Panemunė Castle on the banks of the Nemunas River

Situated on the banks of the Nemunas River in western Lithuania, Panemunė Castle is a historic site with origins reaching back to the medieval period. The earliest traces of the castle date back to the 14th century during the Lithuanian Crusade. It is believed the first castle was built in 1313 by the Teutonic Order and called Christmemel. In 1314, Grand Duke Vytenis of Lithuania attacked and captured the fortification, which likely became his private residence.

After the Teutonic Order was defeated at the Battle of Grunwald, the castle lost much of its military significance and was repurposed for various administrative and residential uses. By the 18th century, the property fell into disrepair before being acquired by Antanas Anupras Gelgaudas in 1759. He renovated the castle with Baroque and Neo-Classical features, transforming it into a luxurious residence. However, following the failed November Uprising against the Russian Empire, the castle was confiscated by Tsarist authorities and began to fall into ruin.

In 1863, Stanislovas Puslovskis initiated a full restoration of the castle, though the work was slow and an eastern wing almost collapsed. After being sold at auction in 1924, the castle was acquired by the priest Antanas Petraitis in 1929 and later became public property. While the castle was vandalized by the Red Army during the Soviet occupation, restoration works have continued since Lithuania's independence in 1990. Today, the castle serves as a museum and exhibition space for students of the Vilnius Academy of Arts.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons