Trakai Island Castle Museum Entrance Ticket

Trakai town located 28 kilometres west of Vilnius, was a cradle of the Lithuanian statehood, an important military and political centre, headquarters of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the capital of Lithuania. Construction of the Island Castle on one of the larger islands of Galvė Lake began in the second half of the 14th century. Presumably, the construction of the castle was begun by the Grand Duke Kęstutis and was concluded in the early 15th century by his son Vytautas. These rulers were very important characters in Lithuanian history thus the Trakai Island Castle had also had a significant role in Lithuanian history.

In 1410 just after the famous Battle of Grünenwald, Trakai Island castle was turned into a residence of Grand Dukes of Lithuania Vytautas and Kęstutis. Later on, in the 16th century, the role of the castle went down and the visits of Grand Dukes became increasingly seldom. The Lithuanian Metrics that had been kept in the castle was moved to Vilnius in 1511, and the Island Castle became a prison for noblemen.

After desolating invasion of Muscovy troops in 1655–1661, Trakai was plundered and burned down; the Island Castle was destroyed and remained ruined; the city did not revive and became a small provincial town.

Trakai island Castle has been reconstructed in years 1929-1987 and currently houses a museum of Lithuanian history.