Astravo dvaras

About

Astravas Manor is one of the most elegant 19th‑century estates in northern Lithuania, built for the Radziwiłł family on a picturesque peninsula of Lake Širvėna. Designed in a romantic neo‑classical style, it became a symbol of aristocratic life in Biržai, surrounded by a landscaped park, long avenues, and scenic water views. One interesting fact is that the manor was once connected to Biržai town by a wooden bridge more than half a kilometre long, one of the longest of its kind in Lithuania. Inside, the manor reveals restored interiors that reflect the refined tastes of its former owners. Visitors can admire spacious halls, decorative ceilings, and period‑style furnishings that evoke the atmosphere of a noble residence. Exhibitions often highlight the Radziwiłł legacy, local history, and cultural traditions of the region. The surrounding park is equally rewarding, with quiet paths, old trees, and views across the lake toward Biržai Castle, creating a harmonious ensemble of architecture and landscape.

Biržai Lithuania

Location

Astravas Manor is located in the Astravas borough of Biržai, a town in northern Lithuania near the Latvian border. The manor stands on the northern shore of Lake Širvėna, on the Astravas Peninsula, and is reached via Lithuania’s longest pedestrian footbridge over a lake, which connects it directly to the town center and Biržai Castle complex. Nearby attractions are all within easy reach. The most prominent is Biržai Castle, a well-preserved bastion fortress with the Biržai Region Museum “Sėla,” interactive warfare exhibitions, and restored fortifications, just a short walk across the lake. The long pedestrian bridge over Lake Širvėna itself is a highlight, a romantic spot favored by newlyweds with beautiful views of the town and water. In the wider Biržai region, visitors can explore Kirkilai Landscape Reserve with its dramatic karst sinkholes and the Kirkilai Observation Tower for panoramic views, the legendary Cow Cave with its underground lake, Smardone Spring in Likėnai Park, Julius Janonis Square, the Evangelical Reformed Church, the narrow-gauge railway complex, and the Biržai Tourism and Business Information Centre for guided tours and maps.