ALONG THE PATHS OF DUKE VYTAUTAS Bicycle route: TrakaiOld TrakaiTrakai Route length: approx. 14 km Route starting point: Karaims str. GPS 54.649536, 24.930907 Route end point: Karaims str. GPS 54.649536, 24.930907 We invite you to take a short (14 km) streets. Follow Karaims street, but do not but interesting journey from Trakai to Old rush yet, because in 200 m you will find it Trakai and back. Both of these places are worthwhile stopping and inspecting a particularly important for the Lithuanian truly unique object kenesa , a Karaite history they are related to one of the house of worship. It is one of the only most prominent and influential persona- three kenesas in the world today. About lities of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vy- 400 Karaite families were brought from tautas the Great (ca. 13501430). Old the Crimean to Lithuania by Vytautas the Trakai is the former capital city of the Gra- Great in the end of the fourteenth cen- nd Duchy of Lithuania, the birthplace of tury. Most of them were settled in Trakai. Grand Duke Vytautas it is believed that Now it is home to about 60 of their he was born here. Trakai is the main resi- offspring. The first kenesa was built in dence of this ruler where he used to Trakai immediately after Karaites settled spend a lot of time, from where he ruled here. The current building survived till the the country, and where he died in 1430. nineteenth century. You will not only have a fun ride but Next to kenesa you will see S. `apaa- also learn a lot about the history of our las Karaite National Museum , telling a country, not to mention a plethora of la- story of the Karaite culture, customs, and kes surrounding Trakai, the unique Old the madrasa their school. A bit further Town of Trakai, amazing culinary herita- behind the lake there is a small Karaite ge and magnificent panoramas! Part of cemetery. the route runs along the bike trail, and an- Continue down Karaims street and in other part uses the paved streets. How- 200 meters you will approach a turn to ever, you should not be scared traffic the Trakai Peninsula Castle. The Castle speed in the city is low and drivers are ac- located in the peninsula between Galv customed to tourists. and Bernardinai Lakes, also called the Great Castle, was built it the fourteenth century. Centuries ago, it has been a strong defensive fortress, which is wit- nessed by its 11 towers, of which 4 are restored. Climb on Auks Hill, the shrine place of the former old religion, to admire the magnificent panorama of the area, with its greatest gem the Castle Island, surrounded by the blue waters of Lake Galv. Then, stop for a moment at a hum- But first, get a good bicycle for your- ble, ascetic chapel of the former Domini- self! You can bring it for this trip by car or can monastery. It now hosts the sacral art by train. Also, some buses driving to Tra- exhibition . kai can carry bicycles, but ask in the bus After visiting the Peninsula Castle, go station first. You can also rent a bicycle in back to Karaims street. In a few hundred Trakai there are several bicycle rentals. meters it will turn to Vytauto street. Ride a It is most convenient to start this trip bit along it, and you will see the specta- from the observation deck in front of the cular towers of Trakai Church of Virgin castle , connecting Traks and Karaims Mary Visitation . For 600 years, it has never been closed or used for other pur- 23 poses. It is really fortunate compared to for St. John apostolic sisters. the majority of Lithuanian Catholic chur- While visiting Old Trakai, you will feel ches. This shrine keeps a number of va- it's infinite majesty and serenity. Maybe it rious values, of which the most interest- is emanated by a touch to the sources of ing is the miraculous painting of Our Lady the Lithuanian state put, and the lives of of Trakai, crowned with a golden crown the great historical personalities? Maybe by Pope Clement XI in the eighteenth you still feel the spirit of the old Bene- tury. dictine monks and the warmth of the Admire the church and continue to hearts of the current sisters? Be that as it peddle along Vytauto street for about 1 may, try to be inspired by it and it will ac- km, then on the left you will see Trakai company you on the way back to Trakai, Orthodox Church of the Birth of Holy perhaps more than for one day. Mother of God built in the nineteenth century. It commemorates the repression PLACES TO VISIT: of the Lithuanian uprising against the Trakai History Museum Russian Empire government in 1863. F In 1 km you will reach the roundabout, Pilies sala, Trakai then keep left. In another 400 metres you GPS 54.652633; 24.933611 will find yourself on the intersection whe- ) +370 528 53 946 re you should turn left. After another kilo- * [email protected] metre turn right before the gas station, 8 www.trakaimuziejus.lt and keep right for 300 m on the round- Kenesa about. In another 200 meters you will GPS 54.647695, 24.932656 approach the biking trail that will take you ` a to Old Trakai. S. ap alas Karaite National Museum This bike trail is also called the trail of F Vytautas the Great. In 2000, commemo- Karaims g. 22, Trakai rating the 570th anniversary of the death GPS 54.647196; 24.933048 of this duke, nine wooden sculptures ) +370 528 55 286 were built near the path to capture the * [email protected] most important life moments of Vytautas. 8 www.trakaimuziejus.lt The sculptures, harmoniously blending Exposition of Sacral Art with the landscape, will accompany you F Kstu io g. 4, Trakai for 2 km to the outskirts of Old Trakai. GPS 54.645442; 24.936073 Enter the Old Trakai architectural re- ) serve, and in 400 m you will cross the rail- +370 528 55 297 way, after which keep right in the rounda- * [email protected] bout. Then pedal for another 800 meters 8 www.trakaimuziejus.lt to reach Old Trakai church and a mona- Trakai Church of the Visitation of stery, and the former castle site . It is the Blessed Virgin Mary here that Trakai once was started up. F Biruts g. 5, Trakai According to the legend, the Old Tra- GPS 54.642881; 24.934491 kai was founded by the Lithuanian Grand ) +370 528 55 907 Duke Gediminas, Vytautas grandfather * [email protected] in 1316. He briefly moved the capital city 8 of the Duchy here from Kernav, but www.trakubaznycia.lt soon changed his plans and chose Vil- Trakai Church of the Birth of the nius as the capital city instead. In the Holy Mother of God castle, Birut, wife of Gediminas' son Ks- F Maironio g. 4, Trakai tutis, gave birth to the future Lithuanian GPS 54.640870; 24.933321 ruler Vytautas. ) +370 528 52 374 The castle has not survived to the pre- * [email protected] sent day. Now the former castle site has Complex of the Old Trakai the Neo-Gothic church built in the nine- Church, Monastery and Ancient teenth century, and the Annunciation Mo- Settlement nastery one of the oldest monasteries F Senieji Trakai, Traks rajonas in Lithuania. In 1405 the Benedictine GPS 54.605421; 24.983747 monks were accommodated by Vytautas ) the Great in his castle, and he built them +370 528 36 327 a church nearby. The present monastery * [email protected] building was erected in the end of the 8 www.senujutrakuvienuolynas.org eighteenth century. Today it is a convent 25 Bicycle route: TrakaiOld TrakaiTrakai.