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Lida Castle (Belarusian:Лідскі замак,Lithuanian:Lydos pilis,Polish:Zamek w Lidzie) is a historic, medieval castle inLida,Grodno Region, westernBelarus.
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It was one of several citadels erected by Grand DukeGediminas[citation needed] ofLithuania in the early 14th century to defend his lands against the expansion of theTeutonic Knights. Other links in theVilnius defensive chains includedDubingiai,Kernavė,Punia,Eišiškės,Kreva,Medininkai,Senieji Trakai andTrakai. The modern town ofLida,Belarus grew up around this castle. Lida Castle is 141 metres (463 ft) above sea level.[1]
The site selected for the castle is naturally defended by the Kamenka and Lida rivers to east and west. Construction ofboulder walls was carried out in 1323, 1324, and 1325[citation needed]. Later they were faced with red brick. The castle had two angle towers and a church, which was moved outside the walls in 1533. The upper storeys of both towers were lived in.
Despite its strong fortifications, Lida was taken by the Teutonic Knights on several occasions (1384, 1392). Lithuanian Grand DukeVytautas gave it to his ally, KhanTokhtamysh, who settled "in ayurt near the castle".[2] In 1406, the family ofYury of Smolensk was locked up in Lida as hostages; his attempt to take the castle and liberate them was not successful. In 1433, Lida was a point of contention betweenŠvitrigaila and his cousinSigismund Kęstutaitis.
The following decades were somewhat less stormy. Lida was ravaged by theCrimean Tatars in 1506 and it was stormed by the Russians during theRusso-Polish War in 1659. TheSwedes, taking it twice during theGreat Northern War, had both towers blown up. In 1794, the castle grounds were the site of a battle betweenKościuszko's followers and the Russians.
After the city fire of 1891, the south-western tower and parts of the western wall of the castle were torn down to provide stone for repairing fire-damaged houses. A team of archaeologists fromSt. Petersburg intervened to haltvandalism. There was only a slight restoration of the walls in the 1920s.
During much of the 20th century, an itinerantzoo orcircus occupied the castle compound. Every December aChristmas tree was placed within the walls. It was not until 1982 that a restoration campaign was launched. The red brick was used to denote the newly reconstructed sections, up to 12 metres (39 ft) high. Significant restoration occurred in 2010.
Each year, the Lida Castle hosts a medieval-style tournament. A museum is being created within its towers.
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 Volhynia |
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Also See:Castles in Belarus | ||
53°53′13″N25°18′10″E / 53.887073°N 25.30272°E /53.887073; 25.30272
