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:

Wikipedia

Statues in Lithuania

User Reviews

Edvinas Pikcius (9 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.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.

Kedainiai Minaret

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

Walls of Constantinople