Trakai, the ancient capital of Lithuania situated 30 km from Vilnius. Trakai region features unique relief: the combination of numerous unbelievably pure lakes and moraine hills create a breathtaking sight. There are even ancient legends explaining the exceptional lucidity of the lakes. According to one of those legends, the Skaistis Lake ("Lucid") was made from a young maiden`s tears. All her life the beautiful girl was waiting for her beloved worrier, who had been sent to war against Teutonic Knights, and never came back. The "town on the water", as Trakai usually called, is particularly rich in architectural and cultural monuments; there are more than 300 of them.
The Trakai Castle is one of the largest Lithuanian medieval castles, it occupies the area of 1,8 ha. The castle comprises of the palace, defensive walls with massive towers and a fore-castle, that is separated from the walls by a water canal. To enter the castle, you have to cross an ancient draw-bridge. The Gothic Palace is situated in the very center of the castle. A 25-meter high donjon with shooting apertures dominates the front facade of the Palace. The staterooms of the palace are decorated with stained-glass and mural paintings, representing the scenes of the life of Grand Duke and his family. The interior of the palace was abundantly adorned with profiled bricks, stained glass and decorative tiles. The castle was equipped with the unique for that time system of forced-air heating: the hot air went up pipes and warmed the cold stonewalls.
Now the castle houses the ethnographic museum, which exposition covers the period from the oldest time to the middle of the 20th century and displays authentic furniture, porcelain, crockery, articles made of glass and bone, seals, hunting trophies and archeological findings discovered in the Trakai Castle.
Package includes:
• English speaking guide
• Transfers Vilnius (hotel) - Trakai Castle - Vilnius (hotel)
(one way - 40 min. driving distance / 35 km)
• Excursion at the castle (1,5 - 2 hours)
• 1,5 hour lunch in Trakai
Duration 5,5 hours