Kaunas reveals Lithuania’s modernist heritage amid rivers and forest

The modernist architecture of Kaunas, in central Lithuania, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. The city is located at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers, and its heritage is closely tied to the surrounding river landscapes. These waterways, together with the broad Kaunas Reservoir, form green-blue corridors which support riparian woodland, wintering waterbirds, and fish habitats, while also helping to cool the city and reduce peak flows.

This natural-colour image of Kaunas, acquired on 5 May 2026 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows the dark, winding channels of the Nemunas and Neris rivers crossing the city before expanding into the deep blue waters of the Kaunas Reservoir to the east. Dense forests appear in dark green, while cultivated fields and suburban districts create a patchwork of lighter green and beige tones across the surrounding landscape.

Copernicus data help monitor urban change and land cover around heritage areas, supporting cultural preservation alongside flood- and water-management planning. The Copernicus World Heritage Hub is a centralised platform which provides access to Copernicus data and information relevant to cultural and natural heritage.