Medininkai Castle

Medininkai Castle (Lithuanian: Medininkų pilis), a medieval castle in Vilnius district, Lithuania, was built in the first half of the 14th century. The defensive perimeter of the castle was 6.5 hectares; it is the largest enclosure type castle in Lithuania.[1][2] It 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.[3] 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. During the 17th–18th centuries it was reorganized into a farm and a bakery. After the castle's restoration, its museum currently exhibits large collection of items made from silver by artisans of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,[4] and collection of hunting trophies and hunting knives of President Algirdas Brazauskas.[5]

Reconstructed Medininkai Castle
Castle walls and tower drawn in the 19th century by Napoleon Orda
Plan of Medininkai castle northeastern tower
  • Inside of the keep
  • Entrance into the keep
  • Aerial view of the castle
  • Aerial view of the main tower
  • Litas commemorative coin dedicated to the Medininkai Castle
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See also
  • Castles in Lithuania
  1. "Medininkai Castle". exploretrakaivilnius.lt. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  2. "Medininkai Castle". trakaimuziejus.lt. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  3. "Medininkai Castle". visitlithuania.net. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. "Kultūros savanoriai". Lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 23 January 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  5. "Medininkai Castle". visitcastles.eu. Retrieved 4 November 2019.

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