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Baisogala

Coordinates: 55°38′20″N 23°43′20″E / 55.63889°N 23.72222°E / 55.63889; 23.72222
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baisogala
Town
Coat of arms of Baisogala
Baisogala is located in Lithuania
Baisogala
Baisogala
Location of Baisogala
Coordinates: 55°38′20″N 23°43′20″E / 55.63889°N 23.72222°E / 55.63889; 23.72222
Country Lithuania
Ethnographic regionAukštaitija
CountyŠiauliai County
MunicipalityRadviliškis district municipality
EldershipBaisogala eldership
Capital ofBaisogala eldership
First mentioned1539
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
2,034
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Baisogala is a small town in Lithuania. It is situated on the crossroads of KėdainiaiŠeduva and RaseiniaiŠeduva roads.[1] According to the 2011 census, it had 2,034 residents.[2]

History

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Baisogala Manor, 19th century
Baisogala Manor, 2019
Basiogala culture centre

Baisogala is first mentioned in written sources in 1539 when King Sigismund I the Old established a parish with seat in the town.[3] Archeologists discovered cemeteries from the 5th and 6th centuries near the town suggesting the people inhabited the area well before the 16th century.[4] In the 17th century, the town was granted to the Radvila family and changed hands a few times. In 1791 the town was granted city privileges according to the Magdeburg law.[4] Eventually, the town was bought in 1830 by Joseph Komar, a former colonel of Napoleon Bonaparte.[3] The Komar family remained in Baisogala until 1940 when the Soviets arrested and deported the family to Kazakhstan.[3] Their large and decorated manor is quite well preserved and surrounded by 12 hectares (30 acres) of park.

Religion

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The first church was built by King Sigismund II Augustus, but it did not survive. The church in the present location was built in 1781 and rebuilt in 1882 with financial support from the Komar family.[3]

Economy

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In 2024, the government sign a deal with a German defence company Rheinmetall to build an artillery ammunition plant.[5] The company will invest €180m into the plant, becoming a major employer in Baisogala.[6]

Notable people from Baisogala

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References

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  1. ^ Jankevičiūtė, Giedrė (2006). Lietuva (in Lithuanian). R. Paknio leidykla. p. 141. ISBN 9986-830-97-4.
  2. ^ "2011 census". Statistikos Departamentas (Lithuania). Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Semaška, Algimantas (2006). Kelionių vadovas po Lietuvą: 1000 lankytinų vietovių norintiems geriau pažinti gimtąjį kraštą (in Lithuanian) (4th ed.). Vilnius: Algimantas. p. 220. ISBN 9986-509-90-4.
  4. ^ a b Simas Sužiedėlis, ed. (1970–1978). "Baisogala". Encyclopedia Lituanica. Vol. I. Boston, Massachusetts: Juozas Kapočius. pp. 241–242. LCCN 74-114275.
  5. ^ "Rheinmetall to invest over €180m into ammunition plant in Lithuania". LRT. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Rheinmetall ammo plant in Lithuania to be launched by mid-2026". LRT. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.