Biržai Castle
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/Lithuania_Bir%C5%BCe_Radziwi%C5%82%C5%82_Castle.jpg/250px-Lithuania_Bir%C5%BCe_Radziwi%C5%82%C5%82_Castle.jpg)
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.[1]
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.
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Plan of the castle.
See also
References
- ^ Kuncevičius, Dr. Albinas. "Lithuanian Castles and the Possibilities of Their Use for Cultural Tourism". Association of Lithuanian Museums. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
External links
- The Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea
Media related to Biržai Castle at Wikimedia Commons
- Houses completed in 1589
- Renaissance architecture in Lithuania
- Castles in Lithuania
- Museums in Panevėžys County
- Buildings and structures in Panevėžys County
- Tourist attractions in Panevėžys County
- Castles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
- Castles and palaces of the Radziwiłł family
- Lithuanian building and structure stubs