The 25-Meter Slopes of Rudaminos

The hillfort of Rudaminos piliakalnis su gyvenviete is located in the northwestern part of the Lazdijai district. The site features an oval courtyard, 75 meters long and 51 meters wide, situated on a hill surrounded by defensive ramparts. To the southwest, massive boulders of red granite are embedded in the hillside. The defensive ramparts stand 2 to 3 meters high and are 10 to 16 meters wide, with outer slopes reaching 5 to 8 meters in height. The total height of the natural slopes reaches up to 25 meters.

Local historian Juozapas Radziukynas claimed that Prince Ringaudas's castle stood here in 1240. According to this tradition, the castle was destroyed in 1381 when catapult-fired bombs were used during a siege. The site's history has been documented since at least 1909, and German army officers investigated the edges of the courtyard in 1918, discovering various finds.

Following the land reform, the area belonged to the Rudamina manor before being transferred to the Ministry of Education in 1926. In 1932, local residents planted lime trees and established paths around the fort. The site is characterized by its distinctive oval layout and the massive granite boulders that remain part of the landscape.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons