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Astravas Manor Estate

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Astravas, located in Biržai by Lake Širvėna and the Apaščia River, was established after Prince Dominykas Radvila sold the land to Count Mykolas Tiškevičius in 1811. In 1862, a two-story palace was built in the style of Italian villas, becoming one of the most impressive manors of the Romantic period in Lithuania. The palace housed valuable archives, libraries, and art collections, which were later transported to Vilnius and Paris.

The manor was surrounded by a beautiful park with ponds, and in 1860, a bridge-dam was built to regulate the lake's water level until 1986. In 1924, various industries were established here, and from 1956 to 1965, the palace was renovated. In 1987, a pedestrian bridge connecting the manor with Biržai was restored.

The Astravas manor dam-bridge was restored in 2005 and included in the Register of Protected Cultural Heritage. While a new dam was built, the old one remains as a historical feature, serving as a reminder of the past.

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Astravas, located in the town of Biržai, is situated in a picturesque location on the northern shore of Lake Širvėna, next to the Apaščia River. In 1811, Duke Dominik Radziwiłł sold the Biržai lands to Count Michał Tyszkiewicz. After lengthy legal disputes, the Tyszkiewicz family gained the right to govern these lands in 1844. Although they decided not to restore the old fortress, they established a new residence on the other side of the lake. In 1862, magnificent two-story palaces with a belvedere tower were built in Astravas. These palaces, designed in the style of Italian villas, are among the most impressive manor residences of the Romantic period in Lithuania. The palaces housed valuable archives of the Tyszkiewicz and Radziwiłł families, a library with collections of books from the 15th to the 17th century, as well as collections of archaeology, ethnography, and art, which were transferred to Vilnius and Paris in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In addition to the manor palace, the complex consisted of various buildings, including stables, a kennel, a mill, farm buildings, and a unique dam bridge. The palace was surrounded by a beautiful park with ponds, and in 1860, a bridge-dam was built,

which regulated the water level of Lake Širvėna until 1986. At the entrance stood two impressive lions brought from Saint Petersburg. In 1938, they were moved to the garden of the Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, and the Astravas Palace is now adorned with cement copies of the lions. Historical Events of Astravas Manor In 1924, a dairy was established in Astravas Manor, and later, it housed a flax bag and twine factory. In 1928, a linen textile factory called “Siūlas” began operating, which still operates today. Between 1956 and 1965, the palace was restored, part of the park was arranged, and in 1987, a pedestrian bridge connecting the manor estate with the town of Biržai was rebuilt. The bridge underwent a major renovation in 2019. Astravas Manor Dam Bridge In 1860, Count Jonas Tyszkiewicz built an arched dam bridge in Astravas, which regulated the waters of Lake Širvėna until 1986. The dam was restored in 2005 and included in the Register of Protected Cultural Properties as part of the Astravas Manor complex. Currently, a new dam has been built, but the old one remains as a historical detail. Water still flows over the old dam, draining from Lake Širvėna, recalling the history and culture.

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