- Type
- Castle
- Coordinates
- 54.8989°, 23.8850°
History
The castle was built in the 14th century on the spit where the Neris flows into the Nemunas, to bar the Teutonic Knights' river route into Lithuania; it was among the country's first brick strongholds. In 1362 the army of Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode took it after a siege of several weeks and razed it. The Lithuanians soon rebuilt it, but after the victory at Grunwald in 1410 the castle lost its military role. It later housed officials and courts, and for a time a prison. River floods undermined part of the walls; since the 20th century the ruins have been gradually consolidated and rebuilt.
What to see
What survives is a round tower with a conical roof, sections of the curtain walls and a rebuilt southern tower. Inside is a branch of the Kaunas City Museum with an exhibition on the castle's history. The castle stands on the edge of the Old Town, in greenery by the river, a short walk from Town Hall Square and the point where the Neris joins the Nemunas.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q2468497
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