TRAKAI (LITHUANIA)

The Salos Castle, in Trakai, the old Capital of Lithuania, is the only Eastern European castle built on an island. It is believed that its construction started at the end of the 14th century by the Grand Duke Kęstutis, and was finished by his son Vytautas in the beginning of the 15th century. By the early 16th century, the castle's use and significance were greatly reduced.
The area is also famous for the still-present Karaim community (with a language that derives from the family of Turkic languages). Grand Duke Vytautas brought Karaims to Lithuania as warriors and honest servants. He placed them between the peninsula and the island castle and trusted them with the castle's protection. Today, the main street that leads to the Galvė Lake—Karaimų Street—is full of colourful wooden houses, typical of this group.