Kernavė is a small town located on the upper terrace of the Neris River, between the river and road No 116. Its name is derived from the Kernius family estate, established by Grand Duke Kernius around 1040.
The former capital, a complex of five hill-forts and the archaeological remains of a large medieval settlement, is located at the lower terrace of the Neris River and cannot be seen from the town. This lower terrace is known as the Pajauta Valley. Archaeological data suggests that the first settlers arrived in the late Palaeolithic Age, during the 9th-8th millennium BC. In the 13th century, Kernavė flourished as a town of feudal artisans and tradespeople. It was first mentioned in written sources in 1279 as the estate of Traidenis, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. However, in 1390, Crusaders destroyed the town, and the residents moved to the upper terrace of the river, where the current settlement is located.
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