LITHUANIAN CASTLES

Most of Lithuania's early castles were wooden and have not survived. Those that remain are of stone and brick construction dating from the 13th century onwards.

Raudone castle

Until the 16th century Raudone was a royal manor. At the end of 16th century Crispin Kirsenstein, who was a son of a Prussian immigrant, built a Renaissance style castle here. Since C. Kirsenstein's grandson became the exchequer and secretary of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy and base himself in Raudone, the castle became prosperous. Later it was rebuilt, destroyed by fire and war. Nowadays a secondary school is established in the Raudone castle. The 35 m tower is open to visitors.

Panemune castle

The castle, built 1604 - 1610, was not primarily a defensive stronghold. The first owners of Panemune Castle was Hungarian nobles. A typical 17th century feudal castle had defensive tackle, living quarters and farm buildings. The castle stands in a park on a high hill and is girdled by five cascading ponds.

Biržai castle

Biržai Castle is a castle in Biržai, Lithuania. Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł. In 1575, preparing for this construction, a dam was built on the Agluona and Apaščia rivers at their confluence, and the artificial Lake Širvėna, covering about 40 km², was created. Major castle building works were finished in 1589. Since the second half of the 17th century, the castle has been the main seat of the Biržai-Dubingiai Radziwiłł family line, which was transferred here from the Dubingiai Castle. Biržai Castle served as a major defensive structure during the wars with Sweden.

Trakai castle

It is the only insular castle throughout Eastern Europe. It was built on one of the numerous islands in Lake Galvė. The castle was built as a defensive fortress. After the Battle of ?algiris/Gr?nwald the castle lost its defensive significance. It was turned into a ducal residence. Trakai Island Castle was the death-place of Grand Duke Vytautas. He died here on 27 October 1430. Later the castle served as a prison. In the XVII century the castle was desolated. Island castle is one of the most often visited historical-architectural monuments in Lithuania. It houses a historical museum which has been working here since 1962. National events, festivals and concerts take place here.

Gediminas castle

The old castle building was built of wood. Later, under the rule of the Duke of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Gediminas (1316-1341), was brick in with stones.The nowadays Gediminas Castle is the remnant of the brick castle built by Vytautas Magnum, the Duke of Lithuania (1392-1430). There are left more fragments of old castle, which are now restaurated according to numerous archeological researches on the Gediminas Hill.It is possible to get onto the top of the Gediminas Hill by foot or by modern lift, and visit Gediminas Castle from inside, where the exposition of archeologic findings is kept. From the top of the Castle, there is an observation ground, from where panorama of Vilnius Old Town opens for the spectators.Gediminas Castle is important state and historic symbol of Vilnius and Lithuania, it is depicted on national currency Litas, sang in folk songs and mentioned in numerous patriotic poems of many poets.

Kaunas castle

Kaunas castle is the oldest castle in Lithuania. It is situated at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers - the Nemunas and the Neris where the town was founded.
The castle was built in the middle of the 14th century. Until the beginning of the 15th Century, Kaunas Old Castle was an important resistance post against the attacks of the Teutonic Order. After the victory of joint Lithuanian-Polish forces in the Zalgiris (Grunwald) battle in 1410, during the reign of Vytautas the Great, the Grand Duke of Lithuania (1392-1430), the period of true prosperity started. At that time Lithuania had already acquired Christianity. Kaunas was given the Magdeburg rights and enjoyed the years of development in trade, crafts, culture, and extensive contacts with Western Europe.
Built in the 13th century, the castle was Lithuania?s first defensive bastion and the only double-walled castle in all of Lithuania. The surrounding walls were initially over 2m wide and 13m high. In 1362 however, after a three-week long siege, the crusaders destroyed it. By 1368 a second, stronger castle had been constructed. The castle originally had four towers, but over the centuries the river Neris has washed them away, forcing the northern walls to collapse.
The remains of the castle rebuilt by Vytautas in the beginning of the 15th century reached our times. However, only the third of the castle survived.