New Trakai - Guided Sightseeing Tours

Tour № 1 – Vytauto Street

Trakai Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary
Trakai Roman Catholic Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the painting of Trakai Madona
Statue (poleshrine) of St. John Nepomuk
Old market place
Old post office

Tour № 2 – Karaimų Street

Trakai Peninsula Castle and Sacral Art Exhibition
Trakai History Museum
Karaim Guest House established in a restored Karaim wooden house
Karaim (Karaite) Ethnographic Exhibition
Karaim Kenessa (praying house)
Karaim school
Old Karaim wooden houses
Information center with Lithuanian traditional art exhibition
Old Karaim Cemetery

Tour № 3 – Trakai Island Castle

Walking tour around the castle
Entrance tower gate
The Lower Castle
Bailey (Grand courtyard)
Exhibition in the Lower Castle
Dungeon (donjon) tower
Drawbridge
Canal
The Upper Castle
Grand Ducal residence
Exhibition in the Upper Castle
Wooden galleries
Old bricks of various shapes used in building the castle
Karaim and Tartar exhibition
The Grand Hall

Tour № 4 – Užutrakis Manor Estate and Park

Palace
Pavilions
Former carriage house
Former granary and current information centre
Ponds
Sculptures
Great Bridge
Small Bridge
Promenade
Lake terrace
Grotto
Former house of the ferryman

All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic

The Kenessa of Vilnius – Karaite sanctuary

The architect Michail Prozorov designed the rectangular building with three-walled apse according to the requirements of Karaim liturgyThe oriental-style exterior has a protruding central part and the onion-shaped dome over it. The distinctive exterior of the building emphasises its unique purposeIn 1949, the Kenessa, along with many other sacral buildings, was nationalized and closed down. In 1988, it was returned to the Karaim community. In 1993, it was re-consecrated and has remained open sinceAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Napoleon’s Grande Armée in New Trakai in 1812

A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812A plate devoted to Napoleon's Army in New Trakai in 1812All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

A School of Karaites in New Trakai

The school of Trakai Karaims is located in Karaim Str. in the Old Town of New TrakaiToday, there are some 300 Karaims left in Lithuania, though other Karaim communities can be found in Istanbul, Cairo, and Jerusalem Karaites have made a clear mark on life in New Trakai. Their Kenessa and school are still standing and the main street in the Old Town of Trakai is called Karaim Str.All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019

Bailey of Trakai Island Castle

Trakai Island Castle is comprised of two parts - the bailey (grand courtyard of the lower part of the castle) and residential palace (upper part of the castle), which is divided by a canal, which at the time was filled with lake waterIn bailey lived the castle's garrison, which was for defending. The courtyard was used for general purposes The bailey of Trakai Island Castle has four defensive towers including gate towerAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019

Karaite Ethnographic Exhibition in New Trakai

The exhibition displays a collection of everyday articles, art, weapons, and documents, with a majority of the objects from the personal collection of Seraya Shapshal Near the museum's entrance, there is a memorial plaque to Seraya Shapshal, the founder of the museum and spiritual leader (Gahan) of the KaraitesSeraya Shapshal, the Gahan, was the last great spiritual leader of the KaraitesAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Water-Sport Facilities of The Trakai Historical National Park’s Lakes

The largest lakes, such as Galvė, Skaistis, Bernardinai (Luka), and Totoriškės are connected together. All of them are offering great facilities for all kinds of water-sports on the lakesThe Trakai Rowing Museum has display objects from the beginning of the rowing sport in the mid-19th century up to the present, including championship trophies and prizes, and also a 19th-century sporting boatIn New Trakai exists Varnikai Botanical-Zoological Reserve Nature Trail All photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2020

Karaite Kenessa in New Trakai

The present building of the Karaites Kenessa is reconstructed at the beginning of the 20th century based on a design of the Russian architect Mihkail ProzorovThe Kenessa of New Trakai is small and almost rectangular in shape. The first floor is for mailes, and the balcony is for women. The cupola is covered with wooden planks painted blue There is a facet for washing your hands near the entrance. The services are held in Hebrew and the local dialect of Karaite languageAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2018

Residential Palace at Trakai Island Castle

If you go through the gates of the dungeon you find yourself in a small inner courtyard paved with stones. It is surrounded in a circle by a two-story wooden galleryThe Trakai History Museum was established in the castle in 1962. There are today total of 16 exhibition hallsWhen enemies attacked, the wooden galleries were burned, which made it more difficult to get into the palaceAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019

The Trakai Peninsula Castle

Lithuanian Grand Dukes Švitrigaila and Žygimantas Kęstutaitis resided in the Trakai Peninsula Castle. The first castle was made of wood. Later it was made with brick and had 10 defensive towers that were joined by a wall that was 10 meters highIn 1655 during wars with Russia and Sweden, the Trakai Peninsula Castle was destroyed and not rebuilt A few sections of the wall survived, while the southern tower of the Trakai Peninsula Castle was rebuilt. Medieval fairs were held in the courtyardAll photos are copyrighted by Vladislav B. Sotirovic© Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2019