Biržai
Encyclopedia
Biržai is a city in northern Lithuania
. Biržai is famous for its reconstructed Biržai Castle
manor
, and the whole region is renowned for its many traditional-recipe beer
breweries.
origin and is spelled in different forms in other languages: Birsen (German), Birże (Polish
), Birzhi (Russian), and בירז/Birz or Birzh (Yiddish).
began in 1586, and the town was granted Magdeburg Rights
in 1589. In 1575, as preparation for the castle's construction, a dam
was built on the Agluona and Apaščia Rivers at their confluence, and the artificial Lake Širvėna
, covering about 40 square kilometre, was created. It is the oldest surviving artificial lake
in Lithuania. The town's history is closely associated with the Radziwiłł family (Lithuanian: Radvila). Jerzy Radziwiłł was the first noble to settle in the town. Later, after his daughter, Barbara Radziwiłł married the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund II Augustus
in 1547, the power and influence of the family grew immensely. The Radvila family established a Protestant
church and school, and the city became a cultural center of the Protestant Reformation
in Lithuania.
The local community of Lithuanian Jews
, which settled in the Duchy of Biržai at the end of the 16th century, was influential, establishing an interest-free loan society, two major flour mills, and an international linen export business. The Islamic Lipka Tatars
performed military, police, and postal duties for the Radziwill family.
During the Wars with Sweden, Biržai Castle
was an important point of defence. In 1625, Gustavus Adolphus
, king of Sweden, attacked the castle with 8000 soldiers and it was forced to surrender. The castle was left in ruins and was rebuilt, only to be burnt in 1655. In 1662-1669, it was rebuilt again in Renaissance style
. In 1701, August II the Strong
and Peter I of Russia
signed a pact in the castle to unite their forces against Sweden. However, in 1704 the castle was completely destroyed and was left in ruins until its restoration in the 1990s.
The town's population suffered greatly due to wars and religious conflicts between the Protestants and Catholics. In the late 18th century, Biržai lost its city rights. The Radziwiłłs lost their wealth and influence, and Biržai was sold to the Tyszkiewicz
family to cover debts in 1811. In 1849-1862, the Tyszkiewicz family built a neoclassic
Astravas Manor
palace across the lake from the site of the original castle.
In 1869, the town had about 2600 residents. Thirty years later, the population grew to 4400 people.
Town was almost completely burned down during World War II
.
In 1968, the population reached 10000. Currently, there are about 15,000 people living in Biržai.
The northern part of the city, along with Lake Širvėna, lies within Biržai Regional Park
. About 9,000 sinkhole
s have been identified in the park, formed abruptly after gypsum
in the soil has been dissolved by underground water. Some of these holes are dry, while others have become small ponds or lakes filled with water from the many underground rivers and streams. New holes appear annually. According to local legend, the 20-meter-deep sinkhole known as Karves ola (Cow's Hole) was discovered by a farmer after his cow disappeared. A tunnel at its bottom leads to an underground cave and lake.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. Biržai is famous for its reconstructed Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle is a castle in Biržai, Lithuania. Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł. In 1575, preparing for this construction, a dam was built on the Agluona and Apaščia rivers at their confluence, and the...
manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, and the whole region is renowned for its many traditional-recipe beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
breweries.
Names
The name of the town is of LithuanianLithuanian language
Lithuanian is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognized as one of the official languages of the European Union. There are about 2.96 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and about 170,000 abroad. Lithuanian is a Baltic language, closely related to Latvian, although they...
origin and is spelled in different forms in other languages: Birsen (German), Birże (Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
), Birzhi (Russian), and בירז/Birz or Birzh (Yiddish).
