Medininkai Castle, Medininkai, Lithuania

Medininkai Castle was built in the late 13th century or the first quarter of the 14th century. The defensive perimeter of the castle was 6.5 hectares; it is the largest enclosure type castle in Lithuania.

The castle was built on plain ground and was designed for flank defence. The rectangular castle's yard covered approximately 1.8 hectares and was protected by walls 15 metres high and 2 metres thick. The castle had 4 gates and towers. The main tower (donjon), about 30 metres high, was used for residential quarters. Medininkai was first mentioned in 1392. The castle was badly damaged by a major fire in the late 15th century. Because of increased use of firearms, this type of castle was no longer suited for defensive purposes and was later used as a residence. In 1655 during the war with Russia the castle was badly damaged and never reconstructed again. During the Second World War Germans set their gun arsenal in one of towers of Medininkai castle. The tower was burst when Germans retreated. The castle was not repaired until 1960. Only then slow reconstruction works were started, however, full reconstruction was not finished until now.

References:

User Reviews

Artem Afanasiev (2 years ago)
Castle is renovated. You can get on top of main tower. There is also museum inside main tower which is small, but pleasant. I recommend it as a weekend trip from Vilnius (~40 min drive) with kids.

Linas Gutauskas (3 years ago)
Nice castle with museum inside. Also there could be more activities in the garden.

Mindaugas Virsilas (3 years ago)
Hi everyone. Last Sunday of mnth, free entry for most museums. 6€ for adults, free for kids to 7 and etc. U can take photos for free, and some profi for extra charge. Well, a lot parking space, if it was for cash would love to see more, but for free?, very nice. Ok, seriously, if it is summer, go, don't know nothing about winter. Go with kids, they will love it and btw u got the whole room of ex-president Brazauskas trofees.

Gaja Šavelė (4 years ago)
Nicely preserved castle with museum situated in the corner tower, which has 5 floors and open top for nice view. Entrance fee is 6 EUR per person, free if charge for children up to 7 years. Has a big yard inside and some former prisoners keeping mechanisms. Nearby wooden church and hills of Juozapinė and Aukštoja.

Vidas Danielius (5 years ago)
Nice small castle with great history in itself. Nice small museum within the tower, possibility to climb on top of the tower to enjoy surrounding views.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright R. Van Wallendael

Historic Site of the week

St. Martin Rotunda

The Chapel of St. Martin is the only completely preserved Romanesque building in Vyšehrad and one of the oldest in Prague. In was built around 1100 in the eastern part of the fortified outer ward. Between 1100 and 1300, the Rotrunda was surrounded by a cemetery. The building survived the Hussite Wars and was used as the municipal prison of the Town of the Vyšehrad Hill.

During the Thirty Years’ War, it was used as gunpowder storage, from 1700 to 1750, it was renovated and reconsecrated. In 1784, the chapel was closed passed to the military management which kept using it as a warehouseand a cannon-amunition manufacturing facility. In 1841, it was meant to be demolished to give way to the construction of a new road through Vyšehrad. Eventually, only the original western entrance was walled up and replaced with a new one in the sountren side. The dilapidating Rotunda subsequently served as a shelter for the poor.

Medininkai Castle

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

St. Martin Rotunda