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🏗️ Unique ArchitectureKaunasEasy access
Zapyškis Gothic Church
Kaunas district, Kaunas30-60 minutesBest: March-April for flood photography; summer for interior
A hauntingly beautiful 15th-century Gothic church on the banks of the Nemunas River that regularly floods, creating extraordinary images of a medieval church standing in water.
The Church of St. John the Baptist in Zapyškis is one of Lithuania's most photographed buildings — not for its architecture alone, but for the extraordinary sight it creates during spring floods when the Nemunas River rises and the church appears to stand in a lake.
Built in 1578 in late Gothic style, the red-brick church is one of the oldest in the Kaunas region. Its location on the Nemunas floodplain means it regularly experiences flooding, and the images of the medieval church reflected in floodwaters have made it famous across Lithuania and beyond.
Why Visit
One of Lithuania's most photogenic buildings — especially during spring floods when this medieval church appears to float on water.
History
Built in 1578. One of the oldest Gothic churches in the Kaunas region. The flooding has occurred for centuries without destroying the building.
Address
Zapyškis, Kaunas district
54.8500, 23.5833
Visitor Tips
- 1Spring floods (March-April) create the most dramatic images
- 2The church interior is worth seeing when accessible
- 3Drive from Kaunas along the Nemunas
- 4Check water levels before visiting for flood photos
