Biržai: Castle, Museum and Lake Širvėna

Biržai combines a rich history of castles and museums with Lake Širvėna and Astravas Manor. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can first decide what you’d like to focus on: the exhibitions in the castle complex, the architecture of Astravas, or geological and landscape-related topics. The places and activities offer different points of interest and give you specific ideas for planning your trip.

Biržai Castle and Regional Museum

Biržai Castle was completed in 1589. The Biržai Regional Museum “Sėla” is housed in the palace and arsenal. The complex also includes a bridge, two powder magazines, and the ruins of the gate and fortification building. Here you can see both preserved structures and traces of the former fortifications.

The arsenal has an interactive exhibition about warfare in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, offering a thematic introduction to the history of the complex. The museum also explores another aspect of regional tradition through an exhibition on old beer-brewing traditions. The program “From a grain to a song: Biržai tradition and hospitality” adds a hands-on element. Program participation terms may change; if you plan to take part, check the current terms before your visit.

There’s also a way to explore the subject of beer beyond the museum: “Beer Route” tours to breweries are offered in Biržai, where guides explain the drinks. The exhibition and tours have different focuses—one explores brewing traditions, while the others take you to breweries. Providers and tour itineraries may change, so check what’s available for your visit in advance.

Astravas and Lake Širvėna

Astravas Manor is located in Astravas, a district of Biržai on the northern shore of Lake Širvėna and on the Apaščia River. Its palace was built in 1862 with a belvedere tower. The residence is designed in the style of Italian villas and associated with the Romantic era. Compared with the castle, completed in 1589, the two dates provide a clear timeline for these different historic buildings.

The 525 m-long pedestrian bridge across Lake Širvėna connects Biržai with Astravas and is the longest pedestrian bridge in Lithuania. Visitors can cross the repaired bridge to reach Astravas Manor Park and its palace. The lake itself is Lithuania’s oldest artificial body of water: it was created in 1575 by damming two rivers that flow through Biržai. Here, a direct connection between the town and Astravas meets a landscape history that stretches far back in time.

Geology and further history

Those interested in what lies beneath the surface can visit an exhibition about karst sinkholes, collapses and geological processes at the Biržai Regional Park Visitor Centre. This topic complements the history of buildings and museums with an insight into the region’s geological features. The Regional Park Directorate also offers the “Žemės gelmių muziejus” tourist route. It takes about three hours and is about 20 km long. The route and duration provide a specific guide for planning; details of the offer may change, so it’s a good idea to check in advance.

Biržai’s narrow-gauge railway complex offers another historical perspective. The Gubernija–Pasvalys line was extended to Biržai in 1922. The preserved sections of the complex are protected cultural heritage sites, and the complex is considered to have historical, architectural and landscape value. Along with the castle, museum and Astravas, this railway heritage shows how varied the historical topics are that you can take into account when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kupiškis, Rokiškis, Kazliškio Seniūnija, Panevėžys, Šilagalys, Naujamiestis, Kučiai, Naciūnai.

For the broader travel overview: Panevėžys County.