Raudondvaris Explained

Raudondvaris
Settlement Type:Town
Pushpin Map:Lithuania
Coordinates:54.9431°N 23.7833°W
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Radondvaris
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Ethnographic region
Subdivision Name1:Aukštaitija
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2: Kaunas County
Subdivision Type3:Municipality
Subdivision Name3:Kaunas district municipality
Subdivision Type4:Eldership
Subdivision Name4:Raudondvaris eldership
Subdivision Type6:Capital of
Subdivision Name6:Raudondvaris eldership
Established Date:1392
Established Title:First mentioned
Population Total:4,079
Population As Of:2021
Timezone:EET
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:EEST
Utc Offset Dst:+3

Raudondvaris is a town on the Nevėžis River in Kaunas district, Lithuania, 1km (01miles) west of Kaunas city municipality.

History

The town was first mentioned in Teutonic chronicles in 1392. The old castle was rebuilt after the Battle of Grunwald and became Grand Duke's property. In 1549 Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus presented the castle to his wife, Barbara Radziwiłł. After her death the castle fell to ruin. A new Renaissance red brick palace, known as Raudondvaris Castle, was built in 1615 on the high bank of the Nevėžis River by the Radziwiłłs. The palace is surrounded by a park with a palm house (no longer in use). The residence was known for its remarkable fine arts collection, including paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Rubens and del Sarto. The palace belonged to the Tyszkiewicz family until the end of World War I, when it was converted into a shelter for children. It suffered damage during World War II and was rebuilt only in 1959–1973. Currently it houses collections devoted to the Tyszkiewicz family and Juozas Naujalis.

Another notable building in Raudondvaris is the basilica of St. Theresa, founded by Benedykt Tyszkiewicz (rebuilt in the 20th century), with altars painted by Michał Elwiro Andriolli, and Tyszkiewicz family tombstones.

Famous citizens

External links