, M.K.Čiurlionio 15, Kaunas. Information: www.musuodiseja.lt , www.travelmedus.lt

General Voluntary Meeting

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0300

04-08-2009 at 6 P.M. in the old Nemunas wharf, a general voluntary meeting will be held. Everyone is welcome to participate.

Marketing in Hansa Town Festival 2009

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0300

Please, refer to these contacts for marketing in Hansa Town Festival 2009.
Daina Urbaitienė
Mob. tel. +37068455998
El.paštu daina.urbaitiene@hanzakaunas.lt

A new institution for organizing the XXXI-st International Hanseatic days in Kaunas

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0300

Kaunas has been entrusted with the organisation of the international Hansa festival and thus given the opportunity to become the capital of the Hansa towns in 2011. The local government is planning to establish a new public institution for organising the festival.

The establishment of such an institution was accepted by the board of the town of Kaunas. "Hansa Kaunas 2011" is expected to be competent in representing Kaunas properly, organising the events and coordinating its course, receiving foreign delegations properly and allowing presentations of the guests.

It is already several years that the public institution of "Hansa Kaunas 2011" organises Hanseatic Days.

Source of information for Kauno diena.

How is Kaunas going to surprise Europe in 2011?

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0300

Kaunas has already started preparing for the international Hanseatic Days that are going to take place in 2011. It is expected that approximately 250 thousand guests will visit the international festival and our town.

These are not made-up figures. "They are based on the experience of the festivals that have taken place in Tartu town in Estonia and in Veliky Novgorod, Russia", says Darius Rumšas, the director of the public institution "Hansa Kaunas 2011". This is the institution to get the heaviest workload of in organising the event.

Rumšas expects for help of the local government and the townspeople. "This is not only the deal of the town. We are going to seek to make the international event the deal of the state", says Rumšas.

In the great hall of the local government on July 3, the participants of the enlarged meeting of the work group gathered for the organisation and coordination of the festival "Hansa Kaunas 2011" shared their impressions and experience obtained this year in Hanseatic Days in Veliky Novgorod.

"Each delegation was conducted by two or three young volunteers who helped in organising the festival. It is very important for us to make certain of this as well". Though the director of the public institution "Hansa Kaunas 2011" imparts his apprehensions that they are not sure whether they will manage to gather the proper number of people. According to him, the festival is a perfect opportunity to present Kaunas as an inviting town that allows having great time. "Plenty of the participants and the visitors proves the undoubted benefit both to business and to the town", says Rumšas.

The meeting was also attended by the representatives of both the local government and business. It is great advantage that an increasing number of people learn about the event. We receive many opinions and also new suggestions that will help preparing for the festival are made", says the vice-mayor Rimantas Mikaitis, the conductor of the work group.

Currently, a preliminary map of the events and a provisional plan is prepared. Regulative works on the exact places and implementation of particular projects are going to start in autumn.

This autumn, in a conference that is going to be held in Piarnu, Estonia, Kaunas will be to present the process of preparations for the event. The thirtieth international Hanseatic Days are planned in Piarnu in 2010. It is there that Kaunas will be given over the flag of the modern Hansa union that will flutter at home in 2011.

Kaunas is the sole city in Lithuania that can be proud of being the member of the well-known union of Hansa towns. The organisation prospered already in the middle ages and now it unites 167 towns of fifteen countries. The representatives gather together in one of the towns every year. The schedule of the event is drawn up for the period until 2036.

The information source: Kauno diena.

Will the medieval spirit be felt in the air?

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0200

Clanger of the sward of the medieval knights, the garden of witches, numbers of tradesmen, performances of musicians and artists and thousands of guests - this is the picture drawn by the organisers of the international Hanseatic Days to take place after a couple of years.

Regard of the government needed

"The worst thing is that the government are unconscious of the dimension and the importance of the event", admits Andrius Žiurauskas, one of the organisers and directors of the festival. He fears whether they will have managed to prepare for the festival properly by 2011.

A special work group formed by the local government have discussed the conception of the event and analysed the experience of other cities. The group reckoned up the approximate funds required and evaluated the benefit that the event may bring to Kaunas. The public institution "Hansa Kaunas 2011", who organise the festival, introduced the location of the events to take place on May 19-21, 2011.

