Things to do in Trakai
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Island Castle
The centrepiece of Trakai is its picture-postcard Island Castle atop an island on Lake Galvė. The painstakingly restored red-brick Gothic castle probably dates from around 1400, when Vytautas needed stronger defences than the peninsula castle afforded.
A footbridge links it to the shore and a moat separates the triangular outer courtyard moat from the main tower with its cavernous central court and a range of galleries, halls and rooms. Some house the Trakai History Museum, which charts the history of the castle.
The castle's prominence as a holy site is reflected in its collection of religious art. In summer the castle courtyard is a magical stage for concerts and plays.
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Žejų Namai
For trout, fresher than fresh, motor 11km north of Trakai through pretty lake land to this one-of-a-kind restaurant. Kitted out with a couple of trout pools, a playground for kids and shaded bench seating around lakeside tables, this is the spot to lunch and have fun at the same time. Pick up a rod, bait and bucket and catch your own lunch.
Staff are on hand to bash friskier fish over the head, after which the fish is weighed, filleted, cooked in a choice of spices and brought to your table on a platter. Other fishy delights include salted or smoked trout, herrings and bouillabaisse (fish soup). Žejų Namai is signposted 11km north of Trakai, off the road to Vievis.
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Karaites Ethnographic Museum
The peninsula itself is dotted with old wooden cottages, many built by the Karaites, a Judaic sect and Turkic minority originating in Baghdad, which adheres to the Law of Moses. Their descendants - some 380 families - were brought to Trakai from the Crimea around 1400 to serve as bodyguards.
Only 12 families (60 Karaites) live in Trakai and their numbers - 280 in Lithuania - are dwindling rapidly, prompting fears that the country's smallest ethnic minority is dying out. The Karaites Ethnographic Museum traces their ancestry. Their beautifully restored early-19th-century Kenessa can be visited.
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Collection of Religious Art at Island Castle
Island Castle - Collection of Religious Art The centrepiece of Trakai is its picture-postcard Island Castle atop an island on Lake Galvė. The painstakingly restored red-brick Gothic castle probably dates from around 1400, when Vytautas needed stronger defences than the peninsula castle afforded.
A footbridge links it to the shore and a moat separates the triangular outer courtyard moat from the main tower with its cavernous central court and a range of galleries, halls and rooms. The castle's prominence as a holy site is reflected in its collection of religious art.
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Kenessa
The peninsula itself is dotted with old wooden cottages, many built by the Karaites, a Judaic sect and Turkic minority originating in Baghdad, which adheres to the Law of Moses.
Their descendants - some 380 families - were brought to Trakai from the Crimea around 1400 to serve as bodyguards. Only 12 families (60 Karaites) live in Trakai and their numbers - 280 in Lithuania - are dwindling rapidly, prompting fears that the country's smallest ethnic minority is dying out. Their beautifully restored early-19th-century Kenessa can be visited.
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Trakai History Museum at Island Castle
The centrepiece of Trakai is its picture-postcard Island Castle atop an island on Lake Galvė. The painstakingly restored red-brick Gothic castle probably dates from around 1400, when Vytautas needed stronger defences than the peninsula castle afforded.
A footbridge links it to the shore and a moat separates the triangular outer courtyard moat from the main tower with its cavernous central court and a range of galleries, halls and rooms. Some house the Trakai History Museum, which charts the history of the castle.
reviewed
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Kibininė
This green wooden house with Karaite kitchen is the spot to munch on traditional Karaite pasties called kibinai (a meat-stuffed cushion akin to a Cornish pasty that is served with a bread-based drink similar to gira). But beware that first bite - scalding-hot juices pour out. The pretty garden with lake view is particularly peaceful and a hole in the wall doles out meat- or veg-stuffed kibinai to take away.
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Trakai National Sports & Health Centre
Fishing, sailing, scuba diving and horse riding are other summer activities available at this former training camp for Lithuanian sporting heroes. It rents rowing boats, water bicycles, canoes and kayaks ; has a fabulous 12-person sauna by the lake; and arranges hot-air ballooning. Winter guests enjoy horse-drawn sledge rides, skiing and ice-fishing.
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Kybynlar
There is a definite Turkic feel to Trakai's other Karaite-driven restaurant, where piping-hot pastries are likewise cooked up alongside a predominantly meat-based fare. The writing on the wall in Arabic is native Karaim, a language belonging to the Kipchak branch of Turkish languages and spoken as mother tongue by 535 people worldwide.
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Cycling
The tourist office has information on the 14km bicycle route that takes cyclists around the main sights. Kempingas Slėnyje and the Trakai National Sports & Health Centre rent bikes.
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Peninsula Castle
The ruins of Trakai's Peninsula Castle, built from 1362 to 1382 by Kęstutis and destroyed in the 17th century, are at the north end of town.
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Row & Pedal Boats
Pick up a pedalo or rowing boat from boatmen near the footbridge leading to the Island Castle.
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Trakai Historical National Park
Trakai is protected by the Trakai Historical National Park, spanning 80 sq km, since 1991.
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