Lithuania

Vilnius Panorama of the Neris River

Posted on 2025-02-162025-02-16 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

The heart of Vilnius is at the confluence of the Neris River and smaller Vilnia River. The Old Town of Vilnius is between these two rivers […]

Napoleon’s Grande Armée in New Trakai in 1812

Posted on 2024-08-172024-08-17 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

In June 1812, Napoleon’s soldiers crossed the River of Nemen and entered the territory of the Russian Empire including New Trakai and Vilnius as well […]

A School of Karaites in New Trakai

Posted on 2024-08-172024-08-17 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

The Karaites (Qaraites/Karaims) are the descendants of a Turkic tribe Kipchak, who were brought to Trakai in 1398 by Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great […]

Karaite Kenessa in New Trakai

Posted on 2024-06-132024-06-13 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

A Karaite place of worship in New Trakai already stood in this place in the early 15th century. It was also wooden, as it is today, and burned down several times in history […]

Bailey of Trakai Island Castle

Posted on 2024-03-112024-03-11 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

Baily (courtyard) of Trakai Island Castle. The castle was built from the beginning of the 14th century to the beginning of the 15th century on three islands: swampy areas were filled with rock and gravel in order to create one single island […]

Residential Palace at Trakai Island Castle

Posted on 2024-03-112024-03-11 by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

The residential palace of Trakai Island Castle is comprised of two parallel corpuses that were joined by walls, as well as a defensive tower (dungeon) in the front. Shooting slots are created in the upper level of the tower and both corpuses […]