Trakai Castle Tour
Trakai Island Castle (XIVth -XVth c.) is the only castle in Eastern Europe that was built on an island.
Today we travel 23-km southwest of Vilnius - to a small town Trakai, mentioned for the first time in the Lithuanian Chronicles in 1322. Trakai is built on a narrow, elongated peninsula dividing Lakes Galve, Totoriskes and Luka. These lakes form part of an interconnected group that consists of at least 30 larger or smaller lakes.
In Trakai we visit impressive Trakai 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.
Before we return back to the hotel we enjoy (optional) a ride on the boat on the Galve lake and a typical Karaime lunch in an ethnic Karaite restaurant.
Please contact us info@grandbaltics.com to book Trakai Castle Tour. In Trakai we visit impressive Trakai 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.
Before we return back to the hotel we enjoy (optional) a ride on the boat on the Galve lake and a typical Karaime lunch in an ethnic Karaite restaurant.