Trakų Pusiasalio pilis

About the museum

The Trakų Pusiasalio pilis (Trakai Peninsula Castle), like the Salos pilis (Island Castle), was built in the second half of the 14th century and the early 15th century and is an important monument of Lithuanian defensive architecture and history. It is first mentioned in the “Rusijos miestų sąrašas” (“List of Russian Cities”), compiled in 1387–1392, which describes a brick castle in Trakai by the lake with two stone walls and a wooden upper castle. At that time the present town peninsula, surrounded by the lakes Galvė, Bernardinai and Totoriškės, consisted of several separate islands.

The brick castle was built in 1362–1382 and 1414–1430. It stood at the crossing of winter and summer roads; a stone wall and a wide defensive moat separated it from the town. It covered about 4 hectares and had eleven defensive towers of various sizes – one of the largest castles in Lithuania. The front part consisted of a rectangular courtyard enclosed by a wall with six towers; the main gate tower stood in the middle of the wall, and the north-eastern tower held a spare “winter” gate. After the Battle of Žalgiris (Grunwald) in 1410, the earth and timber fortifications around Aukų kalnas (Aukų Hill) were replaced by brick walls.

Within the castle grounds, in the former chapel of the Dominican monastery, a sacred art exhibition is housed. It displays liturgical vessels, vestments, altar objects and religious paintings. The monastery was closed in 1863 and the chapel's interior was badly damaged; its restoration was completed in 2004. Wall altars have been recreated, and the windows are decorated with stained glass of St Dominic and St John of Nepomuk. The restored cellar beneath the chapel also displays liturgical objects. The Peninsula Castle and the sacred art exhibition are run by the Trakai History Museum.

Highlights

• Remains of the Peninsula Castle, which once had eleven towers
• Sacred art exhibition in the chapel of the former Dominican monastery
• Restored wall altars and stained-glass windows of St Dominic and St John of Nepomuk
• Collection of liturgical objects in the restored cellar
• Combined ticket with the Trakų Salos pilis (Trakai Island Castle) (April–September)

Permanent exhibition

• Sakralinio meno ekspozicija – Liturgical vessels, vestments, altar objects and religious works of art in the chapel of the former Dominican monastery and in the restored cellar.

Operated by

Trakų istorijos muziejus

Admission & discounts

From April to September an adult ticket costs €10, and €6 for pupils, students and seniors; from October to March €8 and €5. One ticket is valid at both castles on weekdays (Island and Peninsula Castle).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The family ticket is valid for 1 or 2 adults with 1–3 minor children.

Getting there & parking

The Peninsula Castle and the sacred art exhibition are at Kęstučio Street 4, Trakai.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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