History
The town's first written mention dates to 1450. The construction of Biržai CastleBiržai Castle
Biržai Castle is a castle in Biržai, Lithuania. Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł. In 1575, preparing for this construction, a dam was built on the Agluona and Apaščia rivers at their confluence, and the...
began in 1586, and the town was granted Magdeburg Rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
in 1589. In 1575, as preparation for the castle's construction, a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
was built on the Agluona and Apaščia Rivers at their confluence, and the artificial Lake Širvėna
Lake Širvena
Širvėna Lake is a lake located in Biržai municipality, northern Lithuania. It is the oldest artificial lake in Lithuania. It was created in 1575 when the dam was built on rivers Agluona and Apaščia. The lake was built to protect the Radvila castle in Biržai. Now the city of Biržai, which was built...
, covering about 40 square kilometre, was created. It is the oldest surviving artificial lake
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Lithuania. The town's history is closely associated with the Radziwiłł family (Lithuanian: Radvila). Jerzy Radziwiłł was the first noble to settle in the town. Later, after his daughter, Barbara Radziwiłł married the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
in 1547, the power and influence of the family grew immensely. The Radvila family established a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
church and school, and the city became a cultural center of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in Lithuania.
The local community of Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
, which settled in the Duchy of Biržai at the end of the 16th century, was influential, establishing an interest-free loan society, two major flour mills, and an international linen export business. The Islamic Lipka Tatars
Lipka Tatars
The Lipka Tatars are a group of Tatars who originally settled in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the beginning of 14th century. The first settlers tried to preserve their shamanistic religion and sought asylum amongst the non-Christian Lithuanians...
performed military, police, and postal duties for the Radziwill family.
Biržai Castle
Biržai Castle is a castle in Biržai, Lithuania. Construction of the earth bastion-type castle started in 1586 by the order of Krzysztof Mikołaj "the Lightning" Radziwiłł. In 1575, preparing for this construction, a dam was built on the Agluona and Apaščia rivers at their confluence, and the...
was an important point of defence. In 1625, Gustavus Adolphus
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
, king of Sweden, attacked the castle with 8000 soldiers and it was forced to surrender. The castle was left in ruins and was rebuilt, only to be burnt in 1655. In 1662-1669, it was rebuilt again in Renaissance style
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
. In 1701, August II the Strong
Augustus II the Strong
Frederick Augustus I or Augustus II the Strong was Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania ....
and Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
signed a pact in the castle to unite their forces against Sweden. However, in 1704 the castle was completely destroyed and was left in ruins until its restoration in the 1990s.
Tyszkiewicz
The Tyszkiewicz family was a wealthy and influential magnate family of Ruthenian/Lithuanian nobility with roots traced into the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
family to cover debts in 1811. In 1849-1862, the Tyszkiewicz family built a neoclassic
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
Astravas Manor
Astravas Manor
Astravas Manor is a manor in Biržai suburb Astravas, Lithuania. It was commissioned by Jan Tyszkewicz and was built in 1849–1862 in neoclassical style by architect Tomasz Tyszecki. The damage it sustained during World War II was repaired between 1955-1962. The palace has a rich classical interior...
palace across the lake from the site of the original castle.
In 1869, the town had about 2600 residents. Thirty years later, the population grew to 4400 people.
Town was almost completely burned down during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 1968, the population reached 10000. Currently, there are about 15,000 people living in Biržai.
Geography
Biržai Regional Park
Biržai Regional Park covers 14,659 hectares in northern Lithuania near its border with Latvia. It was established in 1992 to preserve a distinctive karst landscape. About 20% of its area is covered by forest....
. About 9,000 sinkhole
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
s have been identified in the park, formed abruptly after gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
in the soil has been dissolved by underground water. Some of these holes are dry, while others have become small ponds or lakes filled with water from the many underground rivers and streams. New holes appear annually. According to local legend, the 20-meter-deep sinkhole known as Karves ola (Cow's Hole) was discovered by a farmer after his cow disappeared. A tunnel at its bottom leads to an underground cave and lake.
Famous people
- Jerzy Radziwiłł, Great Hetman of Lithuania
- Janusz Skumin TyszkiewiczJanusz Skumin TyszkiewiczJanusz Skumin Tyszkiewicz was a noble of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a politician, a sponsor of Baroque music and a writer...
- Julius Janonis, poet
- Kazys BinkisKazys BinkisKazys Binkis was a Lithuanian poet, journalist, and playwright. He used the pseudonyms K.Alijošius, K. Papilietis, Kazys, Kazys Roviejietis, Nedarbininkas, Neklaipėdietis, Nelatvis, Nepartyvis, Ras Desta, Riza Chanas and others.-Biography:...
, poet, playwright - Petras KalpokasPetras KalpokasPetras Kalpokas was a well known Lithuanian painter and professor.- Biography :Kalpokas was born on 31 March 1880 in the village of Miškinė, near Kvetkai, in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire .From 1890 to 1895 he attended the Gymnasium of Jelgava, Latvia...
, painter - Austra SkujytėAustra SkujyteAustra Skujytė is a Lithuanian athlete, competing in both the heptathlon and the decathlon. On 15 April 2005 in Columbia, Missouri, she broke the women's decathlon world record, with a score of 8366....
, olympic silver medal winner - Žydrūnas SavickasŽydrunas SavickasŽydrūnas Savickas is a professional strongman and is widely considered one of the all-time greatest athletes in the history of the sport...
, strongman - Vladas GarastasVladas GarastasVladas Garastas is probably the most famous former Lithuanian professional basketball coach. Currently he is the president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.-Coaching career:...
, basketball coach - Romualdas BrazauskasRomualdas BrazauskasRomualdas Brazauskas is a Lithuanian basketball referee. After graduation from Vilnius Pedagogical Institute in 1983, Brazauskas became a FIBA judge in 1987 and since then he has judged basketball games in the Olympics, FIBA European and World Championships, Euroleague...
, basketball referee - Jokūbas ŠernasJokubas ŠernasJokūbas Šernas was a Lithuanian attorney, journalist, teacher, and banker, one of the twenty signatories to the Act of Independence of Lithuania.Born in Biržai, he studied law at the University of St. Petersburg, graduating in 1914...
, signatory of the Act of Independence of LithuaniaAct of Independence of LithuaniaThe Act of Independence of Lithuania or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty... - Jonas MekasJonas MekasJonas Mekas is a Lithuanian-born American filmmaker, writer, and curator who has often been called "the godfather of American avant-garde cinema." His work has been exhibited in museums and festivals across Europe and America.-Biography:...
, film maker - Bernardas BrazdžionisBernardas BrazdžionisBernardas Brazdžionis was a Lithuanian poet. Bernardas Brazdžionis also used various pen names, such as Vytė Nemunėlis, Jaunasis Vaidevutis.-Biography:...
, poet - Borisas Dauguvietis, poet
- Jurgis BielinisJurgis BielinisJurgis Bielinis was one of the main organizers of illegal book-smuggling at the time of the Lithuanian press ban. He was also a publicist and contributor to Lithuanian newspapers Aušra and Varpas...
, publicist and one of the main organizers of illegal book-smuggling (knygnešiaiKnygnešiaiBook smugglers were people who transported Lithuanian language books printed in the Latin alphabet into Lithuanian-speaking areas of the Russian Empire, defying a ban on such materials in force from 1866 to 1904...
) at the time of the Lithuanian press banLithuanian press banThe Lithuanian press ban was a ban on all Lithuanian language publications printed in the Latin alphabet within the Russian Empire, which controlled Lithuania at the time. Lithuanian-language publications that used the Cyrillic alphabet were allowed and even encouraged... - Elchonon WassermanElchonon WassermanElchonon Wasserman was a prominent rabbi and rosh yeshiva in pre-World War II Europe. He was one of the Chofetz Chaim's closest disciples and a noted Torah scholar.-Biography:...
, famous Lithuanian rabbi, disciple of Chofetz ChaimChofetz Chaim"The Chofetz Chaim" is a book on the Jewish laws of speech written by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan....