TRAKAI - The historical town and recreational lake resort of Trakai every year welcomes tens of thousands of visitors eager to study the history of the medieval Trakai Castle and soak in the authentic atmosphere of the small fisherman’s town, which is inhabited by less than 6,000 permanent residents. The town lies about 30 km west of Vilnius, and is easily accessible by car or public transport. The place is surely worth a visit for anyone looking to get away from the noise and pace of the capital. There is pleasure to be found for both the historically interested individual, the family going for an enjoyable lake boat trip with the kids, or the romantic couple looking for a relaxing weekend hiatus.

Trakai’s legacy is legendary in Lithuanian history. The castle was built on a small island on the major Lake Galve in the 14th century by monarch Kestutis, who was then Duke of Trakai and governed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The town that since then grew around the castle became the political and administrative center of the Duchy during the Late Middle Ages, making Trakai the most important city in Lithuania at the time. The old castle was shattered several times during wars in the 17th and 18th centuries, but since then it has been reconstructed and preserved. Today, the castle hosts a popular modern day museum with an exhibition about the Grand Duchy. Various genuine artifacts that used to belong to the Duchy and survived the ages are on display, and with many renovations having been done, there has been a real effort to vividly capture how the daily life of the monarchs was back then. It is an often chosen destination for school trips too, and you are likely to meet groups of little children getting history lessons when you visit the castle. During weekends, live operas and concerts are also arranged inside the complex.

The town is also well known for its population of Karaite people, who are ethnic Turkic peoples with Jewish faith. The Karaites settled in and around Trakai in the late 14th century and, up until today, they continue to live within their own community, demonstrating their own way of life and speaking their own language. The Karaite cuisine is definitely worth a try for the visitor. Very popular is Kibinai, which is an oven-baked crispy bun with minced lamb, beef or pork inside. A great place to go for authentic Karaite and Lithuanian food is the restaurant Senoji Kibinine; this restaurant has been running and serving hungry customers since 1979, and it is undoubtedly one of the most popular eating places in Trakai. Senoji Kibinine is never empty, as it always offers good food and service in a warm and cozy atmosphere.

During summer holidays, all of Trakai is literally overrun by Lithuanian and foreign tourists swimming or fishing the freshwater lakes, while others frequent the many cafes along the lake for drinks and snacks in the sun before partying all night long in the streets. During winter and early spring, prices on accommodation and food are considerably lower than during the season, and with less crowding it is surely worth visiting during this period. Whatever your heart desires, you will find it in the form of recreational saunas, heated swimming pools and spas.