Ensemble Pažaislis Kaunas is located in the woods, on the picturesque banks of the Neman River. It is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture of mature Europe.

Pažaislis Monastery complex was built as a kamaldulov hermits established in 1667 the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Christopher Sigmund Patsem. Architects were D.B.Frediani, P.Putini and K.Putini. The church was consecrated in 1712 and named in honor of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Pažaislis ensemble clearly laid out on the principle of axial symmetry. Axis composition crosses the majestic arched gate to enter, alley, long one-story building Gostiny Dvor (forestoriuma) from the projection in the facade and the central two-story gate area, a courtyard, on the sides of which are two buildings the service destination, a temple with two buildings of monasteries, with galleries and closed courtyards, garden houses monks (eremitorium) and three-tier tower.

At the beginning of the XVIII century, during the Northern War, and in subsequent years (War of 1812) Pažaislis complex was almost destroyed. After the national uprising in Lithuania and Poland defeated in 1831, the monastery was closed kamaldulov, and all of its buildings and property were transferred to the monastery founded the Old Believers. At that time, the church was destroyed seven marble altars, statues destroyed partially or completely rewritten whitewashed frescos of the buildings have been converted.

The basis of the composition of the ensemble performs Pažaislis church with a width of 30 meters and height (without cross) 49 meters. This two-tower, hexagonal in terms of building, overlapping colorful hexagonal dome with a lantern. The interior of the church is characterized by originality and finish - exceptionally high artistic qualities.

The entrance area, the space of the church, the presbytery, covered with a hollow dome, and choir directed along the longitudinal axis, and four of the chapel, sacristy and the chapter hall arranged symmetrically on the sides. The feeling of elation and joy of creating accented verticality of the interior decoration, the marble wall decoration black and pink colors, numerous frescoes and stucco decorative stucco in the art and the harmonious combination of architectural elements. Particular attention should be paid reliefs by sculptor I.Merli and expressive murals Florentine painter K.M.A.Palloni "Death of St. Christopher," "Adoration of the Magi", "Dream Romuald", "Assumption of the Virgin Mary." From the frescoes and stucco stucco, executed in the arcade, and after 1831, so far little has been preserved.

In 1921, an abandoned monastery was handed over to Pažaislis Lithuanian authorities sisters Congregation named St. Casimir, who came from Chicago.

Pažaislis monastery was known not only Bogomolny Camaldolese way of life and its architecture, but also the image of the Blessed Mother of God and Child, painted by an unknown artist. This image is popularly called kamaldoliyskim way the Virgin Mary. In Soviet times, the image was transferred to the Basilica of Kaunas, and in 2000 he returned triumphantly in Pažaislis.

Now the monastery is restored. There live some nuns of the Congregation of St. Casimir name. At the same time it is possible to visit with a guided tour. Every year organizes Pažaislis Music Festival.

The extraordinary harmony and expressiveness of the composition of the ensemble of Pažaislis make it one of the peaks of the architectural era of mature baroque in Europe.