Castle of the Grand Duke forged in stone

The hillfort Punia is located in Alytaus region, near Punios, on the right bank of Nemunas, near Punelės upelio žiočių. It stands as a triangle, with a height of 155 metres and a base of 85 metres wide. The eastern and southern parts of the hillfort were eroded by a river long ago. The western part has a terrace 15 metres high and 23 metres wide. The hillfort is enclosed by a ditch, about 60 metres wide, 30 metres deep, 4 metres wide (bank) and 10 metres deep (floor).

There are stone steps, about 36-44 metres high. According to archaeological findings, Punia was inhabited in prehistoric times and up until the 14th century. A medieval castle was located at the hillfort, but it was only mentioned in 1382 and there is no evidence of a cross on it. The hillfort was damaged in the 17th century. Many believe that the hillfort could have been the site of a legendary castle of Grand Duke Mindaugas, but it is currently located in Žemaitija. A monument to Maironis' poem about Mindaugas' funeral was erected near the hillfort.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons