Kavarskas (; pl, Kowarsk), with a population of only 700, is the fourth smallest city in
Lithuania. The
Šventoji River flows through the town. In 1956 near Kavarskas a water lifting station was built and part of the
Šventoji River's water was channeled to the
Nevėžis River
The Nevėžis () is the sixth longest river in Lithuania and one of the main tributaries of the Nemunas. Its length is , and it flows only within the geographical confines of Lithuania.[Alexander Jagiellon
Alexander Jagiellon ( pl, Aleksander Jagiellończyk, lt, Aleksandras Jogailaitis; 5 August 1461 – 19 August 1506) of the House of Jagiellon was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and later also King of Poland. He was the fourth son of Casimir IV Jag ...]
transferred the estate to Stanislovas Kovarskis, the treasurer of the king. As he had no successors, the estate was inherited by his brother, Andrius Kovarskis, the canon of the
Vilnius Cathedral
The Cathedral Basilica of St Stanislaus and St Ladislaus of Vilnius ( lt, Vilniaus Šv. Stanislovo ir Šv. Vladislovo arkikatedra bazilika; pl, Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława Biskupa i św. Władysława, historical: ''Kościół Kated ...
. Thus, the name of the Little Pienionys estate was changed to Kavarskas.
In written sources, Kavarskas was first mentioned in 1538. In that year, a church was built. In the 16th century, Kavarskas and the surrounding area belonged to nobles
Astikai
Astikai ( la, Astikus, pl, Ościk, ''Ościkowicze'' or ''Ostik'') was a Lithuanian noble family, that prospered in late 14th and early 17th centuries. Kristinas Astikas, a noble from Kernavė, was the founder of the family. There is some vague ...
, later –
Ogiński (Oginskiai),
Tyszkiewicz (Tiškevičiai), and
Siesickiai.
During the summer of 1941, the Jewish population was murdered in a mass execution perpetrated by Germans and Lithuanian nationalists.
In 1956, Kavarskas was granted town rights.
References
Cities in Lithuania
Cities in Utena County
Vilkomirsky Uyezd
Anykščiai District Municipality
Holocaust locations in Lithuania
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