Medininkų pilis

About the museum

The Medininkų pilis (Medininkai Castle) consists of four towers, walls 1.8–1.9 m thick and up to 15 m high, and defensive ditches; the main tower, the keep, rises about 30 m. The fortress is believed to have been built in the first half of the 14th century, during the reign of Grand Duke Gediminas. It protected Vilnius against attacks by the Teutonic and Livonian Orders and against a possible enemy from the east. The castle is first mentioned in 1387, in descriptions of the routes of Teutonic scouts. In 1402 the Teutonic Knights, together with Švitrigaila, besieged it but failed to take it.

After Vytautas’ reign the castle lost its importance. At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries a fire destroyed it, leaving only ruins; until the early 20th century a small wooden manor house with farm buildings stood on the site. The castle suffered during the “Deluge” of 1655, when Napoleon’s army retreated in 1812, and during both World Wars. In the 19th century Romantic writers became interested in it, among them Vladislovas Sirokomlė and Teodoras Narbutas; conservation work began in the interwar period.

On 6 July 1993 the first stone of the tower to be rebuilt was laid, and reconstruction of the keep began. In 2004 the castle again came under the Trakų istorijos muziejus (Trakai History Museum), to which it had also belonged in 1967–1973. In 2010–2012 it was restored and adapted for museum use.

Highlights

• Rebuilt keep of about 30 m and four defensive towers
• Cannons, stone cannonballs and archaeological finds in the ground-floor hall
• Hall of Grand Duchy of Lithuania weaponry (14th–18th centuries) with a painting by artist Giedrius Kazimierėnas
• Silver objects from the 10th–20th centuries and the chance to make a souvenir yourself
• Reception hall and viewing platform on the keep

Permanent exhibitions

• Pilių ir archeologijos salė – The ground-floor hall of the keep displays cannons, stone cannonballs and archaeological finds and introduces the stone castles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
• Karybos salė – The first floor presents Grand Duchy of Lithuania weaponry from the 14th–18th centuries; the hall is decorated with a painting by artist Giedrius Kazimierėnas from 2012.
• Sidabro dirbinių salė – The second floor displays silver objects from the 10th–20th centuries; in this hall visitors can make a souvenir themselves.

Operated by

Trakų istorijos muziejus

Admission & discounts

From April to September a full adult ticket costs €9; pupils, students and seniors pay €5. From October to March the prices are €7 and €4.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The family ticket is valid for 1 or 2 adults with 1–3 minor children.

Getting there & parking

The castle is in the village of Medininkai, Vilnius District, at Šv. Kazimiero g. 2.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit