Trakai

Trakai is the ancient capital of Lithuania (29 km from Vilnius). On the hills and in valleys, shady forests and between clear lakes there are numerous places of archaelogical, historical and architectural interests. The relief of Trakai features moraine hills and lakes. Many hills emerge from water like islands. The lakes of Trakai lie in the highest enervations of a hilly massif and have a very small feeding area. The latter feature makes the whole environmental complex quite a specific phenomenon from the geo-ecological point of view.

Main attractions:

Trakai Castle The greatest castles in Lithaunia was the Trakai Island castle completed in 1409. This is the only castle built on water in the whole eastern Europe and one of the most visited history and architecture sites in Lithuania. There is a history museum in the castle.
Trakai Historical National Park Almost one fifth of the Park’s territory is accounted for thirty-two lakes of various shapes and size. The most impressives are the lakes of Skaistis and Glave. In the centre of the Park there are two castles and Trakai Old Town.
Karates’ Town The part of town where Karaites used to live was called the Small town. Living in Lithuania for six hundred years, this small Turkic group preserved their national identity. One of the main places of interest in Trakai is the street and the buildings telling the history of Karaites.