Baltadvaris Castle

Baltadvaris Castle (literally: White Manor Castle; Lithuanian: Baltadvario pilis) was a fortified manor house, sometimes incorrectly described as a bastion castle, located about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Videniškiai in Molėtai District Municipality, Lithuania. Situated on the left bank of the Siesartis River, the castle was surrounded by the river on three sides. The masonry castle with earth ramparts and wooden fortifications was constructed by Swedish builders in the 16th century in order to secure the old road from Vilnius to Riga against attacks from Livonia. Constructed by the princely Giedraičiai (Giedroyć) family, the castle was mortgaged to cover the family's debts in 1630. In the mid-17th century, the castle lost its strategic importance and became a residential manor. It was increasingly neglected and gradually fell into ruins. Today, walls of the main castle barn and eastern gates, together with foundations and cellars, have survived.