Trakai
Trakai (ⓘ; see names section for alternative and historic names) is a city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 kilometres (17 miles) west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania or just 7 kilometres (4 miles) from the administrative limits of the Lithuanian capital city. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative centre of Trakai district municipality. The city is inhabited by 5,357 people, according to 2007 estimates. A notable feature of Trakai is that the city was built and preserved by people of different nationalities. Historically, communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews and Poles lived here.
Trakai | |
|---|---|
City | |
Clockwise from top to bottom: Trakai Island Castle, Trakai Peninsula Castle, Tatar Houses, Trakai Kenesa, Lake Galvė. | |
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Coat of arms | |
Trakai Location of Trakai | |
| Coordinates: 54°38′0″N 24°56′0″E | |
| Country | Lithuania |
| Ethnographic region | Dzūkija |
| County | Vilnius County |
| Municipality | Trakai district municipality |
| Eldership | Trakai eldership |
| Capital of | Trakai district municipality Trakai eldership |
| First mentioned | 1337 |
| Granted town rights | 1409 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.5 km2 (4.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 5,426 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Historically, the Trakai Island Castle, which construction was finished by Grand Duke Vytautas, served as a residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.