Top 3 Castles around the Nemunas

Raudonė is first mentioned in the 16th century as the estate of the Polish King Sigismund II Augustus. He sold the property around 1580 to the Prussian timber merchant Hieronymus Krispin-Kirschenstein. He and his son built the first palace in the Renaissance style. The palace owes its present appearance primarily to the Neo-Gothic reconstructions carried out between 1861 and 1877 under the direction of Count Zubov's daughter, Sofia Kaissarowa. The last noble owners were the granddaughter Sofia Waxell and her Portuguese husband José Carlos de Faria e Castro. Following looting during the First World War, the de Faria e Castro descendant was in debt and auctioned the palace in 1934. Following protests, the Lithuanian National Bank ceded it to the Ministry of Education, which undertook restoration work in 1936. The Wehrmacht blew up the castle's main tower in 1944, but it was later rebuilt and is now open to visitors. The main building has housed a middle school since 1947, which was downgraded to an elementary school in 2003. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raudone

A lot of restoration work is currently being done on the interior (06/2024)

This residential castle was built by Kryszpin Kirszensztein at the end of the 16th century. It is a Renaissance building that has been constantly remodeled by different owners. The castle got its current appearance in the middle of the 19th century under the leadership of Sofia von Pirch-Kaisarova. The castle is surrounded by an old, legendary park.

Panemunė Castle (Gelgaudai, Vytėnai) All these names refer to the same castle, built between 1604 and 1610 by a nobleman of Hungarian origin, Janusz Eperjesz. This is a Renaissance epoch building. This castle is not a fortress to protect against the crusaders, but a typical 17th century mansion. Today's palace complex belongs to the Vilnius Academy of Art. The castle is adorned with an old picturesque park.

There is a tourist center and a restaurant in the area.

1291 Veliuona (Junigeda) Castle is mentioned in the chronicle of Peter von Dusburg. Veliuona castle was built by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas.

The road continues to Panemunė castle. Panemunė castle stands on the top of a steep river bank in the former Panemunė estate. It was built for its owner Eperias (Eperiess) by the Dutch architect Peter Nonhaardt, who served at the royal palace in Vilnius. The construction of the castle was completed in 1609-1610 (http://www.panemunespilis.lt/?pg=95). At present a luxury hotel and restaurant is established in Panemunė castle. https://youtu.be/DdK4-x17LaA

Great hotel, restaurant delicious food but between starter and main course you only have about 5 minutes to eat.