SW BG-088 Kernavė Mounds, Lithuania

Kernavė is a small town located in the Širvintos district municipality located in southeast Lithuania. It is on the right bank of the river Neris and is 35 kilometers (22 mi) from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.

Kernavė had existed since the age of the Lithuanian dawn.  It is believed, that inhabitants first settled in Kernavė territory in 9-8 millennium BC but it was only in the first centuries AD that they started to form bigger settlements. These settlements were protected by five fortified mounds. In the 19th century the mounds were named Pilies (castle) mound, Aukuro (altar) mound, Mindaugas mound, Lizdeika mound and Kriveikiškio mound.

 

Kernavė grew to be the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was destroyed by the Teutonic order in the 14th century. In modern days, Kernavė is a UNESCO protected historical and archeological site. It is also a tourist attraction and for visitors, it is a superb place for hiking.  Every year, various festivals and art fairs are held in Kernavė.

This postcard came from Vaidilute (16 May 2014) Swap-bot.