Raudone Castle, Graužėnai, Lithuania

Raudonė Castle construction works started in late 16th century, during the reign of King Sigismund II August. A new renaissance castle was built on the ruins of the old one by a German knight, Hieronymus Krispin-Kirschenstein. The castle has since been rebuilt many times. The 18th century Polish owners of the Raudone estate, the family Olędzki (Olendzki) h. Rawicz commissioned Wawrzyniec Gucewicz with a renovation of the castle. The next owner, the Russian Prince Platon Zubov, acquired the estate in the first half of the 19th century and his family transformed the castle yet again. Their architect was Cesare Anichini.

Today the building is an example of 19th century neo-Gothic architecture. Its last private owners were Sophia Waxell (a Zubov) and her Portuguese husband from Madeira, José Carlos de Faria e Castro. The original castle is the setting of an East Prussian legend known as 'The White Maiden of the Bayersburg'.

References:

Wikipedia

Castles and fortifications in Lithuania

Address

1725, Graužėnai, Lithuania

See all sites in Graužėnai

Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Lithuania

More Information

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

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Panemune Castle (9,1 km)
Molavenai Hill Fort (42,2 km)

User Reviews

Ana Lu Novoa (15 months ago)
Beautiful historical site. Worth visiting

Edgaras Rolicius (15 months ago)
Actually this is show-off how much animals hunters were able to kill. All the castle rooms full of trophies of dead animals. Fangs, antlers, skulls. Very unpleasant experience.

Asta Bertašiūtė (15 months ago)
If will be around just visit worth your time

Aimar Jaakson (17 months ago)
Outside is castle nothing special. Red brick building. Inside is some exhibitions and main attraction is tower. From tower is beautiful view around area. Big river Nemunas is very close.

Deborah Kasuske (2 years ago)
The outside was impressive. Not much to see inside but the tower and view was interesting. For 1.50 € not bad.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright *Checco*

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Saint-Eustache

The Church of St Eustace was built between 1532-1632. St Eustace"s is considered a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. The church’s reputation was strong enough of the time for it to be chosen as the location for a young Louis XIV to receive communion. Mozart also chose the sanctuary as the location for his mother’s funeral. Among those baptised here as children were Richelieu, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, future Madame de Pompadour and Molière, who was also married here in the 17th century. The last rites for Anne of Austria, Turenne and Mirabeau were pronounced within its walls. Marie de Gournay is buried there.

The origins of Saint Eustache date back to 13th century. The church became a parish church in 1223, thanks to a man named Jean Alais who achieved this by taxing the baskets of fish sold nearby, as granted by King Philip Augustus. To thank such divine generosity, Alais constructed a chapel dedicated to Sainte-Agnès, a Roman martyr.

Raudone Castle