The organisation prospered already in the middle ages and now it unites 167 towns of fifteen countries. The representatives gather together in one of the town every year. In 1995, Kaunas was granted the right to organise the international festival of the union of the Hansa towns in 2011.

In 2005, the international Hanseatic Days took place in a Kaunas' twin town Tartu, Estonia. Referring to the experience of Estonians, the organisers are expecting the representatives of more than a hundred towns of the Hansa union and about 250 thousand other guests to come. According to the preliminary calculations, the international event will cost approximately 1.7 million litas. The organisers have no doubt though that Kaunas will also make great profit of it.

"Only after a visit to such a festival in another country do our politicians realise that the event is not only important to the city but to the country as well. Thus attention and mutual understanding are the things that we are really lacking so far", admits Žiurauskas.

Appreciates other experiences

"In such festivals, the medieval spirit is felt in the air. The effect is incomparable", says the town councillor Justinas Krėpšta, who participated in the international Hansa festivals in Sweden and Estonia. The councillor hopes that the event to take place in Kaunas after two years will put the city on the map.

It is for three years running that the Hanseatic Days have taken place in Kaunas. There is a certain input and experience to base on. Thus we are on the right course", assures Krėpšta. He says he has no doubt that Kaunas is also able to organise an attractive feast for people and the Meddle Ages is a splendid idea for the theme.

At the beginning of June, the Hanseatic Days are organised in Veliky Novgorod, Russia. Several politicians of the city, representatives of the local government administration and the organisers of the event in 2011 are going to come to the festival. "When they return they share their experiences and we hope that this will encourage our government to attend to the organisation of the festival", says Žiurauskas.

Interested not only in the festival

Kaunas must present itself to the guest of the festival as an attractive city where one can have a pleasant time. According to the director of "Hansa Kaunas 2011" Darius Rumšas, the first task to get on with is to prepare the sites for the festival.

"Almost all the events will take place in the Old Town. Some of the building here not only look glumly but they also endanger people. As the motto of the festival is "Retrace, revive, be proud" thus the foreign guests of Kaunas may wonder why we do not renew the buildings", observes Žiurauskas.

The endless litigation for the former Jewish hospital in A. Jakšto Street fend the town off from restoring the collapsing building that spoils the view of the city. In Muziejus street, the organisers would like to open the vegetable market but what occupy the place there is burnt storehouses.

We are worried about the building on the corner of Muitinės street and Aleksoto Street handed over to the Lithuanian Academy of Fine Arts. The corner of the derelict building overlooks the Town Hall Square which will be the centre of the festival events. It is the place where the pavilions of other Hanseatic Towns are planned to be located. In the very hall, the 24-hour informational centre of the festival is going to be established.

There is no definite plan how the renovations are going to be carried out so far. "If the reconstructions of the Kaunas castle were performed during the festival we will lose much", warns Rumšas.

The local government is not able to tell whether the problems will be tackled before the international Hanseatic Days yet. If the litigation for the Jewish hospital persists the building may collapse before the decision is made. We cannot do anything now", observes the vice-mayor Rimantas Mikaitis, the head of the work group. He engaged to see the reconstruction works done on time.

Next year, the approaches to the castle and the paths of Confluence Park are planned to be lightened by the funds of the regional dimension of the European Union. Unfortunately, there is little hope that the building belonging to the Academy of Fine Arts will receive the town guests looking better than now.

"If the town decides to organise a festival everyone must help creating it: from the journalist to the sweeper. However, it seems now that the festival is only the concern of the organisers", maintains Žiurauskas.

The information source Kauno diena.

Kaunas becomes the capital of merchants

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0300

The local government has already started preparing for the international Hanseatic Days to take place after three years.

Darius Rumšas, the organiser of Kaunas Hanseatic Days, notices that such a grandiose festival requires starting to prepare for it immediately, and adds that in 2010, the council of the Hanseatic Towns' Union will converge in Kaunas for a conference. What we will have to do is report the final programme of the festival of the year 2011.

