Žaliakalnis
Encyclopedia
Žaliakalnis is an elderate in Lithuania
's second largest city, Kaunas
. Žaliakalnis is located north of the old town and the downtown area, between the Neris
and Girstupis rivers. It is one of the largest residential areas in Kaunas, with a 2006 population of 38,480.
. Kaunas expanded rapidly, and the need for a comprehensive plan became evident by 1922. The Danish
engineer M. Frandsen was invited to devise this plan.
In Frandsen's plan, Žaliakalnis was to be an important part of Kaunas, where all the city's administrative functions would be located. This part of the concept was not fulfilled, although the neighbourhood quickly became very popular and many modern residences were built. In 1924-1925 alone, more than 300 plots were created and sold. In accordance with the plan, its streets were planted with different species of trees, and space was left for gardens. By 1940, the area was largely built up, and only a few plots remained vacant.
(Oak) Park, containing a stand of centuries-old oak trees. It is the largest stand of urban oaks within Europe, covering 63 hectare
s. A few sections of the park have been separated into Vytautas Park and Dainų slėnis. The only Zoo in Lithuania is located across the road from Ąžuolynas
. In the elderate there are still preserved a large number of functionalism
architecture predominant in the interbellum buildings.
Zaliakalnis was home for some well known Lithuanian writers and artists such as Balys Sruoga
, Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius
, Ieva Simonaityte
, Kazys Binkis
, Kipras Petrauskas, President Valdas Adamkus
grew up here.
Now Žaliakalnis is popular upper market residential area.
Žaliakalnis contains a number of sports facilities and educational institutions:
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
's second largest city, Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
. Žaliakalnis is located north of the old town and the downtown area, between the Neris
Neris
Neris is a river rising in Belarus, flowing through Vilnius and becoming a tributary of the Neman River at Kaunas...
and Girstupis rivers. It is one of the largest residential areas in Kaunas, with a 2006 population of 38,480.
History
Žaliakalnis became part of Kaunas in 1919, when the city became the temporary capital of LithuaniaTemporary capital of Lithuania
The temporary capital of Lithuania was the official designation of the city of Kaunas in Lithuania during the interwar period. It was in contrast to the declared capital in Vilnius , which was under Polish control from 1920 until 1939...
. Kaunas expanded rapidly, and the need for a comprehensive plan became evident by 1922. The Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
engineer M. Frandsen was invited to devise this plan.
In Frandsen's plan, Žaliakalnis was to be an important part of Kaunas, where all the city's administrative functions would be located. This part of the concept was not fulfilled, although the neighbourhood quickly became very popular and many modern residences were built. In 1924-1925 alone, more than 300 plots were created and sold. In accordance with the plan, its streets were planted with different species of trees, and space was left for gardens. By 1940, the area was largely built up, and only a few plots remained vacant.
Points of interest
Žaliakalnis is home to ĄžuolynasAžuolynas
Ąžuolynas is a public park in Lithuania's second largest city, Kaunas, in the Žaliakalnis neighbourhood. The park covers about 63 hectares and is the largest urban stand of mature oaks in Europe. Vydūnas Alley serves as the park's northern border. It is a popular recreational destination for the...
(Oak) Park, containing a stand of centuries-old oak trees. It is the largest stand of urban oaks within Europe, covering 63 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s. A few sections of the park have been separated into Vytautas Park and Dainų slėnis. The only Zoo in Lithuania is located across the road from Ąžuolynas
Ažuolynas
Ąžuolynas is a public park in Lithuania's second largest city, Kaunas, in the Žaliakalnis neighbourhood. The park covers about 63 hectares and is the largest urban stand of mature oaks in Europe. Vydūnas Alley serves as the park's northern border. It is a popular recreational destination for the...
. In the elderate there are still preserved a large number of functionalism
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
architecture predominant in the interbellum buildings.
Zaliakalnis was home for some well known Lithuanian writers and artists such as Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga
Balys Sruoga was a Lithuanian poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist.He contributed to cultural journals from his early youth...
, Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius
Vincas Kreve-Mickevicius
Vincas Mickevičius , better known by his pen name Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, was a Lithuanian writer, poet, novelist, playwright and philologist...
, Ieva Simonaityte
Ieva Simonaitytė
Ieva Simonaitytė or Ewa Simoneit was a Lithuanian writer. She represented the culture of Lithuania Minor and Klaipėda Region, territories of German East Prussia with large, but dwindling, Lithuanian population...
, Kazys Binkis
Kazys Binkis
Kazys Binkis was a Lithuanian poet, journalist, and playwright. He used the pseudonyms K.Alijošius, K. Papilietis, Kazys, Kazys Roviejietis, Nedarbininkas, Neklaipėdietis, Nelatvis, Nepartyvis, Ras Desta, Riza Chanas and others.-Biography:...
, Kipras Petrauskas, President Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus
Valdas Adamkus was President of Lithuania from 1998 to 2003 and again from 2004 to 2009.In Lithuania, the President's tenure lasts for five years; Adamkus' first term in office began on February 26, 1998 and ended on February 28, 2003, following his defeat by Rolandas Paksas in the next...
grew up here.
Now Žaliakalnis is popular upper market residential area.
Žaliakalnis contains a number of sports facilities and educational institutions:
- Kaunas University of TechnologyKaunas University of Technology- KTU :Kaunas University of Technology is one of the largest technical universities in the Baltic States.In Webometrics Ranking of World Universities 2010 KTU took the highest ratings among Lithuanian higher education institutions as having the web of best presence, visibility and accessibility...
campusCampusA campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings... - Lithuanian Academy of Physical EducationLithuanian Academy of Physical EducationThe Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education is the only state-supported institution of tertiary physical education in Kaunas, Lithuania. It has the university status. Since its establishment, the academy is headquartered in Žaliakalnis neighbourhood of Kaunas, in close proximity to the Kaunas...
- Kaunas Sports HallKaunas Sports HallKaunas Sports Hall , also known as the S. Darius and S. Girėnas Hall is the second largest arena of Kaunas, Lithuania. It is the first arena built in the residential Žaliakalnis neighbourhood of Kaunas specially for basketball in Europe and is referred to as a "Mecca of the Lithuanian basketball"....
- S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium
- National Football AcademyNational Football AcademyNacionalinė Futbolo Akademija , commonly referred to as NFA, is the national association football centre of Lithuania; only the best players from the country train there. Established in Kaunas in 2006 with help of UEFA, it has already produced some high class players...