Island castle
Lithuanian Pride - Head Island lake stands in the fourteenth century the end of the castle. This is the only Eastern European castle, built on the island. It is the type konventinio Palace dungeon and forecastle. It is believed that the island castle of the fourteenth century end. K. began to build, and the fifteenth century Completed at the beginning of his son Vytautas. The castle was visited by famous European diplomats: the German Emperor Sigismund envoy Benedict Makro, a Flemish knight iliberas de Lanus, Venetian Ambassador Ambrosia Kontarinis, Livonia and the Master of the Teutonic Order. Fifteenth century in the first half on 13 occasions the castle was visited by the Polish King Wladyslaw Jagiello. Tradition continues. Nowadays, the castle is visited every year several high-ranking government delegations from around the world, there are signed important international agreements. The history of the castle distinguished guests included: Queen of Denmark Margrethe II, the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav with Queen Silvia, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine, Chinese presidents, prime ministers from other countries, the ministers and diplomats.
1430 Castle died in the island of Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas. After his death the castle are used less frequently. Changes in the warfare techniques and methods and the increase in Vilnius, the sixteenth century Castle Island at the beginning of diminished value. Sixteenth century in the second half of the Polish-Lithuanian king Sigismund Augustus Island Castle was going to install summer residence, but this idea failed. 1655 summer, during the unsuccessful war with Russia and Sweden, Ivan Zolotorenkos Cossacks occupied town of Trakai, Island castle was destroyed. Since then, the castle ruins of the IRO, but survived because of poor access is better than the Peninsula castle, which was used to disrupt and other construction. 1953 began restoration of the castle complex. 1962 by the architect B. Indigenous project to restore the Dukes Palace dungeon, and in 1987 fore complete restoration of the main objects (architect St.Mikulionis). 1962 Transferred to the island castle of Trakai History Museum. Here an exposition, an exhibition, events take place. Music fans attracted to the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre summer seasons in the castle of Trakai, the ancient music ensembles. Every year come to admire the castle more than 200 thousand people.