Norviliskes Castle

Norviliškės, Lithuania

Norviliškės Castle (a former monastery, also called Norviliškės Manor) is a Renaissance style castle. It was first mentioned in 1586. In 1617 the owners donated part of the real estate land to Franciscans. Around 1745 they built a monastery and a church in Renaissance style. The monastery was reconstructed at the end of the 18th century by Kazimieras Kaminskis. After the November Uprising of 1831, Russian authorities closed the monastery and turned it into barracks for soldiers, and later to a boarding school for girls. The Church of St. Mary Compassionate Mother was closed at the same time as the monastery. A new wooden church was built in 1929.

For a long time the former manor stood abandoned. In 2005, reconstruction was started by an entrepreneur, Giedrius Klimkevičius, from Vilnius. The project is supported by funds from the PHARE program. The hopes are that the Norviliškės Castle will become a tourist attraction. It offers hosting for business conferences or weddings, hunting, shooting practices, and other activities, including music festivals.

References:

Comments

Your name

Website (optional)


Address

3915, Norviliškės, Lithuania
See all sites in Norviliškės

Details

Founded: 1586
Category: Castles and fortifications in Lithuania

More Information

www.norviliskiu-pilis.lt
en.wikipedia.org
www.visitlithuania.net

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Vilnius Cathedral (59,3 km)
Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (59,3 km)
St. John's Church (59 km)
Gediminas' Tower (59,3 km)
Vilnius University (59 km)
National Museum of Lithuania (59,4 km)
Vilnius Town Hall (58,6 km)
St. Anne's Church (58,9 km)
St. Casimir's Church (58,5 km)

User Reviews

Dalia Balionyte (2 years ago)
Nice people, cosy
atiliuke (2 years ago)
I really advise to experience a medieval dinner here on Sundays. Very interesting and the time really well spent. Also the nature is so nice and peaceful.
Danielius Bolotinas (2 years ago)
Norviliškės Castle is a Renaissance castle in Norviliškės, Lithuania. It is located in the appendix of Lithuania, near the border with Belarus. Absolutely necessary to have your passport or ID card. It is one of several castles that can accommodate you through the night as it functions as a guest house too. Near the castle you will find old orthodox church and cemetery. Actually not much to do around there but surroundings are peaceful and beautiful.
Jurgis Bee (2 years ago)
Nice old castle with history almost 50m from Belarus border.
Evaldas Borcovas (2 years ago)
Norveliskiu castle is one of the oldest castles in Lithuania. It is unique by its architecture. Also the location is really interesting. It Is at the border of Belarus. There is also a nice old church next to it. Which is fully functional. The best view for the castle is looking from far away. This way you can see the full beauty. Although it is not too big but it worth to visit at least ones if you are planing to visit this region.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2020 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.