Trakai Island Castle

A 15th century style castle located on an island in Lake Galvė, Lithuania. Trakai Island Castle was once a residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. The castle doesn't only exhibit the affluent history of Lithuania but is also a favorite venue for cultural events and conferences.

Built in 3 phases, the construction of the stone castle began in the 14th century by order of Grand Duke Kęstutis. In 1377, the castle was attacked by the Teutonic Knights with Kęstutis defeated.

The second phase, regarded as the major development in the history of the castle, started its construction in 1409. Two wings were added and a 6-storey keep was also built. The castle was adorned with glazed roof tiling, red Gothic bricks were utilized to build the walls and embellished the windows with stained-glass.

The expansion of the castle in the early 15th century marked as a the third phase. The outer walls were expanded to a thickness of 2.5 metres. A main gatehouse was constructed and 3 major defensive towers were built.

In the 17th century, the war against Muscovy created a massive destruction of the castle. But it was not until the 19th century where the reconstruction of the castle began.

Today, Trakai Island Castle is one of the major tourist attractions in Lithuania.


Trakai Island Castle
Address: Trakai, Lithuania

Coordinates: 54° 39′ 7.2″ N, 24° 56′ 2.4″ E Admission:  6€