Drama Over Žaliakalnis Funicular: Politicians Urge Preservation

Politicians are calling on Lithuania's Culture Ministry to actively engage in preserving the historic Žaliakalnis funicular in Kaunas, expressing concern that the municipality is failing to provide concrete solutions for its future. The opposition leader in the Kaunas City Council, Paulius Lukševičius, stated that without municipal leadership, national government involvement is crucial.

"Unfortunately, today we see that the Kaunas municipality is not taking the lead and is not offering real solutions regarding the future of the Žaliakalnis funicular. Therefore, we are appealing to the Ministry of Culture, hoping for active involvement in preserving this unique object. We cannot allow one of Kaunas' most prominent symbols to be left to decay," Lukševičius said in a statement.

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Unfortunately, today we see that the Kaunas municipality is not taking the lead and is not offering real solutions regarding the future of the Žaliakalnis funicular. Therefore, we are appealing to the Ministry of Culture, hoping for active involvement in preserving this unique object. We cannot allow one of Kaunas' most prominent symbols to be left to decay.

The Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) faction on the Kaunas City Council emphasized that the current situation highlights the increasing difficulty of maintaining such a significant cultural heritage site solely through private business efforts. According to faction representatives, the funicular has been out of service since May 2025, and there is still no clear action plan for its future.

Consequently, the politicians are requesting the Ministry of Culture to assess the possibility of taking over the object for public needs or initiating other solutions that would ensure the funicular's preservation, maintenance, and restoration of operation. "The Žaliakalnis funicular is one of Kaunas' most unique symbols, possessing immense potential to enhance the city's distinctiveness and tourist appeal. Properly utilized, this object could become an important representative site for Kaunas, attracting both city residents and visitors from Lithuania and abroad. This requires political will and a clear action plan," noted Martynas Prievelis, the elder of the TS-LKD faction.

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The Žaliakalnis funicular is one of Kaunas' most unique symbols, possessing immense potential to enhance the city's distinctiveness and tourist appeal. Properly utilized, this object could become an important representative site for Kaunas, attracting both city residents and visitors from Lithuania and abroad. This requires political will and a clear action plan.