It was already in 1992 that Kaunas presented its proposal to organise the Hanseatic Days that traditionally take place in a different town of the union every year.

"The Hanseatic Days usually gather up to eight thousand representatives of about 120 towns. It is not necessarily the middle ages that the events may carry back to. Last year, for instance, there was an economical forum held and the youth Hanseatic Days organised in the German city Lippstadt", related Rumšas.

A former Kaunas town councillor Justinas Krėpšta, who has participated in Hanseatic festivals, says that the budget devoted to the Hansa festival by other towns is approximately 1.5 million litas. Thus, according to him, it is time to start searching for the sponsors and thinking of guest accommodation.

The organisers hope that they will also manage to raise such an amount of money. Therefore, they are planning to open a special Internet site for the Hansa festival.

Yesterday, at the meeting with the mayor Andrius Kupčinskas, it was decided to gather a special work group and to establish a special public institution for the Hansa festival.

The mayor maintais that, as in 2011 the European Basketball Championship will take place in autumn, the town will gain considerable advantage from organising the Hanseatic Days earlier joining the the festival and the Days of Kaunas City in May. In this way, the championaship and the latter festivals will not have to compete with each other.

Several hundred years ago, Kaunas was a city where rulers and merchants from Western Europe used to make a stop. In 1441-1532, the office of the Hanseatic merchants was operated here.

From the office, wood, grain and wax were exported to Western Europe and a shipyard was open in Aleksotas. Kaunas is, and always have been, the sole town in the country that belongs to the Hanseatic Union.

The information source Kauno diena.

"Kaunas Hansa 2008": Surrender the Middle Ages!

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0300

Saturday and Sunday are the days when the medieval spirit will be felt in the air in the Old Town of Kaunas. The townspeople are welcome to join - dress up in ancient clothes, frame up, charge and punish, taste exotic food and drinks, make pots of clay, learn the old good manners and learn Latin.

Blood, knights and pigs

It is already for the fourth time that the Hanseatic Days will remind us the times when our town was a member of an influential merchant union and when it experienced the time of the greatest prosperity. The festival will be concentrated in four places of the Old Town: in the Hall Square, in the quay of Nemunas, in the square in front of Vytautas Church and in Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty of Humanities.

The old Hanseatic Town will be built next to Vytautas Church in the quay of Nemunas: the church, the knight area, craft yard, medieval playground. In the midtown, medieval gallows, an apparatus for execution, where every sinner will get his or her retribution, will be standing prepared.

Žiurauskas shortly introduced the programme of the festival as follows: "There is going to be much blood as townspeople has demanded it at all times. We will again be decapitating, chopping hands, burning and hanging. In the tournaments, the knights will demonstrate their strength, marksmanship and dexterity and the medieval puppet-plays, dance and music concerts, fire-shows and stuntmen performances will amaze the townspeople and the guests".

Piglets will be watching for their running start of the traditional medieval race, a restaurant of the authentic medieval food only made on fire and eaten without cutlery will be open. The cheerful monks of "The Hospice" will urge that one involve himself in gaieties and taste all the hard drinks brewed by them. The dispensary of the magic elixirs will also invite to come over. Here one will able to try healing drinks of various consistencies.

The illiterate to be birched

The "staff" priest of the improvised church will sell indulgences, i. e. the writing of remission of sins, and relics - bones and sculls of "the saints" and the "saint" nails. Pressed by armour weighing several ten kilos, the knights will fight in tournaments with the armament forged by them.

The garden of witches will wile mysteriously and the stakes of torture will rise up. "Last year everyone enjoyed sitting on the stakes. This year we inflamed the conditions - the stakes are going to be tapered and I can assure that sitting on them is not going to be comfortable. This experience will remind one of a historical punishment rather than of entertainment", as the director of the festival maintains.

In the quay of Nemunas, the medieval puppet-play "The Professor's New Adventures" will be staged. Here the erotic and marauding Punch's adventures will be continued.

In the Old Town, the medieval games will be organised and schools of good manners will invite to learn. Here the old teaching methods will be applied and thus the rod will help to transfer knowledge to the head. In this school both children and grown-ups will be able to learn and those through with the course will get certificates.

