Travel Guide Trakai

This ancient medieval city lies some 30km west of Vilnius, in a magnificent natural setting surrounded by large lakes. Capital and residence of the Grand Dukes in the 14th century, its fortified red-brick castle was built under Kęstutis, on an island in Lake Galvė, which means "head" in Lithuanian, that of a defeated knight whom Grand Duke Vytautas (who completed its construction) is said to have thrown into these waters. When the weather's fine, you can admire this dream setting on your final approach by plane, before landing in Vilnius (on the left).Trakai is easily accessible by train and bus, making it a must-see and a pleasant day trip. Trakai stretches over a 2 km peninsula, bounded on the west by Lake Luka and on the east by Lake Totoriškių. The peninsula's castle is located on the side of Lake Totoriškių. Built in the 14th century but destroyed in the 17th during the Russo-Swedish wars, its site houses a former Dominican monastery. Now partially renovated, the complex can also be visited.To the far north lies Lake Galvė, with its red-brick Gothic castle and museum on an island. This is the country's only historical park and its smallest national park. It's also the only castle in the whole of Eastern Europe to have been built on an island.For a different view of the castle, take a boat or rent a kayak to admire it from the lake.Don't miss the town festival on June 11 and 12, which features a number of medieval events, including banquets.