Kėdainiai minaret

Kėdainiai minaret
Kėdainiai minaret
Religion
Affiliation	Islam
Location
Location	Kėdainiai, Lithuania
Municipality	Kėdainiai district municipality
	Shown within Lithuania
Geographic coordinates	55°10′22″N 23°35′01″E / 55.1729°N 23.5835°E
Architecture
Type	Minaret
Style	Ottoman
Completed	1880
Height (max)	25 m (82 ft)

The Kėdainiai minaret is the only free-standing minaret in Lithuania. It is located in the city of Kėdainiai, in the city park, between the Kėdainiai train station and the Dotnuvėlė River.

History

The minaret was erected in 1880 by a Russian general, Eduard Totleben, who was the owner of an estate in Kėdainiai. It was built to commemorate his service in the Russian-Turkish war, in which he had participated. Local legend claims that it was constructed in memory of his Turkish lover.^[1]^[2]

Architecture

The minaret is typical of Ottoman architecture. It is needle-topped, 25 meters high and has a balcony which can be reached by interior stairs. There are two plaques affixed to its wall. One is written in Ottoman Turkish and describes a beautiful palace built by the Ottoman sultan. The second plaque bears an Arabic inscription from the Koran, sura Al-Baqara, verse 255 āyatu-l-kursī which says "Who is it that can intercede with Him (God) except by His (God's) permission" ?

The minaret is a local architectural monument.

References

^ http://www.bernardinai.lt/straipsnis/2010-08-11-kedainiu-krasto-istorijoje-totlebenu-seimos-pedsakai/48794/print ^{[dead link]}
^ "Mūsų paveldas - Objektas". Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2012-03-21.

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[1] ttp://www.bernardinai.lt/straipsnis/2010-08-11-kedainiu-krasto-istorijoje-totlebenu-seimos-pedsakai/48794/print ^{[dead link]}

[2] "Mūsų paveldas - Objektas". Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2012-03-21.

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