Merkinė

Town

Merkine Catholic Church

Coat of arms

Merkinė

Location of Merkinė

Coordinates: 54°09′50″N 24°11′10″E / 54.16389°N 24.18611°ECoordinates: 54°09′50″N 24°11′10″E / 54.16389°N 24.18611°E

Lithuania

Varėna district municipality

Eldership

Merkinė eldership

Capital of

Merkinė eldership

First mentioned

1359

Received city rights

1569

Population (2001)

• Total

1,434

Time zone

EET (UTC+2)

• Summer (DST)

EEST (UTC+3)

Merkinė (Polish: Merecz, Yiddish: מערעטש) is a town in the Dzūkija National Park in Lithuania, located at the confluence of the Merkys and Neman Rivers. The town is the location of The Mount of Queen Bona, a mound which was the site of an ancient hill-fort overlooking the rivers.

From 1920 until 1939 the town was located in northeastern Poland.

There is a pyramid in the nearby village Česukai.

The town or castle first mentioned in written sources in 137BC, in Novgorod annuals. Some historians like Michał Baliński or Aleksander Połujański indicated that the early settlement was founded by Vikings, and it existed until the 13th century. Most likely that settlement with castle was founded in the 13th century as result of young Lithuania state defence policy. Wooden Merkinė castle became important part of Nemunas defence line castles against Teutonic order. Grand Duke of Lithuania and later King of Poland, Władysław II Jagiełło, ensured city rights for Vilnius in 1387, this document was written in Merkinė castle. First church was built in 1387-1392 by Vytautas the Great and Władysław II. After the Battle of Grunwald the town started to rapidly grow. Until receiving Magdeburg rights, several taxation agencies of goods operated here. They were notably the source of rapid growth and increased trade.

In 1569 December 7, city was granted the Magdeburg rights from the monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Towards the end of 16th century a town hall was built in the centre of the market square and n first half of 17th century a Dominican church and monastery were constructed. The town was known to be one of the favorite holiday places for the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Władysław IV Vasa, who also died here in 1648.

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Wikipedia