:Biržai

The exact origin of the city name is not known, but it is derived from the Lithuanian word {{lang|lt|beržas}} (which means birch).{{cite web|title=Lietuvos miestų pavadinimų kilmė – tik upės ir pavardės?|trans-title=The origin of Lithuanian city names - only rivers and surnames?|url=https://www.delfi.lt/grynas/gyvenimas/lietuvos-miestu-pavadinimu-kilme-tik-upes-ir-pavardes-54756379|date=28 January 2012|access-date=29 September 2023|website=Delfi|lang=lt}} The name of the city in other languages includes {{langx|de|Birsen}}; {{langx|pl|Birże}}, {{langx|ru|Биржай}} (and pre-1917 {{lang|lt|Биржи}}); {{langx|yi|בירז|translit=Birzh}}.{{cite web|url=http://iajgs.org/cemetery/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8211:birzai&catid=186:lithuania&Itemid=35|publisher=International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies|title=BIRZAI: Kovno|access-date=2009-07-01}} It is simplified to Birzai in English.

File:Lithuania Biržai Vasa Privilege.jpg|240x240px]]

The city's first written mention dates to 1455. The construction of Biržai Castle began in 1586, and the town was granted Magdeburg Rights in 1589.{{cite web|title=Istorija|publisher=City of Biržai|url=http://www.birzai.lt/index.php?485904789|access-date=2009-07-22|language=lt}} In 1575, as preparation for the castle's construction, a dam was built at the confluence of the Agluona and Apaščia Rivers, and the artificial Lake Širvėna, covering about {{convert|40|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, was created. It is the oldest surviving artificial lake in Lithuania.

The town's history is closely associated with the Radziwiłł family (Lithuanian: Radvila). Jerzy Radziwiłł was the first noble to settle in the city. Later, after his daughter, Barbara Radziwiłł married the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Sigismund II Augustus in 1547, the power and influence of the family grew immensely. The Radvila family established a Protestant church and school, and the town became a cultural center of the Protestant Reformation in Lithuania.

The local community of Lithuanian Jews, which settled in the Duchy of Biržai at the end of the 16th century, was influential, establishing an interest-free loan society, two major flour mills, and an international linen export business. The Islamic Lipka Tatars performed military, police, and postal duties for the Radziwill family.{{cite web|url=http://www.ziemgala.lt/z/2002_02_11.html |title=SUMMARY – ŽIEMGALA INVESTIGATIONS |publisher=Žiemgala Journal |access-date=2009-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823013003/http://www.ziemgala.lt/z/2002_02_11.html |archive-date=2007-08-23 }}

File:Biržai XVII a. pradžioje.jpg and city in 17th century]]

During the Wars with Sweden, Biržai Castle was an important point of defense. In 1625, Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, attacked the castle with 8,000 soldiers and it was forced to surrender. The castle was left in ruins and was rebuilt, only to be burnt in 1655. In 1662–1669, it was rebuilt again in the Renaissance style. On 9 March 1701, August II the Strong and Peter I of Russia (Peter the Great) signed a pact in the castle to unite their forces against Sweden. However, in 1704 the castle was completely destroyed and was left in ruins until its restoration in the 1990s.

File:Lithuania Birże Tyszkiewicz Palace.jpg in Astravas suburb]]

The town's population suffered greatly due to wars and religious conflicts between the Protestants and Catholics. In the late 18th century, Biržai lost its town rights. The Radziwiłłs lost their wealth and influence, and Biržai was sold to the Tyszkiewicz family to cover debts in 1811. In 1849–1862, the Tyszkiewicz family built the neoclassic Astravas Manor palace across the lake from the site of the original castle.

In 1869 the town had about 2,600 residents. Thirty years later the population had grown to 4,400.

