Kaunas Mosque

Kaunas Mosque

Kaunas Mosque or Vytautas the Great Mosque (Lithuanian: Vytauto Didžiojo Mečetė) is one of four remaining mosques in Lithuania. It is located in Centras eldership, Kaunas. It is the only brick mosque in Lithuania.

A wooden Kaunas Mosque was first built in 1860. It was replaced by a brick mosque in 1930 with the aid of the state of Lithuania. Kaunas Mosque was rebuilt in commemoration of the 500th death anniversary of Vytautas the Great, the Grand Duke of Lithuania who is credited for settling Lipka Tatars in Lithuania.[1]

The mosque was designed by architects Vaclovas Michnevičius and Adolfas Netyksas, who followed the style of mosques in northern Africa. During the Soviet times, the building was used for a circus. There were plans to establish a museum of Islamic art. In 1989, Kaunas Mosque was returned to the faithful.[2] In 1991 the first worship was held.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Islamas Lietuvoje" (in Lithuanian). 2008-01-23. Archived from the original on 2010-09-22. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  2. ↑ "Lithuania: Tatar Muslims face new immigrants". Retrieved 2010-06-15.
  3. ↑ (in Lithuanian) "Skrynia; Lietuvos totoriai po II pasaulinio karo". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-06-15.

Coordinates: 54°53′39″N 23°55′41″E / 54.89417°N 23.92806°E / 54.89417; 23.92806

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