Today is the third day of our stay in Vilnius. The mood is great, the weather is wonderful! Of course, it’s cool, as for the penultimate day of August, but there is sun and, finally, blue sky overhead! And we have a plan!
Yesterday, while carefully examining the remaining cash in my wallet, I noticed a two-lita bill. The reverse depicted some kind of castle. The same castle was depicted on boxes of chocolates and souvenir postcards. We met him in all the souvenir shops. Then we came across the same castle, or rather its image, on the layout of advertising brochures at the hotel reception. It turned out that this is Trakai Castle! Oops! But we completely forgot about him... It’s decided, let’s go!
Trakai, a small town of regional importance, is located 30 km from Vilnius. Very close. Of course, we could have walked away, just kidding, of course, but we decided to use the intercity bus service.
The road to the bus station was already familiar to us. At the ticket office we found out where and from where buses to Trakai depart and that tickets can be bought from the conductor. The cashier, such a nice woman, seeing us as tourists, chose a direct flight for us from a variety of different buses. At the end we sat down, and at the end we stood up so as not to twitch in fear of missing the right stop. Thank you!
We had about 20 minutes left before the bus departed, so we went to the railway station to scout out the situation. Tomorrow we had a flight to Kyiv, which meant we had to decide how to get to the airport. And although we got this information from the Internet, we still had to check it.
When we returned, the bus was ready to board. His age surprised me a little, Europe after all. But the cleanliness, velor covering of the seats and the general well-groomed interior were pleasing to the eye. There were no tourists with us. Some local pensioners and summer residents. A complete feeling that we are at home. The only thing that, besides absolute grooming, destroyed the ideal home picture to smithereens was a conductor with a cash register! Just think, a conductor with a cash register!
The Vilnius-Trakai road will be remembered for a long time. It was quite comfortable on the bus, but its constant stops at every roadside pole were annoying. And the most interesting thing is that the driver stopped upon request, but only at organized stops, where there were signs. But these signs stood every 300-400 meters, it felt like every homeowner put up their own road sign. In short, for the sake of clarity, we covered 30 km in just over an hour. Horror!
I can’t say that I wasted an entire hour on the road. Outside the window flashed villages, holiday villages, forests, and forest edges. Beauty!.. And an indescribable feeling that you are at home, in Ukraine.
While I was immersed in the Lithuanian reality running outside the window, the bus finally arrived in Trakai.
We got off the bus, looked around, and what now?
No string of tourists, no signs, no map of the area: Okay: First, we found out the bus schedule in the direction of Vilnius - they are running well. Well, then the direction of movement to the castle.
The walk to the castle turned out to be decent. We walked for about 35-40 minutes. Perhaps it was possible to get there by public transport, but we didn’t see it on the roads of Trakai. There were stops, but there was no transport (buses, minibuses or taxis) :)
Along the way, among residential areas there were shops, temples, closed restaurants (it was still morning, a decent restaurant was closed in the morning). It was decided to leave the temples for later, first the castle. Well, what about later?! What if we go the other way or will they be closed?! At least with one eye :) With one eye, everyone has long understood this, I never succeed.
We even managed to take a wrong turn once. But we were in no hurry to get upset, especially since the road led us to an amazing lake and picturesque ruins.
It's no secret that Trakai is a city on lakes. But few people know how picturesque these lakes are and how clear the water is in them. And also ducks, fish, swans. Islands and islets. Boats and sailing yachts...
Trakai Castle
Against the backdrop of a flawless summer sky, the castle under the red tiles greeted us not at all menacingly, but somehow with a puppet-like naivety. You look at the fortress walls, gates, towers and it seems that the trumpets are about to start singing and a medieval knight in armor will appear. Modern sailing boats and people in jeans bring a certain surprise to the landscape:) I just want to shout: “Leave the set! Get out of the frame! Don’t disturb the harmony!” But I don’t shout, because I’m not a director, but an ordinary capricious tourist :)
The castle breathes the Middle Ages restored in the 60s. The neat turrets and walls of the fortress, lined with red brick, are too neat and perfectly smooth. The courtyard and wooden stairs seem to have been licked for the perfect picture. And the picture is truly perfect.
The courtyard greeted us with a tiny queue at the ticket office for tickets, a detailed map of the premises, inviting us to make a choice whether to buy tickets or not.
I don’t know, maybe this ideality scared us away. We didn’t wander around the courtyard, we looked around carefully, studied all the “educational” tools (shackles, cages, guillotine) put up for inspection in the open air, and that was it.
Courtyard and scary "educational" tools
But we enjoyed a walk around the fortress along the perimeter of the island. We sat on a bench overlooking the lake. We admired the swan families, the quiet surface of the lakes, catamarans and boats. We took a breath of fresh air and enjoyed the last rays of sunshine of the passing summer.
The embankment by the lake deserves a special story. Restaurants, souvenir shops, children's entertainment, boats and catamarans, and most importantly, gorgeous views! Drinking a cup of coffee, under the soft rays of the sun, looking at the calm lake - just what the doctor ordered. But we didn't drink coffee. I didn't drink coffee!!! Not because there were no places (they were, but there were really few of them), and not because the coffee was expensive (regular price), but because: Sorry for the detail, I didn’t want to, I would say, I had an urge to go to the toilet :)
And the rest is history. There is a sign, but there is no toilet. In search of him, we walked from one end of the embankment to the other. No, you could stupidly go into a cafe, get a coffee and use the toilet, but there is a sign and the embankment is not big. As a result, I spat and went to the “clients only” toilet in the farthest and most expensive restaurant. You should have seen the eyes of the waitress when I put one Euro on a saucer at the cash register with the words “for the toilet” :) (I would have left it in the toilet, but there was no saucer for tips). In short, keep in mind that the public toilet is only on the territory of the Castle.
This is the entire embankment. Now it’s clear why I didn’t use the “service” of a cup of coffee in a coffee shop :)
This ended our glorious walk around Trakai Castle. On the way to the bus station we went to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, famous for the icon of the Trakai Mother of God, and went to a christening. God bless the child and his parents.
It was very inconvenient to intrude on someone else's sacrament. Therefore, we were able to see and photograph the temple only from the edge. But even from the outside it becomes clear that there is something to see in the church - icons, frescoes, ancient documents. I took a photo in the hope of reading as much as possible about the temple on the Internet, but so far I’m not very good at it (finding information): (Here, at least, is the icon of the Trakai Mother of God. This fresco was painted on the wall, it was found and is it being restored, or has this image been transferred to the wall, or what is it?
If you decide to go to Trakai with your own transport, keep in mind that there may be problems with parking at the castle. The city authorities have installed parking along the road. Fee 2 litas/hour. But there are still not enough places for everyone. And then the local population rushes to the rescue!
All residents of the castle area are engaged in a unique business - they have turned all the adjacent space into parking lots. It looks a little strange, but it somehow solves the problem. The price of private parking spaces is the same as established by the state - 2 litas/hour.
So, we arrived at 11.30 and left at 14.15. We returned in a completely packed (there were no free seats, no standing room) more comfortable, almost a tourist bus, heading from somewhere far away to Vilnius. The ticket price was one lita higher than the previous route, but we got there non-stop in half an hour
On the second day of our stay in Vilnius, after visiting all the main attractions of the capital of Lithuania (once and twice), we decided to visit the city of Trakai, where one of the most beautiful and majestic castles is located, which has never been conquered - Trakai Castle.
Our apartment was a seven-minute walk from the bus station, which made any trip from Vilnius to other cities a breeze.
At 7 am we got up. And at 8:15 we were already leaving the central bus station of Vilnius on a nice, albeit old bus, having paid 1.77 euros per person for a ticket.
The distance from Vilnius to Trakai is only 27 kilometers, which translates into approximately 30-40 minutes drive. Buses run every half hour.
The only thing, keep in mind that it is better to leave Trakai back before 12:00. Because the next bus will only be at 13:30. And spending an hour and a half in a city where, apart from Trakai Castle, there is nothing special to see, is a dubious pleasure.
Trakai is a small town. Its area is about 12 kilometers, and only about 5,500 people live on its territory.
From the local Trakai bus station to the castle it is about 2 km. Unfortunately, you can only get there on foot or by your own car, because... There is no public transport to the Castle. At least that's what we were told.
However, the walk to Trakai Castle was interesting. Time after time, we saw nice private houses for rent, churches and other architectural structures.
If someone needs to buy something, on the way to the Castle you will pass by several large supermarkets.
Trakai Castle
The castle is located in the middle of the deep Lake Galvé. From a distance he seems like a mighty silent warrior. Needless to say, if the developed system of defensive structures made the castle impregnable. It has never been conquered.
Trakai Castle is the only castle in Eastern Europe built on an island and one of the largest castles in Lithuania.
To get to it you need to cross two wooden bridges. One of them will take you to the monument to the Grand Duke of Lithuania
And the second - already up to the castle.
At the entrance to the fortress there is a map. To the left is the cash register window.
The ticket price for visiting Trakai Castle is 5.21 euros per person. For the opportunity to take photographs in the castle, they will charge you another euro.
We buy tickets and go look around.
The castle is a magnificent example of Gothic architecture and consists of several parts: the so-called pre-castle (inner courtyard), the donjon, and the prince's palace.
The princely palace is located in the very center, surrounded by a thick fortress wall and protected by defensive towers.
We go up the stairs and go to the Prince's palace.
Along the way we find a shooting gallery.
Here you can shoot with a bow or rifles.
A little more and we are at the goal.
This is the courtyard of the palace.
The living quarters of the castle were connected to each other by internal wooden galleries.
And between the prince’s bedroom and the treasury chamber there was a secret passage that led to the courtyard.
The castle was equipped with an air heating system: hot air rose through the pipes and warmed the cold stone walls
Representative hall
This is the most elegant room in the Castle. It occupies the entire right wing of the first floor.
The walls of the hall are authentic. The windows of the hall were decorated with stained glass and frescoes, the main subjects of which were scenes from the life of the great princes.
During the reign of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas, and also after his death, kings and ambassadors of neighboring and distant countries were received in this hall. Here treaties were signed, balls were held, and the prince’s council also met.
Nowadays, the hall is used for various social events. The hall has excellent acoustics, so it often hosts various concerts of chamber and medieval music.
It has also become very popular to award graduation certificates to students of Trakai schools.
Courtroom
In the 16th century, a class system of courts was formed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Castle, Zemsky and Podkormsky.
Each of these ships had its own specialization. The Castle Court heard criminal cases. Zemsky - civilians. Podkormsky – land.
Castle courts were subordinate to elders or governors, who appointed officials in this court (president, judge and scribe).
Subsequently, the Castle Court was abolished, and its functions were transferred to the Zemsky Court, and later to the Regional Court.
Trakai History Museum
And, of course, the Trakai Historical Museum is located in the Castle. It was founded in 1948 and is an integral historical component of the castle. There are a lot of different interesting exhibits, gizmos and interior items from those distant times on display here. According to preliminary estimates, about 300,000 valuables.
These include abundant collections of furniture, hunting trophies, pipes, seals, items made of enamel, porcelain, glass, beads, and bone items.
Let the photos speak for me
This is a comparison of the materials from which the castle was built and those used in its restoration.
I was especially delighted by the entire installations of actions and events of past times.
When my wife and I were walking around the neighborhood, we witnessed a comical situation. The brave dog Myra decided to hunt a duck. She jumped into the water after the bird and, like a shark, smelling blood, pursued the prey to the last.
This continued until the duck flapped its wings and flew to another place.
The dog turned around and swam back to the shore.
However, as soon as the duck appeared nearby again, Myra again set off in pursuit.
These dogs are so forgetful.
Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour of Trakai Castle. In the next article I will tell you where you can eat inexpensively in Vilnius and which restaurants to visit.
See you!
The Kaunas–Vilnius–Trakai route is good because it is suitable for any time of year, budget and type of transport. In a week you can see a lot of interesting things without having time to get bored or, conversely, tired. It is for those who love: walks through the Old Town, sights, architecture, castles, monasteries, museums, restaurants, cafes, clubs, shopping.
The distance between Vilnius and Kaunas is 100 km along the A1 highway. You can stay for the whole week in Vilnius, but then you will have little time to explore Kaunas, so it is better to book accommodation in these cities separately. I recommend starting from Kaunas, because... the return route usually lies through Vilnius. The plan for your independent travel in Lithuania is as follows: Kaunas 2 days – Vilnius 3 days with departure to Trakai. In total, the journey is a full week.
Kaunas
Kaunas will delight you with low prices for accommodation and food. Depending on your preferences, choose an overnight stay in the center of the Old or New Town. The medieval city has an atmosphere of silence, history and romance. Take a closer look at four-star hotels within a radius of 500 meters from Town Hall Square. We lived in the restored historical building of the Daugirdas Hotel overlooking the church, it was very comfortable. The center of the New Town stretches along Laisves Aleja. Most of the hotels, cafes and restaurants are located here. This is a modern part of the city with active traffic, shopping and nightlife, especially suitable for young people. All hotels in the center of Kaunas
Visiting all the interesting places in both parts of the city in one day is an impossible mission, so you need to choose in advance what to see and calculate your strength. Kaunas is beautiful both during the day and in the evening. At the information center on Town Hall Square you can pick up a free map and go explore the medieval buildings. Near the Town Hall is the largest Gothic cathedral in Lithuania - the Catholic Basilica of St. Apostles Peter and Paul, admission is free. It is worth visiting Kaunas Castle, built at the confluence of the Neris and Nemunas rivers. The old town is small, after a walk it’s good to sit in a cafe or restaurant on Vilniaus Street, and then take a ride on the funicular to Aleksotas, with a beautiful view from above.
The most popular museums of Kaunas are located in the New Town: the Devils Museum, the M.K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, and the Vytautas the Great Military Museum. The funicular in Žaliakalnis takes you to the Memorial Church of the Resurrection. Walking in this part of the city can be combined with shopping - shops are located right on Laisves Alley.
Trips around Kaunas
10 km from the city is Pažaislis Monastery. This is an example of late Italian Baroque from the 17th century with beautiful frescoes and the famous icon of the Mother of God of Pajaisli. Along the way there will be the Kaunas “sea” and the largest oak park in Europe. In summer you can relax and swim on the well-maintained beach; at other times of the year, a few hours are enough for the entire trip.
Pažaislis Monastery 50 km from Kaunas and half an hour drive is located Kėdainiai. We have been to this small town 2 times. Thanks to the noble nobles Radziwill, Kėdainiai played an important role in the life of Lithuania; their family mausoleum is located in the Church of the Evangelical Reformers. In the compact city center there are churches of different concessions. On the embankment of the Nevėžys River there is a monument to Nobel laureate in literature Czesław Miłosz, a native of Kėdainiai County. There is a minaret in the park near the railway station. I recommend spending at least half a day in Kedaine. And if you want to stay longer, book a room at the historic Grejaus Namas Hotel, which has the best restaurant in town.
Kėdainiai
Accommodation in Vilnius will cost more, but there is plenty to choose from. We stayed in both hotels and apartments. The city center is bounded on one side by Pylimo Street, on the other by Maironio, the rivers Vilna and Neris. The main landmarks are Town Hall and Cathedral Squares; if you are close to them, then you are in the center. When choosing accommodation for motorists, it is important to check the availability of parking, because... it's paid everywhere. will help you navigate prices and location.
Vilnius has a large Old Town. The most beautiful entrance to it is from the Gate of Dawn (Ausros Vartu). When you reach Town Hall Square, stop by the information center; a tour bus stops nearby, but it’s better to walk. The most interesting and visited sights of Vilnius: Cathedral, City Hall, Gate of Dawn, Upper Castle, Hill of Crosses, Church of St. Anna and Bernardine Monastery, Church of St. Peter and Paul. Hidden in the alleys of the Old Town is the courtyard of Vilnius University, next to which stands the Presidential Palace. Free organ concerts are held in churches. The artists' quarter - the Republic of Užupis and the Vilnius Television Tower with a panoramic view of the city - deserve a special visit.
There are a lot of good cafes and restaurants in Vilnius. At reasonable prices you can try not only national cuisine, but also any other. In the evening everyone goes to bars and clubs. Shops are located on Gediminas Avenue and in large shopping centers across the Neris River: “Europe”, “Acropolis”, “Ozos”, “Panorama”.
Trips around Vilnius
Europa Park is located 26 km from the city towards Moletai. More than 100 sculptures are exhibited in the open-air museum of the Center of Europe.
Trakai Town and Castle on the Island located 30 km from Vilnius. If you are traveling by car, try to arrive at Trakai Castle early. Most of the time will be spent visiting and photographing the island castle, then walking through the ruins of the castle on the peninsula and Karaimu Street. Before you leave, be sure to dine at one of the Karaite restaurants and learn about their history. In the summer there are boat rides on Lake Galve, and in June and August they take place. Lovers of outdoor recreation in Trakai are offered accommodation in Lithuanian manors (houses with all amenities and a kitchen).
Thus, in a week you will visit the two largest cities of Lithuania (former and present capitals) and see the only Castle on the Island in Eastern Europe.
Trakai Castle is a late medieval castle in Lithuania. It is one of the most famous attractions in the country, constantly attracting crowds of tourists and used as a museum.
The beautiful landscape, lakes, stunning works of art, galleries, glass and wall paintings, and secret passages will delight even visitors indifferent to history. There is a history museum inside the castle, and knightly tournaments, fairs and craft days are also regularly held here. 
History of the construction of Trakai Castle
There is a Lithuanian legend according to which Prince Gediminas was hunting in these parts and discovered a beautiful place near a lake, on which he immediately wanted to build a fortress and make this area the capital of the country. The first castle was built at the end of the 14th century by his son, Prince Keistut. 
In 1377 he repelled the attack of the Teutonic Order. The last construction work was completed in 1409 and the castle turned into the most protected fortress in Europe, impregnable to enemy armies. After the final triumph over the Teutonic Order, the fortress gradually lost its strategic military significance, as the main enemy was defeated. The castle was turned into a residence, luxuriously decorated inside and became an active participant in various political events of the country. 
However, the remoteness of Trakai Castle from trade routes led it to decay; it was abandoned and after the war with Moscow in 1660 it turned into ruins. Russian troops were the first to break through the castle's defenses and destroy it. 
In 1905, the imperial Russian authorities decided to partially restore the ruins. In the First World War, the Germans brought in their specialists, who also made several attempts at restoration. Between 1935 and 1941, part of the walls of the ducal palace were strengthened and the southeast tower was rebuilt. After the end of World War II, a major reconstruction project was begun in 1946, ending only in 1961. 
Architecture and interior decoration
The restoration work carried out over almost half a century is amazing - the fortress has returned to its original appearance of the 15th century. The island castle is an architectural representative of the Gothic medieval style, but other style solutions were also used during construction. 
It is characterized by simplicity and moderate luxury of the interior rooms. The main building material for the construction of Trakai Castle was the so-called red Gothic brick. Stone blocks were used only in the foundations and upper parts of buildings, towers and walls. The castle is decorated with a variety of materials, including glazed roof tiles and stained glass windows. 
It is located on an area of about 1.8 hectares and consists of a courtyard and a castle on an elevated island. The courtyard and the prince's palace, built on three floors, are surrounded by a massive defensive wall and towers. The height of the walls reaches seven meters, and their thickness is three meters. 
Another means of medieval defense of the fortress is a moat, the maximum width of which in some places is twelve meters. The fortress walls facing Trakai have spacious loopholes for the purpose of defense with firearms. 
The windows of the palace are decorated with delightful stained glass windows; in the interior rooms there are paintings and frescoes that describe the life of the princes living here. Wooden galleries connect halls and rooms, and the princely chambers have a secret passage that opens out into the courtyard. It is curious that the castle was equipped with a heating system, incredibly modern in those days. In the basement there were boiler rooms that supplied hot air through special metal pipes located in the walls. 
Fun at the island castle
The castle today is the center of the region, hosting concerts, festivals and numerous events. The castle is also called "Little Marienburg". 
In 1962, a museum exposition opened here, introducing city guests to the history of the region. The castle is home to some of Lithuania's most interesting archaeological artifacts, religious objects, examples of medieval weapons, coins and finds preserved from excavations within the castle grounds. 
There is a numismatic exhibition on the ground floor. These coins, which were found by archaeologists during excavations, date back to the 16th century. And this is not surprising, because just at that time there was a mint in the castle. The oldest coins in the exhibition were made in 1360. 
Attractions in the surrounding area
Trakai was a multicultural colony in the Middle Ages and is still considered the home of the Karaites. Treat yourself to local culinary delights that combine the best of both cultures. Visit the picturesque Užutrakis Manor, whose park was designed at the end of the 19th century by Edouard François Andrey, a famous landscape architect from France. 
The building complex was built by the Tiškevičius family at the end of the 19th century, and the main building in the Italian neoclassical style was designed by the Polish architect Josef Hus. It is luxuriously furnished in the style of Ludwig XVI. There are twenty picturesque ponds in the park, and the area is surrounded by lakes Galve and Skaistis. 
In the lakes around Trakai you can swim, ride a yacht, water wheel or boat and visit the nearby wetlands. 
How to get to Trakai Castle from the capital of Lithuania?
Where is the city? Trakai is located approximately thirty kilometers from Vilnius. Due to its proximity to the capital, the city is crowded with tourists, especially in the summer. If you are traveling by car, be prepared to have difficulty finding a parking space. Since public parking is often full and has a fee, residents offer their private driveways as a cheaper option. Therefore, it is better to get to Trakai Castle by public transport. 
