Tuši's blog: 15444

Lithuania: Road Trip - Lithuania, Day 3: Trakai, Fishing and The Capital

Lithuania, is a country of northeastern Europe, the southernmost and largest of the three Baltic states. Lithuania was a powerful empire that dominated much of eastern Europe in the 14th-16th centuries before becoming part of the Polish-Lithuanian confederation for the next two centuries.

Today we woke up in a lake resort called Trakai. We visited the castle, made a boat trip and explored the small city. After the sightseeing we continued to Žvejų namai - The Fishermen House, where Tadej caught 2 fish and soon we had a nice lunch with two sturgeons. Our final destination was the capital Vilnius.

Previous day of our road trip to Lithuania: Day 2, Day 1.

Our previous road trips: Romania 2017, Ukraine 2018, Bulgaria 2019.

Morning walk trough the small city Trakai.

Towards Trakų salos pilis - Trakai Island Castle.

Maja was in charge of spontaneous photography.

Locals in action.

Tadej's drone and his bigger brother, hot air balloon.

Ready to fly.

The drone will check if it is worth to check the castle.

Maja, Nada, Tadej, Tuši, Ana and Rok on Lake Galvė.

Balloons are the oldest and most romantic air vehicles, that were invented in 1783 and are very popular in Trakai.

Our hot air balloon was cheaper and we were able to observe everything from the ground level.

Lake Galvė has 21 islands and 3.61 km^2.

One for the calendar. At this point we decided we will check also the interior of the castle.

Life can't go on without the morning coffee.

Swans in the lake.

Impatient tourists crossing the bridge way before opening hours.

The construction of the stone castle was begun in the 14th century by Kęstutis, and around 1409 major works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great, who died in this castle in 1430.

Trakai was one of the main centres of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the castle held great strategic importance. The castle was rebuilt in the 1950s–1960s by Lithuanian initiative. The Trakai History Museum was established after the reconstruction.

Photographers with big guns.

Since the castle was still closed, we made a circle around it.

Trakai Island Castle was built in several phases. During the first phase, in the second half of the 14th century, the castle was constructed on the largest of three lake islands by the order of Grand Duke Kęstutis. The construction of Trakai Island Castle was related to the expansion and strengthening of the Trakai Peninsula Castle. Kęstutis moved his main residence and his treasury to the Island Castle.

The castle suffered major devastation during an attack by the Teutonic knights in 1377. After the assassination of Kęstutis, a power struggle between Jogaila and Vytautas the Great for the title of Grand Duke of Lithuania began. The castle was besieged by both sides. Soon after the reconciliation between Jogaila and Vytautas, the second phase of construction started and continued until 1409. This phase is regarded as the major development in the history of the castle. Apparently, during the truce with the Teutonic Order, the construction works were supervised by the Order's stonemason Radike, four years before the Battle of Grunwald.

Last break before the gate opened at 10:00 a.m.

Geocachers received international help.

During the second phase, two wings were added, and on the southern side a six-storey (35 metres) keep was built. The keep had movable gates which separated the palace from the castle.

Student entrance ticket - 6€ per person.

The keep was used for several functions; besides serving as another defensive structure, it had a chapel and living quarters. It was linked to the multi-storey Ducal Palace, which had an inner yard. The inner yard had wooden galleries, which ran around the inner wall; these galleries were used to access various support facilities without going inside the palace itself.

The principal construction material was so-called red Gothic bricks. Stone blocks were used only in the foundations and the upper parts of buildings, towers and walls. The castle was decorated in a variety of ways, including glazed roof tiling, burned bricks, and stained glass windows. Its overall style after the second construction phase could be described as Gothic with some Romanesque features.

The expansion of the castle in the early 15th century marked the third phase of Trakai's development. The walls of the castle were strengthened to a thickness of 2.5 metres and raised with additional firing galleries. Three major defensive towers were constructed on the corners.

Trakai Island Castle lost its military importance soon after the Battle of Grunwald, when the chief enemy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was defeated by the Polish-Lithuanian army. Lithuanian Metrica was kept in the castle until 1511. Later the castle served as a prison. During the wars with Muscovy in the 17th century, the castle was damaged and was not reconstructed again. It gradually fell into disrepair. During the 19th century, castle reconstruction plans were prepared. A major reconstruction project was begun in 1946; active work started in 1951–1952. The major portion of the reconstruction was finished in 1961. The castle was reconstructed in a 15th-century style.

Geocache in a tree.

Tasting Kibinai - traditional pastries.

We decided to take a boat trip on Lake Galvė.

Come on Ana, let's make a photo.

Since the driver was quiet, Maja started interrogating him and then he finally told us some interesting things.

Once more towards the Trakai Island Castle.

I guess someone told us a joke.

Užutrakis Manor is a late 19th-century residential manor of the Tyszkiewicz family in Užutrakis.

Trakai was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1321-1323 before moving to Vilnius.

Tuši and Nada.

The lake has a maximum depth of 46.7 meters and in winter, you can simply use ice skates to travel around it.

In 1995 Užutrakis Manor was entrusted to Trakai Historical National Park management. Its mansion, farm buildings, and park are undergoing restoration.

Activities on the lake.

Goodbye Trakai Island Castle.

Fellow tourists.

We skipped this one.

Fisherman Tadej.

Big audience.

The first one bite the bate.

And we will have sturgeons for lunch. Good job Tadej!

Catch and eat your fish adventure was a success.

After the stop by the monument "To fallen Baltic states motorcyclists" we entered the capital, where we decided to visit president Gitanas.

Bad news, president wasn't home.

Presidential palace was empty. Only a few guards had their eyes on us.

The palace dates back to the 14th century and during its history it has undergone various reconstructions.

Dominican Church of the Holy Spirit was occupied with the birds.

The Cathedral Square (Katedros aikštė) is the main square of the Vilnius Old Town, right in front of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral and 52 metres tall (57 metres including the cross) bell tower.

Monument to Grand Duke Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1315 or 1316 until his death in 1341.

Ceiling of the Vilnius Cathedral with Maja, Tadej, Rok and Nada.

Gediminas' Tower (Gedimino pilies bokštas) is the remaining part of the Upper Castle in Vilnius.

Three Crosses (Trys kryžiai) on the Hill of Three Crosses, originally known as the Bald Hill. According to a legend, which finds its source in some historic events, seven Franciscan friars were beheaded on top of this hill. Wooden crosses have been sited in the location since the early 17th century, and they became a symbol of the city and an integral part of the city's skyline.

Our snack after the sightseeing trip.

Gothic St. Anne's Church (Šv. Onos bažnyčia) with the monastery. St. Anne's Church is part of an ensemble, comprising the much larger Gothic Church of St. Francis and Bernadine, as well as a monastery.