The seventh in a series of 12 forts built between 1882 and the First World War to protect what was at the time part of Russia from an invasion from the west, the Seventh Fort, which was completed in 1902, forms part of the largest surviving fortress complex built during the days of the Russian Empire. Fairly well preserved due in part to the fact that, unlike the First, Second and Third Forts, it never saw action, the fort served as a storage space for the Central State Archive during the period that Kaunas served as the country’s capital before entering its darkest period when, on July 6, 1941, Lithuanian auxiliary police units acting under the direction of the SS murdered some 3,000 Jews at the site. After the war the fort fell into a state of serious disrepair before being privatised in 2009 and opened to the public two years later. There’s still a lot of work to be done, with restoration work so far accomplishing a few goals such as the repair of the barracks and dining room where tsarist-era propaganda can be seen painted on the walls and where a museum is starting to take shape. Tours of the site are available for those who want to learn more. At the time of our visit, signs pointing to the museum were still waiting to be installed, although we're reliably informed that they should be up by the time we go to press. If not, the main entrance can be found at the northern end of Archyvo.