How to get there from Vilnius? From the Vilnius bus station, buses run to the castle about 50 times a day (most often from platform No. 6). You can also take the train from the train station. The journey will take about half an hour, although from the train station in Trakai you will have to walk through beautiful surroundings to the fortress. The address is Trakai, 21142, any resident of the town will tell you the way.
Trakai (Lithuania) - the most detailed information about the city with photos. The main attractions of Trakai with descriptions, guides and maps.
City of Trakai (Lithuania)
Trakai is a city in the northeastern part of Lithuania, located among endless Lithuanian lakes and forests. This is one of the oldest and most significant Lithuanian cities, in the past it was one of the centers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Trakai is a quiet, wonderful place with beautiful wooden architecture, picturesque nature and wonderful sights such as two medieval castles, which have become one of the main symbols of Lithuania.
Geography and climate
Trakai is located 30 km southwest of Vilnius between two large lakes and surrounded by picturesque forests. There are a huge number of lakes in the vicinity of the city, so these places are a favorite vacation spot among the local population. Interestingly, in winter, when the lakes freeze, you can move around them.
The city's climate is moderate continental with warm summers and moderately cold winters. More than 600 mm of precipitation falls annually. The average temperature in July is about 17 degrees, in January - minus 6 degrees.
Practical information
- Population - about 5,000 people. Of these, 60% are Lithuanians and 20% are Poles.
- Currency - euro.
- Visa - Schengen.
- Area 11.5 km2
Story
The first mention of Trakai dates back to 1337. Interestingly, the city was then called New Troki. Old Troki was founded by the legendary Gediminas (Gedinimas), the founder of Vilnius. They were located several kilometers southeast and for some time even served as the capital of the Principality of Lithuania. Later, Stari Troki became the capital of the Principality of Troki. Grand Duke Vytautas played a major role in the development of the two cities. In 1409 Trakai received city rights.
Later, the development of the city slowed down. By the 16th century, New Troki had completely lost its significance. In the 17th century they were significantly damaged during the Russian-Polish war. Throughout subsequent history, New Troki remained a small town with a rich history. The city received its modern name Trakai in 1940.
How to get there
Train and bus will take you to Trakai from Vilnius in 30-40 minutes. It's easy to get here by car. Trakai is located close to the A16 motorway. From Kaunas - highway A1, then road 107.
Attractions
Trakai is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in Lithuania for tourists. In addition to the wonderful nature, here you can see ancient wooden architecture, several buildings from the Middle Ages and the famous Trakai castles.
On the old market square there is a chapel of John of Nepomuk and an old wooden house built by Dominican monks. The chapel is decorated with a sculpture of the saint, who was considered the patron saint of fishermen.
The Dominican monastery was founded in the 18th century on the grounds of a castle on the peninsula. In the mid-19th century the monastery was closed.
Sacred architecture
There are several ancient sacred buildings located in Trakai.
The Basilica of the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Gothic masterpiece, a medieval church founded by Grand Duke Vytautas in the early 15th century. The church was built of brick and stone. In the 18th century it was significantly rebuilt in the Baroque style. The main altar and most of the sculptures were built at this time. The main shrine is the icon of Our Lady of Trakai, painted in the 12th century and donated to Vytautas.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an Orthodox church from the 19th century.
Trakai castles
There are two preserved castles in Trakai that date back to the late Middle Ages. One of the castles is located on an island, the other on a peninsula. They are called that way - island and peninsular. Castles were the prince's residence and performed protective functions.
The castle on the peninsula is one of the largest castles in Lithuania and the oldest castle in Trakai. It was founded by Prince Keistuta, the father of Grand Duke Vytautas. The castle area was about 40,000 square meters. meters. The walls had 11 towers. It was originally built of wood, but by the end of the 14th century it was rebuilt of stone. The castle was destroyed during the Russian-Swedish war. Until the 19th century, only fragments of walls and towers survived. The southeast tower survived best of all. Currently, the castle is a restored historical heritage.
The castle on the island is a unique building of its kind in Eastern Europe, an example of Gothic architecture of the late Middle Ages and one of the symbols of Trakai. The castle was built on an artificial island on Lake Galve between the 14th and 15th centuries. This impregnable fortress was the main residence of Grand Duke Vytautas. The castle was destroyed by Russian troops and lost its former significance in the 17th century. Until the 20th century, the castle on the island was in rather poor condition. It was completely restored by 1987 according to the 15th century model.
