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 ha; 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]

Gallery

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  Inside of the keep
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  Entrance into the keep
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  Aerial view of the castle
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  Aerial view of the main tower
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  Litas commemorative coin dedicated to the Medininkai Castle

See also

• Castles in Lithuania

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Medininkai Castle.

• (in Lithuanian) Medininkai Castle description
• (in Lithuanian) Medininkai Castle Photos by Lithuanian Photograph^{[ permanent dead link]}
• The Association of Castles and Museums around the Baltic Sea

54°32′20″N 25°39′00″E / 54.53889°N 25.65000°E / 54.53889; 25.65000

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