Foul-mouthed wretches and tattlers not tolerated

The opening celebratory walking, which will unite politicians dressed up in medieval clothes, business people, representatives of the academic world, actors and townspeople, will turn off the Town Hall to the mart.

The mart will be located next to Vytautas Church. It is not mere traders that will offer the freshest yield here, but it is the farmers themselves. "The farmers now will aim at having a good time rather than selling much", says Žiurauskas. At the beginning of the festival, the mayor will set the market balance.

Everyone here will have the opportunity to pillory a person at fault and to whip out his or her opinion of any issue. "You will be able to speak his piece on the government, police, the organisers of the festival and the neighbours. We will not only tolerate the foul-mouthed and gabblers", quips Žiurauskas. Besides, the folk music will be played in the festival as well.

University and Church join

"Accompanied by the medieval music, elegies, epitaphs, epigrams and panegyrics will run. At the university chamber, trials will be held and the townspeople will become "suolininkai", i.e. the equivalent of the present-day jury, and will help the judge to make decisions", as Anna Dorothy Vessel, the widow of a rich Kaunas merchant Hanus Naugard, nowadays introducing herself as Rima Kubiliūtė, the representative of VU KFH, relates it.

Registration for the excursion will be carried out in the quay of Nemunas by the gate of the Medieval Town. The festival of this year has also incorporated Church; during the Hanseatic Days, the 600th anniversary of the first parish in Kaunas will be commemorated. For this reason, in Kaunas Archchathedral Basilica the congregation will celebrate Mass. The clergy is also going to paticipate in the walking of the festival participants. Žiurauskas observes that the town celebrations never did without Church. The celebrations were arranged by the guild of trade people and the clergy together with the local government were used to running the whole show. Sunday evening is the time when the festival will be crowned by a spectacular show of lights and fireworks over the Town Hall, the building of which will then be illuminated.

Appeal to authenticity

"What we are distinguished for among other events is authenticity as we refer to history in organising the festival. We do not need to think of what to show in the festival. Everything is written in the chronicle of Kaunas, i.e. the way people lived and the way they celebrated; what you have to do is read and revive. This is what we have done by the instrumentality of historians", says Žiurauskas.

In the 15th century, the first office of the Hanseatic Guild in Lithuania was found. In spring, when the water of Nemunas flooded, the European merchants used to came to Kaunas and thus the marketing started. The town came alive and all the summer people could get goods brought from far countries.

The town had a "three-day stowage rule" in force; according to it, the merchants had to unload the goods from the ship and market them in Kaunas for three days. The merchandise was carried from the wharf to the market located in the Hall and to the store through the tunnels. Actually, VU KFH is directly related to the historical Hansa as a part of the faculty is established in a 16th century house that belonged to the German merchant Naugard; the substructure of the old Kaunas customs office remains in the university Sundial yard.

Preparing for international festival

In 2011, the international festival of the Hanseatic Union, which joins 163 European cities, will be organised in Kaunas. It is then that up to five thousand participators from the whole Europe will gather together; the representatives of the old crafts, singers and dancers will come here. According to Žiurauskas, the Middle Ages is the time of Hansa's greatest prosperity and it is the theme applied to third of all the international Hanseatic events. All that remains is what the city is interested in today. For instance, the city's achievements are subjected originally, artists of different spheres are introduced and concerts of the present-day music are arranged.

What Žiurauskas calls the most impressive passage of the international Hansa events is the festival organised in Tartu, Estonia, some years ago. The town then funded a part of it and several thousand students of Tartu University were dressed up in medieval clothes. This year, the Estonian representatives came to the international Hanseatic Festival organised in Salzwedel, Germany, and brought a huge colourful laboratory of ancient compounds and mixtures with them.

The director states that every year till the festival of the 2011th is like a repetition for them. They hope that until then all the universities in Kaunas and great part of the townspeople will join in the festival. Furthermore, he expects that there will be no spectators left and only the participators will remain.

