Lida Castle was built in 1323 in Lida, Belarus by Duke Gediminas as part of the defense line against crusaders. It was constructed of rubble stone and brick in an irregular quadrilateral shape with two corner towers on an artificial sand hill. The crusaders captured Lida Castle in 1384 and it changed hands several times between different forces. During the Northern War, the Swedes twice destroyed the castle, blowing up both towers. In the late 19th century, a fire destroyed much of the remaining structures and sand removal damaged the walls. Though recognized as an architectural monument in 1953, the castle continued deteriorating, housing various temporary attractions until recent preservation as the site of knightly festivals.

2. Lida Castle
Lida Castle - Castle in the town of
Lida. Also known as Gediminas
Castle (Castle Gedymin).
Lida Castle was built in 1323 on
behalf of Duke Gediminas.
The castle was a line of defense
against the Crusaders, which
included the castles along the line
Lida-Novogrudok-Kreva.
Lida Castle was built of rubble
stone and brick, was in the plan
shape of an irregular quadrilateral
with two corner towers, and was
placed on an artificial hill of sand.
Around the Gediminas Castle was
rum about 20 meters wide and
marshy banks of rivers and Lidea
heater.

3. Battle of Lida Castle
The Crusaders captured the Leeds
Castle in 1384.
Since that time the castle was
captured several times by British,
French knights. and later, in 1506 a detachment of the Crimean
Tatars.
During the Northern War the castle
was twice destroyed by the
Swedes. Both towers were blown
up by Lida Castle.

4. The fate of Lida Castle
n 1891, Lida was burned, and fire
destroyed the entire city center. On
the slopes of the hill of Lida castle
began to take the sand. Then there
were almost entirely destroyed the
remnants of the south-west tower
and demolished part of the western
wall.
In 1953 Lida Castle included in the
list of architectural monuments,
taken under state protection. But
this fact did not stop its
destruction.
In the following decades in the
castle Gedymin there was a small
stadium, often stopped traveling
menagerie.
Now the castle became the center
of the knightly festivals