Tapiau

Tapiau is a small rural settlement located in the Kėdainiai district municipality within Kaunas County, Lithuania. Geographically it lies approximately 13 kilometres west of Kėdainiai and 70 kilometres east of the capital city Vilnius, positioned near the banks of the Nevėžis River. The village sits at an elevation of about 120 metres above sea level and is characterized by a mix of agricultural farmland and surrounding woodland.

Historically, Tapiau first appears in archival records from the mid‑16th century, during the period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was part of the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire. Throughout the 20th century, the village remained a modest agrarian community, gradually integrating into the Soviet administrative framework until the re‑establishment of Lithuanian independence in 1990.

The population of Tapiau has remained small; according to the 2011 Lithuanian census, the village was home to 58 residents. The local economy is dominated by small‑scale farming, with a focus on crop cultivation and livestock. Community life centers around a simple primary school that serves Tapiau and neighboring hamlets. A historic wooden church, built in the early 20th century, serves as the main cultural landmark of the village. The surrounding forested area provides a natural habitat for local wildlife and offers recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike.