Kedainiai Minaret, Kėdainiai, Lithuania

The Kėdainiai minaret is the only free-standing minaret in Lithuania. The minaret was built in 1880 by the Russian general Eduard Totleben, who was an owner of Kėdainiai manor. He built the minaret as a memorial to the Russian-Turkish war in which he had fought. Local legend also says that he built the minaret for his Turkish lover. The minaret is typical of Ottoman architecture. It is needle-topped, 25 meters high and has a balcony which can be reached by interior stairs. There are two plaques affixed to its wall. One is written in Ottoman Turkish and describes a beautiful palace built by the Ottoman sultan.

References:

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Statues in Lithuania

User Reviews

Edvinas Pikcius (7 months ago)
Only one object to see but only two (if I'm not mistaken) are present in Lithuania.

Viačeslav Čerlin (2 years ago)
I was surprised when I found out, that there is a lonely minoret in the park of Kėdainiai city. Looks awesome.

Iryna Panina (2 years ago)
A local calling card) The first big challenge faced by tourists is to reach the minaret. Car or taxi doesn't get you there. There are two ways to see it. The shortest way is to arrive at the railway station, walk around it, cross the railroad tracks and go straight. Another option takes more time because you have to bike or walk around the park and follow the online map. The park looks not very well maintained but there's a beautiful landscape. The second challenge is to get inside the building. It could be closed. Unfortunately, the minaret looks worse than photo. But still the minaret is a unique building of 1880s in Lithuania and it is worth a visit.

M. Sait atay (3 years ago)
A small nice minaret with an attractive story in a nice park

Dov J Balta (6 years ago)
Hidden little gem with historic spices.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

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Kedainiai Minaret

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