Trakai District Municipality: Castle, Lake and History

Castle and water in Trakai

Trakai was granted the status of a resort or resort area in 2008. Since 1962, an exhibition of the Trakai History Museum has been housed in the central building of Trakai Island Castle. Visitors can explore the old castle and view exhibits. The resort status and the museum exhibition offer different points of reference: one concerns Trakai, while the other relates to visiting the historic castle.

The picturesque Lake Galvė is used by water tourists and divers; rowing and sailing teams also train and compete there. This brings together different uses of the lake: recreation on the water and training or competitions. When enjoying water tourism in Trakai, visitors can circumnavigate the castle on stand-up paddleboards. If you plan this activity, check availability beforehand, as the offer may change.

Historic routes and places

The Vytautas the Great Route was opened to the public in 2000 and runs between Trakai and Senieji Trakai. Nine stops and nine wayside shrines commemorate important events and achievements in the life of Vytautas the Great. This offers a different historical perspective from the exhibition in the Island Castle: here, the route’s stops shape the commemoration, while the castle and exhibits take centre stage there.

Senieji Trakai also offers a tangible connection to the time of Vytautas the Great. The monastery there was built during his time, at the beginning of the 15th century, and can be visited. Senieji Trakai was also granted the status of an archaeological protected area. Together, the monastery, protected-area status and commemorative route show that historical themes in the municipality are not limited to the Island Castle.

Užutrakis: Manor House and Park

The restored Užutrakis Manor House and Park ensemble lies on the shore of Lake Galvė. The park covers 80 hectares, is laid out in a mixed style and contains more than 20 artificial ponds. Both the manor house and the expansive parkland are therefore part of the visitor experience. To visit Užutrakis Manor House, you must travel via the old “Potato Road.” Take this route into account when planning your trip.

Nature and cultural diversity

The Varnikai Ecotourism Trail has three observation points and ten rest stops. It lies in Varnikai Forest and the Ilgelis Marsh; the observation points and rest stops are useful landmarks for anyone wishing to include this nature trail in their trip. The trail’s facilities and rest stops offer a different focus for an outing than the historic routes and buildings.

Another cultural perspective can be found in Daniliškės: its Old Believer community was established in the 18th century and is the oldest community of its kind in the Vilnius region. Those planning to consider not only castles and manor houses but also cultural history will find a distinctive point of interest here.

When choosing the location of your holiday apartment, you can weigh these different priorities against one another: Trakai is known for its Island Castle and Lake Galvė, Užutrakis for its manor house and park, Senieji Trakai for its monastery and archaeological status, and Varnikai for its ecotourism trail.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Gratiškės, Ukmergės rajono savivaldybė, Vilnius District Municipality, Švenčionys District Municipality, Ukmergė District Municipality, Vilniaus rajono savivaldybė, Trakų rajono savivaldybė, Švenčionių rajono savivaldybė.

To the main travel overview: Vilnius County.