Lida Castle

It was one of several citadels erected by Grand Duke Gediminas[citation needed] of Lithuania in the early 14th century to defend his lands against the expansion of the Teutonic Knights.

[1] The site selected for the castle is naturally defended by the Kamenka and Lida rivers to east and west.

Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas gave it to his ally, Khan Tokhtamysh, who settled "in a yurt near the castle".

[2] In 1406, the family of Yury of Smolensk was locked up in Lida as hostages; his attempt to take the castle and liberate them was not successful.

After the city fire of 1891, the south-western tower and parts of the western wall of the castle were torn down to provide stone for repairing fire-damaged houses.