During World War II, the entire Jewish population of Biržai was annihilated. 15 Jews were shot to death by German soldiers at the Biržai Jewish cemetery in July 1941.{{cite web|title=Mass Murder of the Jews at Biržai Jewish Cemetery|url=http://holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search//page/1/item/148/|work=Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania|publisher=Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum|access-date=27 May 2014}} On 8 August 1941, Gestapo and Lithuanian collaborators murdered the entire Jewish population of the town, some 2,400 people, by shooting them to death at a mass grave in a forest grove {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=off}} outside the town.{{cite web|title=Mass Murder of the Jews from Biržai at the Pakamponys Forest|url=http://holocaustatlas.lt/EN/#a_atlas/search//page/1/item/149/|work=Holocaust Atlas of Lithuania|publisher=Vilna Gaon State Jewish Museum|access-date=27 May 2014}}

The town was almost completely burned down during the war. Oldtown was destroyed.

In 1968 the population reached 10,000. Currently there are 10,146 people living in Biržai.

File:BirzaiVytautasStreet1939.jpg

After the unrest and conflicts settled down, 19th-century wooden residential house building styles prevailed. The ongoing industrial revolution at the time meant that asbestos or metal-sheet roofing was common. With the majority of buildings being wooden, masonry buildings eventually emerged to battle cold winters and hot summers. In the early 20th century, central roads were cobblestone. During the World Wars, the old town was destroyed and the majority of wooden buildings in the main street burned down.

During the Soviet rule, the town's population grew to twice its previous size. To accommodate the growth, around 60 new apartment buildings were constructed and main streets asphalted. There was also an increase in new houses being built from bricks instead of wood, and the majority of them were left unplastered.

File:RenovationsInBirzai.jpg

With the help of the European Union's Development Assistance grants, the town was able to regain a unique style: Since 2014, numerous apartment building renovations were carried out with more planned. The road infrastructure is also being improved and some new construction, built to attract visitors and to restore the historic appearance, is in progress.

File:BirzaiCastleArsenal2018.jpg

File:KirkilaiTower.jpg

File:BirzaiSinkhole.jpg

The northern part of the town, along with Lake Širvėna, lies within Biržai Regional Park. About 9,000 sinkholes have been identified in the park,{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=46000151101|title=PROJECT ENVIRONMENT|publisher=European Commission|access-date=2009-06-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024001751/http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=46000151101|archive-date=2012-10-24}} formed abruptly after gypsum in the soil has been dissolved by underground water. Some of these holes are dry, while others have become small ponds or lakes filled with water from the many underground rivers and streams. New holes appear annually. According to local legend, the 20-meter-deep sinkhole known as Karves ola (Cow's Cave) was discovered by a farmer after his cow disappeared. A tunnel at its bottom leads to a cave and underground lake.{{cite news |last=Mullett |first=Adam |url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20715/ |date=2008-06-18 |newspaper=The Baltic Times|title=A visit to holey ground |access-date=2009-06-19}}

{{Weather box

|location = Biržai (1991–2020 normals, extremes present)

