THE TRAVEL BLOG OF BALTIC TOURS

There are many legends surrounding various towns—secrets, myths, and theories that we want to believe to make our everyday lives more interesting. However, when visiting Trakai, a town surrounded by lakes and castles, it becomes clear that some of these legends just have to be true. Trakai is a town full of legends and secrets, so let's delve into its history.

A Town Built on a Whim

Legend has it that Trakai was built because of two lovers and their wish to make each other happy. This lake town, a historical former capital of Lithuania, is famous for having the only castle built on an island in the whole of Eastern Europe. People say that Trakai was built because Birutė, a Lithuanian duke's wife, missed her hometown Palanga and didn‘t like living in Old Trakai. So Kęstutis, her husband, decided to build his wife a castle surrounded by lakes to make her happy. Now, nobody really knows if this is true or not, but this is a very romantic legend of how Trakai was born.

A Short History of Trakai Castle

Spread across the whole island, Trakai Castle used to be the home of the Lithuanian monarchy. The Gothic castle contained a mansion and a tower, all surrounded by a well-built defense wall separating the castle from the deep Galvė lake. The Trakai Castle lost its political strength and importance after the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was moved to Vilnius. In the 16th century, the castle was turned into a prison for the aristocracy and later became a museum.

For Those Who Love History and Legends

If you're in love with history and places surrounded by legends and secrets, you have to visit Trakai. Trakai Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lithuania. It seems that every little piece of the town has its own story. Visit Trakai and enjoy the majestic history of Lithuania. Make sure to visit the museum and feast your eyes on secret passages, stained glass, galleries, incredibly beautiful halls, and much more. Participate in one of the many fairs and events happening in Trakai or just rent a boat and spend a day exploring the many beautiful lakes in this town.