Raudondvaris Castle

Raudondvaris Castle, also known as Raudondvaris Manor, is a historic residence located in the town of Raudondvaris, Lithuania. First mentioned in 1392 as a pagan keep by Teutonic chroniclers, the site originally hosted a small fortress built by the Teutonic Order. Over the centuries, it served as personal property for Polish kings and Lithuanian Grand Dukes before being donated to Queen Barbara Radziwiłł in 1549. The estate eventually passed to the powerful Radziwiłł family, who commissioned a major reconstruction between 1653 and 1664 that established its foundational structure. Following damage during the November Uprising, the manor underwent a significant renovation from 1832 to 1855 under the Tyszkiewicz family, acquiring its current Gothic Revival appearance while retaining earlier Renaissance and Gothic elements, such as a round tower likely dating back to the original Teutonic stronghold.

The architectural complex reflects a rich blend of styles and historical layers, featuring an English-style garden, an orangery once housing lemon trees, stables, and an ice house designed by German architect Voler in the mid-19th century. The Tyszkiewicz family owned the property until World War I, famously filling it with an extensive art collection that included masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, and Caravaggio. After the war, Lithuanian authorities confiscated the estate, repurposing the main building as a school and later an orphanage. Although badly damaged during World War II, the castle was meticulously rebuilt between 1962 and 1975. Today, the restored complex serves as the home of the Lithuanian Institute of Melioration and hosts a small museum dedicated to the Tyszkiewicz family legacy and the local composer Juozas Naujalis.