Birzai Castle, Biržai, Lithuania

Biržai Castle is an earth bastion-type castle. The construction started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj 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.

The castle was reconstructed from ruins in the 1980s, in the Renaissance-Baroque style. The residential manor of the castle houses a library and a regional history museum 'Sėla' (literally Selonia), founded in 1928.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Lithuania

Address

Rotušės gatvė 2A, Biržai, Lithuania

See all sites in Biržai

Details

Founded: 1586-1589
Category: Castles and fortifications in Lithuania

More Information

www.birzumuziejus.lt
en.wikipedia.org
www.7seasons.eu
www.way2lithuania.com

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Aizkraukle Castle Ruins (51,7 km)
Skaistkalne Church (20,7 km)
Panevezys Cathedral (59 km)

User Reviews

Edith Talmon (2 months ago)
Awesome place, you can stil sense old history bits in the air... I visited library in the castle as well, really peaceful place.. Love it.

RK Geetha (6 months ago)
Did not visit the castle from inside but from out it looks splendid with a pleasant green garden and walkway. Have an ice-cream at the cart just outside. The ginger flavoured one is hot and nice. The black Berry one has lots of fruit in it. Loved it. The castle premises is surrounded by water bodies-lakes I think, again with lovely paths to walk on. Bucolic. A perfect picnic spot.

Marius Matonis (7 months ago)
Very nice place. You could walk around the castle and get amazing view over Birzai. The entrance still has old entrance and looking good. There was some construction work around area. We were in the evening, so the castle was closed but we will definitely go inside next time.

Simona Jareckaite (7 months ago)
Very pretty and loads of amazing views. A must if you visit the town. Being born in the town, I've always visited the Birzai castle for some walks and relaxation. Museum is amazing and they host a number of events. The beer tasting sessions are a must if you've never been before!

Justinas Lelys (8 months ago)
Very nice and calm place in a small town located in the north of Lithuania. Here you can take some authentic Lithuanian entertainment and taste home brewed beer. Its worth to mention that I had my wedding ceremony here in the balcony of the second floor.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Guido Rudolph

Historic Site of the week

Lübeck Cathedral

Lübeck Cathedral is a large brick-built Lutheran cathedral in Lübeck, Germany and part of the Lübeck UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1173 Henry the Lion founded the cathedral to serve the Diocese of Lübeck, after the transfer in 1160 of the bishop's seat from Oldenburg in Holstein under bishop Gerold. The then Romanesque cathedral was completed around 1230, but between 1266 and 1335 it was converted into a Gothic-style building with side-aisles raised to the same height as the main aisle.

On the night of Palm Sunday (28–29 March) 1942 a Royal Air Force bombing raid destroyed a fifth of the town centre. Several bombs fell in the area around the church, causing the eastern vault of the quire to collapse and destroying the altar which dated from 1696. A fire from the neighbouring cathedral museum spread to the truss of the cathedral, and around noon on Palm Sunday the towers collapsed. An Arp Schnitger organ was lost in the flames. Nevertheless, a relatively large portion of the internal fittings was saved, including the cross and almost all of the medieval polyptychs. In 1946 a further collapse, of the gable of the north transept, destroyed the vestibule almost completely.

Reconstruction of the cathedral took several decades, as greater priority was given to the rebuilding of the Marienkirche. Work was completed only in 1982.

The cathedral is unique in that at 105 m, it is shorter than the tallest church in the city. This is the consequence of a power struggle between the church and the guilds.

The 17 m crucifix is the work of the Lübeck artist Bernt Notke. It was commissioned by the bishop of Lübeck, Albert II. Krummendiek, and erected in 1477. The carvings which decorate the rood screen are also by Notke.

Since the war, the famous altar of Hans Memling has been in the medieval collection of the St. Annen Museum, but notable polyptychs remain in the cathedral.

In the funeral chapels of the southern aisle are Baroque-era memorials by the Flemish sculptor Thomas Quellinus.

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Birzai Castle