Kaunas Castle
Kaunas Castle | |
---|---|
Near Kaunas in Lithuania | |
Coordinates | 54°53′56″N 23°53′06″E / 54.89889°N 23.88500°E |
Site information | |
Condition | About one-third still standing |
Site history | |
Built | Mid-14th century |
Kaunas Castle is a
History
The precise construction date of the first Kaunas Castle is unknown. Archaeological data suggests that a stone castle was built on the site during the middle of the 14th century.[1] Situated on an elevated bank near the river junction about 100 kilometers (62 mi) from the capital city of Vilnius, it served as a strategic outpost. It guarded nearby cities as well as trade routes.
A written account states that in 1361, the
Apparently, of the castle's defense force of 400, only 36 survived. Questions remain about the castle's defenders' lack of support from outside during the siege. In any event, Kęstutis soon regained and rebuilt Kaunas Castle, but it remained a point of contention between Lithuanians and Teutonic Knights for many years. In 1384, Kaunas Castle was re-captured by the Teutonic Knights. At this time,
The Lithuanians likely mustered an army near Vilnius as a strategic maneuver since Lithuanians could use the downstream flow of the Neris River to transport artillery and military provisions from Vilnius; the Knights likely used overland or upstream transport. During the 1384 assault, the Lithuanians deployed cannons and trebuchets; the besieged Teutonic Knights had also installed cannons in the castle, which destroyed the Lithuanians' trebuchet. Nevertheless, the Lithuanians took the castle.
After 1398, the Teutonic Knights could no longer reconquer the castle. After the
In 1601, Kaunas Castle housed courts and an archive. At some time in 1611, the Neris River flooded part of the castle.
Due to its convenient location, it was used by the
Kaunas' city and castle were mentioned in the famous Lithuanian[2][3] and Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz poem Konrad Wallenrod (1828), set in the 14th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
For many years afterward, Kaunas castle stood abandoned. In the 1960s, the round tower was opened as a museum, but due to its structural deterioration, the museum was transferred elsewhere.
Restoration
Protection of the castle began in 1930; nearby houses were demolished, and archeologists examined the territory. Further efforts to preserve the castle were made in the 1950s. The round tower was repaired; the firing bastion was later excavated from beneath several overlying strata. The excavated bastion was in excellent condition. As part of its protection, temporary roofing was placed there and on the remaining towers and walls. The remaining portions of the round tower were not reconstructed to their original height, nor were the castle walls; the bigger parts are only the remaining foundations of the walls.
Archeological excavations continued at Kaunas Castle, interrupted by periods of inactivity. The evidence gathered from these archeological works suggests that the castle's configuration, excluding the bastion, has remained in the form it took during its reconstruction in 1376.
Current state
Major reconstruction work started in 2010 and ended in 2011.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5275-1135-4.
- ^ Lithuania, my Homeland... Adam Mickiewicz and his poem Pan Tadeusz, https://v2.valdovurumai.lt/ru/pocetytelyam/vystovki/lithuania-my-homeland-adam-mickiewicz-and-his-poem-pan-tadeusz
- ^ The Saxon Electors – The Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius, 2018, 608 p.
- ^ The Freedom Warrior was presented in Kaunas: it turned out who had chosen his face for the rider, https://tech2.org/lithuania/the-freedom-warrior-was-presented-in-kaunas-it-turned-out-who-had-chosen-his-face-for-the-rider/ Archived 26 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine
Further reading
- Kauno istorijos metraštis. Kaunas, V tomas, 2004
- S. Thurnbull. Crusader Castles of the Teutonic Knights. Osprey Publishing, 2003
- R. Jasas. Vygandas Marburgietis. Naujoji Prūsijos kronika. Vilnius, 1999