Trakai is set on Lake Galve, 20 mi/30 km west of Vilnius, in a region of forests and rolling hills. It was the medieval capital of Lithuania and is still a place of small, old wooden buildings. It is easily reached by minibus from Vilnius.
Trakai is also home to Lithuania's smallest ethnic minority, the Karaites, an ancient sect of Mosaic faith that traces its roots back to the Khazars of Central Asia. Barely 100 Karaites still survive in Trakai (300 in Lithuania). They were called to the Lithuanian Court in the 14th century from their settlements on the Crimean Peninsula and served as loyal palace guards. A local museum commemorates the tribe.
The restored castle (the original was destroyed by the Russians in 1655) on the peninsula makes a nice setting for a walk and also features a history museum and inner courtyard. A second castle is built on a nearby island. Visitors can rent a boat and paddle, row or sail across the placid lake to get there. In summer, a lake steamer runs from the castle to the northern end of Lake Galve. Summer festivals at the castles are popular.
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