Trakai Things to Do

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It's on an island, reached by a wooden bridge or two, and is unforgettable. Beautiful place to spend a couple of hours wandering around. It's home to an interesting museum about Trakai too.
It should be on all itinaries if you're visiting Lithuania.

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I walked to the Trakai castle through the wooden bridges. First I went to the island called Karvine s. (Karaimka) - look at the map here.

There was nothing interested on this green, forested island except this high, wooden statue, on my picture. Well, there were a few colorful boats parked by the island's bank.

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I liked that landscape on my picture a lot. There was red brick castle on the island of Galve Lake, the only in Eastern Europe castle located on the island.

HISTORY
There where two castles built in Trakai in 14th century: the Peninsular castle and the Island castle. The first one was built at the istmus of Galve and Luka lakes and the Duke Kestutis moved his residence from Old Trakai (Senieji Trakai) just there. The Island castle served as residence for the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 15th centure which aimply means that Trakai was the capitol of Lithuania that time. Trakai was robbed and burnt, castles damaged and destroyed by Russians in 17th century.

Galve lake coast with lot of souvenir shops, restaurants, places where the boat can be rent are very popular. The popularity comes due to the panorama of whole island castle (some zones is built specially for taking photos) and for sightseeing of old castle ruins.

Lot of wedding couples come there in summer time to take photos. Men carry over the Galve lake bridge young wives, as it is wedding tradition in Lithuania.

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On the street of Karaimu one museum exists representing the culture of Karaites. Museum is not so good, but worth visiting, as that culture very different from Lithuanian, more linked to Turks and Muslims.

By the way, the religion of Karaites is not Islam, but Karaitism. It is mix of Old Testament learning, Islam.

Entrance ticket: Adults - 2 lt Students, pupils, pensioners.. - 1 Lt.

Karaites main religion centre exist in Trakai too. Only a few these centres reminded in Lithuania. Karaites religion named Karaitism, it is not like Islam religion from the Turks, but more like Jewish religion with an old testament.

There are any cross or drawing of saints in this church, just altar. A man tries to sale books about Karaites there.

Karaimu street is an unique place in Lithuania, formed mostly in XV century when Vytautas invited Karaites to live in Trakai. Street consists of wooden houses, and these houses have three windows turned to the street.

What is more, the underpinning of house sometimes is very big, made of big stones. In Karaimu gatve you can find religion centre of Karaites and museum of their culture.

Catholic church is an old one in Trakai, dated from 15th century and built in gothic style. The exterior still looks like gothic, but interior was changed during other centuries. Big religious feasts are organised in the church yard.