The map of the events

1. The Town Hall - the centre of celebration. Here the opening is performed and after it the celebratory walking starts for the mart. When closing the festival, the Hall building is illuminated and the audience enjoys the spectacle of light and fireworks.
2. In the square in front of Vytautas church, the mart is located. In the ancient market, farmers sell the freshest yield. Here everyone has the opportunity to pillory a person at fault. A vat serves as the stage for "Vox populi", and for whipping out one's opinion of any issue. And also, the musicians are those who keep sunshine here.
3. In the medieval town, the yard of the ancient crafts and a stall of indulgences are open, perpetrators are punished publicly and stakes arise, pigs are racing and the garden of witches where the magic elixirs are sold invites one to come. And the knights fight armed authentically. The medieval puppet-plays are staged and the school of good manners is found.
4. Visiting the German and Latin square (Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty of Humanities, Muitinės st. 8), one can have a view of the cellars of the old town. Here a trial of the 16th century is being held and Latin is taught theatrically. Accompanied by the baroque music, the ancient poetry - elegies, epitaphs, epigrams and panegyrics - will be read ardently.

The information source Kauno diena.

Hanseatic Towns’ Union revives in international festivals

Sun, 24 Jul 2005 00:00:00 +0300

Kaunas turning to a medieval town may become a new original attraction for tourists.

In 2011, the international festival of the Hanseatic Towns' Union will be organised in Kaunas. However, the town councillor Justinas Krėpšta, who took part in the council-board of the Hanseatic Towns' Union in Osnabruke, Germany, last week, is convinced that the festival requires starting to prepare for it immediately.

Each year in a different town

Krėpšta says notes that the international festival organised in a different town each year is the second most important European cultural programme after the European cultural capital. The festival promotes tourism and popularises the new routes of the cultural tourism. What is more, as soon as the influential councils of the Hanseatic Towns' Union, which at the moment unites 156 member-cities, approves of the cultural project, the European funds are practically guaranteed.

Since Kaunas reactivated its membership of the Union's council two years ago, it was entrusted to organise the Hanseatic Days in 2011. The fact that at the moment the council is selecting the candidates for organising the festival of the 2030s proves the festival to be grandiose and of high-budget. Krėpšta together with other councillors of the Hanseatic Union debriefed the representative of Tartu city. Krėpšta concludes that the budget for the festival makes 1.5 million litas and representatives of 70 towns participating together with the cultural entertainments and cultural inheritance.

Prosperous medieval towns united

The Baltic Sea consolidated the coasts and united people living there for centuries. In former times, the routes of Slav trade people, Vikings and pirates used to cross here. The Baltic States not only developed by exchanging goods but also by sharing cultural values.

Hansa is a commercial-political union of North German, Prussia and Livonia of the 13th -17th centuries. Hansa influenced the Baltic region hundreds of years in the Middle Ages. In the 15th century, the union comprised 160 towns in 10 countries. Kaunas is the sole city in Lithuania that can be proud of being the member of the well-known union of Hansa towns.

Though Krėpšta believes that the Hanseatic Days to be organised in 2011 is a perfect chance to attract tourists and promote the country to European extent, still it is not enough to write an impressive scenario with an eye to fascinate foreigners. It is also important to float the Hanseatic idea among the townspeople.

Spectacle to be staged on the water

This year is the first time that the medieval festival "Hansa Kaunas 2005" was organised in the town. The event is special for reminding of the glorious days of the medieval Kaunas. The organisers' company "Pramogos Jums" seized the opportunity of the repair of Aleksotas Bridge by offering attractions along the section of Karaliaus Mindaugo Avenue. Unfortunately, this year the festival revealed that the townspeople have too little knowledge of the Hansa Union and its relation to Kaunas.
The company "Pramogos Jums" is determined to fill the informational gap. It is planned to organise the second festival that is going to be of greater dimensions. According to Darius Rumšas, the director of the company "Pramogos Jums", the event should take place in Nemunas Quay beside Vytautas Church. Here the medieval town with craft yards will spring up, the townspeolpe will be offered ancient entertainment and attractions. The purpose-made spectacle staged on the water will crown the festival; the scenario of the spectacle is known already, i.e. pirates attack a trading ship. In the evening, the section of Nemunas along the whole Old Town will be illuminated by the fire show.

The information source Kauno diena.