MOST BEAUTIFUL CASTLES IN LITHUANIA
Biržai castle
Biržai Castle, Biržai Fortress - Biržai Castle on the southern shore of Lake Sirvena. In the castle there is Biržai region museum „Sėla“ and library. The castle is a bastion-type fortress, best preserved in north-eastern Europe and the only one in Lithuania. Renaissance bastion castle, historical and architectural monument. The inside of the castle was accessed by a curved bridge through a two-story brick gate building to the eastern embankment. By 1589 In the yard were built brick three-storey castle palace, arsenal, stables, food warehouses, other buildings.
Adress: J.Radvilos g. 3, Biržai
Kaunas castle
The castle at the confluence of the Nemunas and the Neris was built in the 14th century to repel the Crusader attacks. It is not only the oldest stone castle in Lithuania, but also the only one with two rows of defensive walls. Around this Gothic defensive structure was a settlement which grew into the present city. The castle, which, according to legend, was quartered under the army of Queen Bona Sforca, was first mentioned in written sources as far back as 1361. The castle was rebuilt several times and lost its significance in 1408, when Kaunas was granted the rights of Magdeburg, and after all the life of the town moved to the then Market Square (Town Hall). 16th century There was a prison in the castle, where the souls of the prisoners, who have not found peace until now, search at night in Kaunas castle. Currently, the castle has a department of Kaunas City Museum, and cultural events of the city take place every year.
Adress: Pilies g. 17, Kaunas
Medininkai castle
Medininkai Castle consists of 4 towers, 1.8-1.9 m thick and up to 15 m high walls and defensive ditches. The main tower of donjon is about 30 m high. It is believed that the fortress was built in the 14th century. In the first half of the 19th century under the rule of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas (1316-1341). The castle was one of the points defending the Lithuanian state with the capital Vilnius against the aggression of the Crusaders and Livonian orders, the possible attack from the east.
Adress: Šv. Kazimiero g. 2, LT-13192 Medininkų k., Vilniaus r.
Panemunės castle
The settlements near the Nemunas River have been inhabited by Baltic tribes since ancient times: the Suduvians and the Yotvingians, the Scalvians and the Aukštaitija, the Samogitians and the Curonians. Later, during the battles with the Crusaders, the banks of the river became very important for the emerging Lithuanian state - the united system of defensive castles stopped the attacks of the German Order and prevented easy penetration into the depths of the land. It is believed that in the territory of Panemunė castle there could have been the estate of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytenis, where this famous Lithuanian ruler was buried. According to legend, Vytenis was killed in 1315 while attacking Christmemel's Crusader Castle, which was in the vicinity of what is now Skirsnemune.
Adress: Jurbarko region, Pilies I kaimas, Vytėnų g. 53, LT- 74464
Raudondvaris castle (mansion)
Raudondvaris Castle Manor is a monument of Lithuanian Renaissance architecture of the beginning of the 17th century. The estate is located on the upper terrace of the right bank of the Nevėžis, near the confluence of the Nevėžis and Nemunas, 9 km from Kaunas in the direction of Jurbarkas. The main building of the Raudondvaris ensemble is the 17th century second half of the castle palace with tower. The palace, together with the two official buildings, the conservatory, the stables and the ice house, are located on the territory of 3.8 hectares of the park.
Adress: Pilies takas 1, Raudondvaris 54127
Raudonė castle
Raudone Castle is a residence castle in Raudone, on the right bank of the Nemunas in Jurbarkas district.Raudone Elementary School is now open in the castle. Tourists are allowed to enter the castle tower (33.5 m high).
Adress: Pilies g. 1, Raudonė 74456
Trakai castle
Trakai Island Castle is a Gothic castle in Trakai, on Galvė Lake Castle Island with a pedestrian bridge. Built on the initiative of dukes Kęstutis and Vytautas in the second half of the 14th century and in the first decade of the 15th century.
It was built as a fortress to defend itself from enemies and was never captured by attackers. According to legend, Trakai Island Castle was born on the whim of a woman. Birute, the wife of Duke Kęstutis, did not like living in Old Trakai because there was not enough water nearby, as was usual in her native Palanga. Therefore, Kęstutis wanted to please his wife about the 14th century. In the middle of the 19th century, he began to build a new castle on a peninsula surrounded by lakes in 16th century. The castle was transformed into a "noble prison", where noble prisoners of war were imprisoned.
Adress: Karaimų g. 43 C, Trakai
Vilnius Castle
According to historians and archaeologists, the Vilnius upper castle may have been built in the 13th century. in the late 14th century. in the beginning. Ghillebert de Lannoy, a French diplomat who visited Lithuania in 1413–1414, described Vilnius at the time: “The castle stood on a sandy hill, was wooden, brick, stone and earth. The castle and its other wooden buildings are fenced, but the city of Vilnius itself is open - it has no defensive walls. ”
Adress: Arsenalo g. 5, Vilnius
