Biržai Castle

Biržai Castle is a castle in Biržai, Lithuania. Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" 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, was created. Major castle building 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 family line, which was transferred here from the Dubingiai Castle. Biržai Castle served as a major defensive structure 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.

Biržai Castle
Obverse: 
The obverse of the coin features a stylized Vytis (State Emblem) of the-then time, encircled with the inscriptions LIETUVA (Lithuania), 50 LITŲ (50 litas), 2010.
Reverse: 
The reverse of the coin features stylised picture of the Birzai Castle, semi-circled by the inscription BIRŽŲ PILIS (Biržai Castle). Below the Castle the Rider is depicted.

Booklet

Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle
Package (box, booklet, roll, etc.): 
Country: 
Catalog ID: 
LT102CM1
Value: 
€50
Mintage: 
10000
Quality: 
Face value: 
Material: 
Purity: 
0.925
Weight: 
28.28g
Diameter: 
38.61mm
Year: 
Shape and style: 
Edge: 
Edge Lettering: 
ISTORIJOS IR ARCHITEKTŪROS PAMINKLAI (HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS)
Mint: 
Designer: 
Source of information: 
Source of information: