Trakai

Trakai can be proclaimed being one of the most visited spots on the cultural tourism map. The former capital with all the ancient castles lies beside the current Vilnius metropolis and now is the attribute of Lithuanian tourism.

Trakai cannot be imagined without the residencies of Lithuanian Grand Dukes living earlier in the Island and Peninsula Castles, karaites ethnography as well as sacred exhibitions. The pride of Lithuania, Trakai is the only castle in all Eastern Europe, situated in the island. 

Trakai Church of the Visitation of the blessed Virgin Mary (XVth c.)
Adress: Sodų 8, Trakai.

The foundation of the church of the Visitation was made by Grand Duke Vytautas on May 24 1409. Legend has it that in 1390 this picture was donated to Grand duke Vytautas by the Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaeologos and that around 1409 Vytautas donated it to his church in Trakai. The picture soon became famous for its miracles and it drew piligrims from across the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland. www.piligrimukelias.lt

St John Nepomuk Roadside Pole (XVIIth c.)

It is assumed, that the roadside pole was built in the 17th century as a pole for posters. Later on it was named after St John Nepomuk, guardian of fishing villages surrounded by waters. A statue of the saint was mounted on the pole. 

Building of the former post office (beginning of the XIXc.)
Adress: Karaimų 5, Trakai.

In the XIX century there were two post office buildings in the centre of the town, near the Peninsula Castle. At present there is only one building left. It has been restored. It is used by the directorate of Trakai Historical National Park. 

Peninsular Castle (XIVth c.)
Adress: Kęstučio 8, Trakai.

Construction work on the castle was begun by Grand Duke Kęstutis around 1350-77. It is mentioned in the List of Rus'ian Towns (compiled 1387-1392). This castle was part of a defensive ensemble that guarded Trakai and Vilnius that was attacked by the Teutonic Order and ruined in 1382, 1383 and 1390. There is not much information about the use of the castle after the death of Vytautas (1430). The Sacral Art Exposition was fit up there. www.trakaimuziejus.lt

Karaimų street -„Small town” is an unique place in Lithuania, formed mostly in XV century when Vytautas invited Karaims to live in Trakai. The road of the Karaims, people of a small Turkic nation, to Lithuania began from Crimea when Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania was fighting against the Golden Horde. Having in 1397-1398 brought part of the Karaims to Lithuania, Vytautas inhabited them in Trakai. At the beginning (during the first hundred years) the Karaims were in charge of the castles' guard, afterwards they were mostly occupied with agriculture, gardening, horse-breeding, trade and crafts, and with time they became so close to Lithuania that did not differ from the local people in their life style. Karaimų street attracts tourists by its distinctive architecture: which includes a back wall with a primary feature three windows facing the street due to the lack of space. 

Kenesset (XIXth c.)
Adress: Karaimų 30, Trakai.

The Karaite house of worship. A kenesset has stood in Karaite territory since the fourteenth century in what is called the Small Town and it burned down in the early sixteenth century to be rebuilt in 1533. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times after that until the end of the eighteenth century. www.karaim.eu   

Island Castle (XIVth -XVth c.)

It is the only castle in Eastern Europe that was built on an island. It is assumed that construction of the Island castle was initiated by Grand Duke Kęstutis at the end of the XIVth century, and was completed in early XVth century by his son - Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas. After the Battle of Grunwald (1410) the castle lost its defence significance and gained the function of princely residence. Grand Duke Vytautas died in the castle on October 27 1430 while still waiting for a royal crown and after his death the castle began to fall into decay. www.trakaimuziejus.lt

The Užutrakis Manor House with Park, (XVI-XXth c.)

The Užutrakis Manor House in the Trakai National Park on the shore of Galvė lake. The estate consists of a palace, a park and auxiliary buildings such as the stable, distillery, forge, granary, houses of the watch, ferryman and gardener, cattle sheds and so on. The neorenaissance style palace with a terrace is the centre of the estate. The terrace and balustrade is an inseparable part of the west facade. A view of Galvė lake and Trakai island castle extends from this terrace. The original park was designed by a French landscape architect and botanist E. F. André, as a water park in which a complex system of more than twenty interconnected ponds joined to one of the bigger lakes was made. In our days Užutrakis Estate is used for various events. www.seniejitrakai.lt