The story of Trakai Island Castle

In 1430 Vytautas the Great died here, in this castle on the lake, without ever being crowned King of Lithuania. Building in stone began in the 14th century under his father Kęstutis, on the largest of three islands in Lake Galvė, and Vytautas completed the major works around 1409. Back then the lake stood several metres higher than it does today, and the builders made use of it, cutting a moat just wide enough for small boats between the Ducal Palace and the rest of the castle. The six-storey keep rises 35 metres, and the red Gothic brick walls were strengthened to 2.5 metres thick.

In 1414 the Flemish traveller Guillebert de Lannoy described it as completely new, built from bricks following a French pattern. Damaged in 17th-century wars with Muscovy, it slowly fell into ruin. Active reconstruction began in 1951, despite resistance from Soviet authorities, and was largely finished by 1961 in a 15th-century style.

Today the castle houses the Trakai History Museum.