castle
Bauska Castle
Castle complex combining a ruined Livonian Order fortress and a later ducal residence on a ridge between two rivers, with parking.
42 km · about 50 min drive
EuropeLithuaniaPanevėžys
Birzai
Panevėžys, Lithuania · Europe
About Birzai
Birzai sits on the route: 30 minutes from Pasvalys, 42km from Bauska Castle.
Birzai is in Panevėžys, Lithuania, with about 15,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Pasvalys, about 27 km away.
Biržai Castle (Lithuanian: Biržų pilis, pronounced [ˈbɪrʒuː pɪɫɪs], Polish: Zamek w Birżach) is a 16th century castle in Biržai, northern Lithuania. It is located in Aukštaitija region, Panevėžys County. The castle was the first Italian-style bastion fort in Lithuania and one of the first in North-Eastern Europe. TheRead more
well-preserved castle (most recently restored in 2013) now houses a museum, a library and a restaurant.
Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof "Piorun" Radziwiłł. In 1575, preparing for this construction, a dam was built on the Agluona and Apaščia rivers at their confluence, and the artificial Lake Širvėna, covering about 40 km2 (15 sq mi), was created. Major works were finished in 1589.
Since the second half of the 17th century, the castle has been the main seat of the Biržai-Dubingiai Radziwiłł (Radvila) family line, which was transferred here from the Dubingiai Castle. Biržai Castle served as an essential Lithuanian stronghold during the wars with Sweden.
The castle was reconstructed from ruins in the 1980s, in the Renaissance-Baroque style. The residential manor of the castle houses a library and a regional history museum "Sėla" (literally Selonia), founded in 1928.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Birzai?
Within an hour or so of Birzai: Bauska Castle (42 km), Rundāle Palace (51 km).
Where is Birzai?
Birzai is in Panevėžys, Lithuania, about 27 km from Pasvalys.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 14,911
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Lithuania
- Region
- Panevėžys
- Timezone
- Europe/Vilnius
- Coordinates
- 56.2000, 24.7500
Tags
Worth the detour from Birzai
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Rundāle Palace
Latvia's grandest baroque palace designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli, featuring opulent interiors and one of the finest French-style gardens in the Baltics.
51 km · about 60 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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