Trakai

30 minutes from Vilnius is Trakai, a historic city known for its unique lakes and medieval castle complex. Built in the 14th century, the castle stands on an island in Lake Galvė with water surrounding it on all sides. Galvė is one of the deepest lakes in Lithuania and the level of water in the lake when the castle was built was 2 metres higher than it is now. The structure of Trakai Castle is simple and modestly decorated, but considered a masterpiece of medieval defensive architecture. It was the only castle built on water in Eastern Europe.

Trakai Island Castle was home to all the Grand Dukes of Lithuania until Grand Duke Sigismund II Augustus built a palace in Vilnius in the 16th century, at the bottom of Gediminas Hill. During his rule, the castle served as a royal summer residence. Later, the castle served as a prison for a brief time but the castle was damaged in war and fell into disrepair and eventually ruins from the 17^th century.

The castle was eventually rebuilt in the 1950s in a 15^th-century style and is now a major tourist attraction. The castle museum has exhibitions about the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, various archaeological findings and artefacts as well as an art collection.