In the very centre of Kaunas, a small but very important piece of the history hides near the Kaunas State Musical Theatre. What’s left of the city’s defensive fortifications are the remains of the Malūnininko (Miller) Tower and Kaunas city wall.
These objects probably date back to the period between 1660 and 1688, although there are other theories. It’s also known that this was already the third defensive wall. The first one likely followed the current streets of M. Valančiaus and Aleksoto, and the second one surrounded the city that was already slightly bigger at the time. Historians claim to have found traces of the defensive wall at the corner of A. Mapu and Vilniaus streets. They mention it going near Saint Nicholas’ Church. But let’s return to the third one that can still be seen today.
A round two-story tower, made of red bricks, is probably one of two objects of its type in the perimeter of the wall. The second one, which was closer to today’s Laisvės Alėja (Liberty Avenue), was demolished in 1894.
Firearms were stored on the first floor of the Malūnininko Tower and 17 holes for shooting were built into the second floor. In the tower, that stood at nine metres high, there also was a third storage room between the floors.
