The town of Trakai

     Island castle (XIV - XVI c.), Trakai
     It is the only insular castle throughout Eastern Europe. It was built on one of the numerous islands in Lake Galve. The castle was built as a defensive fortress. After the Battle of Žalgiris/Grünwald the castle lost its defensive significance. It was turned into a ducal residence. Trakai Island Castle was the death-place of Grand Duke Vytautas. He died here on 27 October 1430. Later the castle served as a prison. In the XVII century the castle was desolated.

     Island castle is one of the most often visited historical-architectural monuments in Lithuania. It houses a historical museum which has been working here since 1962. National events, festivals and concerts take place here.



     Remnants of the Peninsula castle (XIV c.), Trakai
     It is one of the biggest defensive castles in Lithuania. It was built in the XIV century by the Duke Kestutis. The territory of the castle covered 4 ha and there were 14 towers of different size. There used to stand a wooden castle on the Auku hill on the territory of the peninsula castle.

     In 1655 during the Russian-Swedish war the castle was destroyed. There are a few defensive towers left as well as remnants of the defensive wall.


     Dominican monastery (XVIII c.), Kestucio st.4, Trakai
     In the XVIII century Dominican monks started building a church on the frontal territory of the Peninsula Castle. They were short of money, however, and the construction of the church was not finished. In the XIX century the southern nave of the church was turned into a monastery and the northern part of the nave was turned into a small church. Presently the building of the Dominican monastery is used by the administration of the Trakai history museum.


     Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (XV - XVIII c.), Birutes st., Trakai
     It is the first church of the parish built in 1409 by the Grand Duke Vytautas. Wars and fire more than once were its destroyers.

     The church was reconstructed in 1717. There is a picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a Child in the main altar. This picture is believed to be magic, able to stave off misfortunes. The church of the Blessed Virgin Mary has both gothic and baroque elements.

 Church of the Birth of the Holy Mother of the God (XIX c.), Trakai

     Karaites dwelling-houses (XIX - XX c.), Karaimu st., Trakai

      Kenesa (XIX c.), Karaimu st. 30, Trakai

     Building of the former post office (beginning of the XIX c.), Karaimu st. 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.

     Roadside pole of the Holy John Nepomuk (XVIII c.), Trakai.
     You can find the pole at the junction of Vytauto and Karaimu streets. The Holy John Nepomuk is the patron of the inhabitants of the towns situated near lakes. Earlier this place used to be the central square of the town, which was used as a market at the beginning of the XV century. Twice a year it used to be the place of big fairs.

     Užutrakis palace (XIX c.), park, Užutrakis.
     The settlement of Užutrakis in historical sources was already mentioned in the XIV century. At that time it was called "Algirdas island". It was then controlled by Tartars. In the XIX century Užutrakis was bought by count J.Tiškevicius. On his initiative a neo-renaissance palace was built here. It is surrounded by a park designed by a French landscape architect E.Andre. It is the biggest and the most original park in Lithuania.

     Church and monastery of Senieji Trakai, mound of Senieji Trakai (Birthplace of Grand Duke Vytautas), village of Senieji Trakai.
     Senieji Trakai is the old capital of Lithuania. Legends say that Senieji Trakai was founded by the Duke Gediminas. In the second half of the XIV century there already was a stone palace ruled by the Duke Kestutis.

     It was the place where in 1350 Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas was born. In 1405 Vytautas the Great settled here Benedictine monks and built a church for them not far from the place. Buildings of the Benedictine monastery have survived up to these days. In the XIX century a part of the monastery was rebuilt into a neo-gothic church.
     The settlement of Senieji Trakai has retained the elements of Dzukai street village.

     Mound of Bražuole, Bražuole village
     There used to be a castle on this hill. It was the place where in 1382 the Treaty of Bražuole was signed by Grand Duke of Lithuania Jogaila and representatives of the Teutonic Order.


     Mound of Daniliškes, Daniliškes village
     The mound or else called the Hill of Tartars is situated in the south-east part of Daniliškes village. It is said that the village used to be settlement of soldiers and that instead of the mound there used to be a church. Later, however, the church was moulded so that Russian soldiers could not defeat it.


     Mound of Varnikai, Varnikai village.
     It is not far from Trakai, on the eastern bank of Lake Galve. People lived here from the V c. BC to the VI c. AD.