Kaunas Castle
Kauno Pilis · Kovna
Medieval (1361–1441)·Grand Duchy of Lithuania / Teutonic·🇱🇹 Kaunas, Old Town at Nemunas–Neris confluence, Lithuania
About
About Kaunas Castle
Oldest brick castle in Lithuania (1361) at strategic Nemunas–Neris island, first to use brick to resist Teutonic cannon; destroyed 1362 by Teutonic Knights (3-week siege), rebuilt by Vytautas 1409 as Gothic residence. Later bastioned. Now preserved ruin with round tower, museum and summer festival. Key to Kaunas Hansa port.
Why it mattersOldest brick castle in Lithuania (1361) at strategic Nemunas–Neris island, first to use brick to resist Teutonic cannon; destroyed 1362 by Teutonic Knights (3-week siege), rebuilt by Vytautas 1409 as Gothic residence. Later bastioned. Now preserved ruin with round tower, museum and summer festival.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 011362 siege chronicle mass burial
Theories
- 01Kaunas as Hansa staple forging Lithuanian state finances
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1361 first brick castle in Lithuania; rebuilt 1409
- Period
- Medieval (1361–1441)
- Culture
- Grand Duchy of Lithuania / Teutonic
- Purpose
- Confluence brick castle guarding Nemunas–Neris waterway
- Excavation
- Unexcavated
On the ground
Structures & features
54.8985° N · 23.8850° E · 30 m · 3 mapped features
Round Tower
tower13 m round brick tower surviving
54.8987° N · 23.8852° ERiver Gate
gateNemunas gate remnant
54.8983° N · 23.8848° ENeris Bastion
bastion16th c bastion fragment
54.8985° N · 23.8855° E
Gallery