Biržų tvirtovės arsenalas - nauja erdvė moksliniam, kultūriniam, edukaciniam vyksmui
LTBiržų bastioninė tvirtovė – XVI–XVIII a. karinis objektas – buvo reikšminga ne tik asmeninėms kunigaikščių Radvilų valdoms saugoti, bet ir pagrindinis forpostas, ginantis šiaurinę Lietuvos sieną. Anot Stasio Pinkaus1, per abu XVII a. karus su Švedija (1600–1629 ir 1655–1660) Biržų pilis buvo svarbiausia Lietuvos karinė tvirtovė. Kalbant apie XVII a. Biržus, iki pat XVIII a. pr. tai buvo miestas, nuolat siaubiamas karo audrų ir vėl iš naujo statomas, o kartu su miestu tą patį išgyveno ir Biržų tvirtovė, kuri, 1586–1589 m. Kristupo Radvilos Perkūno pastatyta, jau 1625 m. patyrė pirmą švedų smūgį, po kurio imta intensyviai atstatinėti. Karų sūkuryje tvirtovės atstatymo darbai užsitęsė iki pat XVII a. pab., bet Šiaurės karo užkluptus Biržus ginti pasiruošusi buvo moderni olandiška bastioninė tvirtovė. Šiaurės karo metu, 1704 m. tvirtovės įgulai kapituliavus, o švedams atsitraukiant išsprogdinus statinius, tvirtovė prarado strateginę reikšmę, tačiau neprarado savo vertės kaip vienintelis išlikęs olandiškas bastioninis gynybinis kompleksas Lietuvoje [p. 78].
ENThe aim of the article is to analyze and present the importance of restoration Biržai fortress arsenal’s building and its application to scientific, cultural, and educational works. In the 16th – 18th centuries, Biržai fortress was a military object. In time of the Great Northern War in 1704, fortress garrison capitulated and Swedish forces during the retreat exploded all the buildings, as a consequence the castle lost its strategic value. Nevertheless, it has not lost the value as the only one extant defensive bastion complex of Dutch type in Lithuania. The arsenal of fortress was one of the most important, defensive complex buildings, whereas the arsenal of the dukes Radvilos was not inferior to royal armories. In the arsenal the exposition is displayed – the soldiership of the 16th – 18th centuries. The principles of exposition development are as follows: To use all local materials possessed by the museum at the maximum; To update substantial content of the exposition using virtual data, adapt to the children and the youth, involving the engaging details; To cooperate with other museums and the researchers of soldiership history; To invite friends of museum to help in obtaining the valuable exhibits.The exposition is framed for further education. The educative programs are prepared for the students’ and adults’ groups about the soldiership in the 16th – 18th centuries. In the future an educational space will be set up in arsenal building. The restored arsenal will enable to solve the following problems: in the building the new storages for the exhibits will be upholstered, a part of them will be open for the visitors of museum. The provided microclimate for storages will guarantee a good safety for the exhibits. Furthermore, the special laboratory will be upholstered for the conservation of numerous archeological findings. One of the biggest conference halls in Biržai is set up in arsenal building. Cozy and attractive space, modern equipment, a possibility to get food take in, already today attract organizers of conferences (8 conferences have been held there, 5 of them were international). The environment is decorated by works of metal and plastic artist – Adelė Zinkevičiūtė from Biržai. It is a collection of metal reliefs (it is a present from the author to the museum). Presentational conference of the arsenal has opened new possibilities for the international cooperation.
