Gelgaudiškis

Infobox Settlement
name = Gelgaudiškis
nickname =
settlement_type = City
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Gelgaudiškis

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image_shield = Gelgaudiskis COA.gif
latd=55|latm=5|lats=0|latNS=N|longd=22|longm=59|longs=0|longEW=E
coordinates_display= inline,title
coordinates_type = region:LT_type:city(2000)
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
subdivision_type1 = Ethnographic region
subdivision_name1 = Sudovia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Autolink|Marijampolė County
subdivision_type3 = Municipality
subdivision_name3 = Šakiai district municipality
subdivision_type4 = Eldership
subdivision_name4 = Gelgaudiškis eldership
subdivision_type6 = Capital of
subdivision_name6 = Gelgaudiškis eldership
established_date = 15th century
established_title = First mentioned
established_date2 = 1958
established_title2= Granted city rights
population_total = 1,985
population_as_of = 2005
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3

Gelgaudiškis (pronunciation|Gelgaudiskis.ogg) is a city in the Šakiai district municipality, Lithuania. It is located convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on north of Šakiai. The city is just south of Neman River.

History

Before the end of the 14th century the area of Gelgaudiškis settlement and manor, positioned on the upper bank of Neman, belonged to the Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1504, King and Grand Duke Aleksander Jagiellon gave it away as a gift to his royal secretary Sapieżyc, progenitor to the szlachta family of Sapieha. Afterwards, the grange belonged to families of Massalski, Dembiński, Oziembłowski, Giełgud, Czartoryski, the Prussian barons von Keudell, and finally Komar family (till the beginning of World War I). In the interwar period, the establishment was nationalized and housed an orphanage and later a school.

The classicist palace was built in the first half of the 19th century by the family of von Keudell. After the fire of 1979 the palace was rebuilt and since remains unoccupied. It is surrounded by a garden and forested park with an area of 112 ha leading to Neman River.

The city and nearby castle is mentioned in "John Gielgud: The Authorized Biography", (by Sheridan Morely), as being the actors ancestral home and from where his family name originated.

Links

* [http://www.gelgaudiskis.lt Gelgaudiškis web page]