|metric first = yes

|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 8.4

|Feb record high C = 13.0

|Mar record high C = 18.8

|Apr record high C = 27.8

|May record high C = 30.7

|Jun record high C = 33.3

|Jul record high C = 33.7

|Aug record high C = 33.3

|Sep record high C = 28.9

|Oct record high C = 22.7

|Nov record high C = 16.2

|Dec record high C = 10.5

|year record high C = 33.7

|Jan high C = -1.1

|Feb high C = -0.5

|Mar high C = 4.3

|Apr high C = 12.3

|May high C = 18.3

|Jun high C = 21.5

|Jul high C = 23.9

|Aug high C = 23.0

|Sep high C = 17.4

|Oct high C = 10.3

|Nov high C = 4.2

|Dec high C = 0.4

|year high C = 11.2

|Jan mean C = -3.3

|Feb mean C = -3.2

|Mar mean C = -0.5

|Apr mean C = 7.1

|May mean C = 12.6

|Jun mean C = 16.1

|Jul mean C = 18.4

|Aug mean C = 17.4

|Sep mean C = 12.5

|Oct mean C = 6.7

|Nov mean C = 2.2

|Dec mean C = -1.5

|year mean C = 7.1

|Jan low C = -5.8

|Feb low C = -6.0

|Mar low C = -2.9

|Apr low C = 2.3

|May low C = 6.9

|Jun low C = 10.8

|Jul low C = 13.2

|Aug low C = 12.4

|Sep low C = 8.4

|Oct low C = 3.8

|Nov low C = 0.2

|Dec low C = -3.6

|year low C = 3.3

|Jan record low C = -35.1

|Feb record low C = -35.5

|Mar record low C = -29.5

|Apr record low C = -16.7

|May record low C = -4.1

|Jun record low C = 0.1

|Jul record low C = 3.5

|Aug record low C = 0.4

|Sep record low C = -5.3

|Oct record low C = -10.8

|Nov record low C = -20.4

|Dec record low C = -31.4

|year record low C = -35.5

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 47

|Feb precipitation mm = 42

|Mar precipitation mm = 38

|Apr precipitation mm = 37

|May precipitation mm = 52

|Jun precipitation mm = 75

|Jul precipitation mm = 82

|Aug precipitation mm = 64

|Sep precipitation mm = 51

|Oct precipitation mm = 65

|Nov precipitation mm = 54

|Dec precipitation mm = 51

|year precipitation mm =

| Jan humidity = 88

| Feb humidity = 86

| Mar humidity = 79

| Apr humidity = 70

| May humidity = 68

| Jun humidity = 72

| Jul humidity = 75

| Aug humidity = 76

| Sep humidity = 82

| Oct humidity = 86

| Nov humidity = 90

| Dec humidity = 90

| year humidity =

|source 1 = Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service{{cite web |title=Klimato duomenys 1991-2020|url=https://www.meteo.lt/klimatas/lietuvos-klimatas/klimato-duomenys/ |website=Lietuvos hidrometeorologijos tarnyba |language=lt}}

|source 2 = NOAA (extremes 1961-1990){{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/LU/26531.TXT

| title = Biržai Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = March 22, 2015}}

|date = March 2015}}

File:Biržų bažnyčia.JPG

File:Birzai.JPG

• Rimantas Bagdonas, wrestler, world champion (1965)
• Jurgis Bielinis, publicist and one of the main organizers of illegal book-smuggling (knygnešiai) at the time of the Lithuanian press ban
• Kazys Binkis, poet, playwright
• Romualdas Brazauskas, basketball referee
• Bernardas Brazdžionis, poet
• Vladas Garastas, basketball coach
• Pinchas HaKohen Lintup (1851–1924), rabbi of Hasidic community
• Vidmantas Jažauskas, Lithuanian painter
• Petras Kalpokas, painter
• Mantas Kvedaravičius, film maker and anthropologist
• Vytautas Laisonas, Lithuanian national painter
• Jonas Mekas, film maker
• Alfonsas Petrulis, signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania
• Jerzy Radziwiłł, Great Hetman of Lithuania
• Žydrūnas Savickas, strongman
• Jokūbas Šernas, signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania
• Austra Skujytė, olympic silver medal winner
• Janusz Skumin Tyszkiewicz
• Balys Sruoga, poet, playwright, critic, and literary theorist
• Elchonon Wasserman, Lithuanian rabbi, disciple of Chofetz Chaim
• Deimantė Žilinskienė, Vice-Rector of Kazimieras Simonavičius University in Vilnius

• FK Širvėna Biržai (football club);
• Biržai Stadium (The current capacity of the stadium is 1,000 seats.);
• KK Biržai (basketball club).

• [http://en.vietoves.lt/?id=SO44BQ3CFJ Virtual Tour of Biržai]

{{commons category|Biržai}}

• [https://birzai.lt/ Official website of Biržai district municipality]
• [http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~4414~410003:Seconde-partie-de-la-carte-d-Europe?qvq=q:World_Area=%22Europe%22+;sort:Pub_Date,Pub_List_No_InitialSort;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=60&trs=482] Historical map of Lithuania by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon Anville with Birze

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{{Panevezys County}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birzai}}

Category:Cities in Lithuania

Category:Cities in Panevėžys County

Category:Municipalities administrative centres of Lithuania

Category:Historic Jewish communities in Lithuania

Category:Holocaust locations in Lithuania

Category:Biržai District Municipality