- Type
- Castle
- Coordinates
- 54.6460°, 24.9370°
History
The castle on the peninsula between lakes Galvė and Luka was built in the mid-14th century by Duke Kęstutis, who made Trakai the capital of his duchy. The masonry stronghold with towers and a moat defended the town against the Teutonic Knights, who attacked it in 1377 and 1383 among other years. Under Vytautas the castle was enlarged, and he founded the nearby Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the victory at Grunwald in 1410 the castle lost its military role and served as the seat of the Trakai governors. In 1655, during the war with Muscovy, it was destroyed by Russian and Cossack troops and never rebuilt.
What to see
Fragments of the defensive walls and towers survive, including the rebuilt gate tower, together with a large courtyard on the bluff above the lake. The ruins lie in the centre of Trakai, within the Historical National Park, a few minutes' walk from the footbridges to the Island Castle. A visit combines well with Karaimų Street and the Church of the Visitation.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q3436990
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