Trakai Municipality borders with the municipalities of Vilnius, Varėna, Prienai and Elektrėnai and is situated not far from the city of Vilnius. The municipality centre is Trakai, which is just 18 km from Vilnius the capital of Lithuania. There is excellent access to Trakai, both by road and railway.

Trakai Municipality covers an area of 120,274 ha with a population of 37,000. There are in total 621 villages and isolated farmsteads. The administrative area consists of 8 neighbourhoods: -Aukštadvaris (2,800 residents), Grendavė (860 residents), Lentvaris (14,800 residents), Onuškis (2,900 residents), Paluknys (1,600 residents), Rūdiškės (4,300 residents), Trakai (9,000 residents) and Senieji Trakai (Old Trakai) (2,700 residents).

 Trakai Municipality can boast of its recreation, tourism, forestry and collective farming.

Industry is mostly concentrated in the neighbourhoods of Lentvaris, Trakai and Rūdiškės. Given the exceptionally beautiful landscape tourism is developed throughout the entire territory of Trakai municipality, though it is most intensively developed in the town of Trakai and the small town of Aukštadvaris and their surrounding areas.  

The location of Trakai District Municipality is very interesting in terms of its conformation: - it extends between the elevations of Trakai and Aukštadvaris, which belong to the  Great Baltic Plain, whilst the larger part of the territory lies in the so-called Dzūkija Highland (the lowest point being at 55 metres below sea level and the highest at 257 metres).  The region is characterised by the particularly picturesque Trakai Lakelands (over 200 lakes and 14 ponds), hills, valleys and pinewoods. The largest lakes undulate at 149 metres above sea level. Galvės Lake at its deepest point is 46.75 metres (its area is 361 ha).

Sand, gravel and rinsed clay are dominant within the municipality territory.

The network of rivers in the hilly terrain is markedly sparser in comparison to the average for Lithuania; however, the rivers are full and rapid.

A wide network of subterranean water channels, mainly flowing with mineralized and very clear water, can be found within the territory of the municipality.  Large and small lakes with shallow waterholes have in many places become wetlands with an amazingly diverse flora, younger and older moors and wastelands.

In recent decades 942 higher species of plants have been found and described within the district. This number constitutes the greater part of the Lithuanian flora.  As many as 75 plant species are considered to be rare and very rare, whilst 54 species are included in the Lithuanian Red List Book of protected species. Even in the past the Trakai region has attracted botanists from all over the world, as a unique, preserved and pristine treasure of flora.  

We can be proud of the enviable diversity of forests: - the breathtaking beauty of the hilly Mergiškių forest, the Onuškio pinewoods growing in dampness, the Rūdninkų pinewood which has been famous for ages, the hilly Ropėjos forest characterised by an entire range of species of trees and the dry, but extremely productive Rūdiškių forest.  In olden days these forests used to be the hunting grounds of kings, nobility and honoured guests.

The King of the Polish Kingdom, Grand Duke Žygimantas the Elder of the Great Duchy of Lithuania and his son King Žygimantas Augustas had permanent residences in these forests. Queen Barbora Radvilaitė also used to hunt here. It is not surprising that the area covered by forests in the Trakai District is higher (41.5%) than the average for Lithuania (31.7%).

The mosaic of forests and groves, meadows and marshlands, hills and hollows provides an excellent habitat for wildlife. Here one can find the full range of Lithuanian fauna, including a very large number of rare types of insects. In Lithuania there are 99 species of fish, 46 of which can be found in the territory of Trakai Municipality, including 9 species of commercial fishing: - vendace, whitefish, northern pike, bream, tench, pipe-perch, eel, red-eye and perch. An abundance of amphibians, as well as the fire-bellied toad and the Natterjack toad, which are included in the Lithuanian Red Book of protected species, can also be found here. Water turtles may also be seen here.

Birds constitute perhaps the largest group of wildlife. Of the 350 species of birds found in Lithuania, 182 live in the Trakai region, including 62 very rare species such as the ferruginous duck, great bittern, white-tailed eagle and great snipe.

Trakai represents Lithuania. Each year the Trakai region attracts approximately two million tourists.

The pride of Trakai is the Island Castle, the only castle in Eastern Europe built on an island, museum on the Galvė Lake. The peninsular castle, barrows and cemeteries are unique sites and the church exhibiting the picture of the Holy Mother of God built in the 15th century in the Baroque and Gothic style is considered by historians to be one of the most valuable Lithuanian heritage objects. Persons who are the greatest figures of our history and who have honourably remained important in European history lived in the Užutrakis Manor and the Old Town of Trakai.

For visitors and tourists alike Trakai always proves to be an unexpected wonder. This may be due to the fact that the city and surrounding areas with their natural beauty are carefully protected by the State. One can find wildlife reserves, landscapes, ornithological and other sanctuaries. The Trakai historical national park, which covers over 8,000 ha, preserves the regions uniqueness and its nature. It is the only one of this type in Europe.

Nowadays, as in the olden days, Trakai and its surrounding areas is the home for the most eminent artists, scholars and politicians. Lithuanian culture is represented by the children of the Trakai Art School and in particular young artists, as well as one of the best children’s fanfare orchestras in Europe.

Each year crowds of fans from all over the world are attracted to the music festival “We Greet Trakai” (Lith. „Mes sveikinam Trakus“) with performances by the best musicians from Lithuania and the world.  At Užutrakis Manor on the shore of Galvė Lake in the quiet natural setting it is possible to listen to classical music during the “Užutrakis Evening” (Lith. „Užutrakio vakarai“) concerts. Performances staged in the natural historical setting of the courtyard of the island castle create a breathtaking effect.

Galvė Lake is known by rowers from all around the world.  The World Students’ Regatta and the huge festival of the world “senior” rowers are organised on the lake.

Everyone visiting Trakai is invited to join the various fitness programs which are on offer, enjoy the water attractions or stay at one of the hotels. Cottages and recreation complexes are being newly built close to Trakai

The heritage of Trakai cuisine is also very unique. Most visitors want to experience the taste of a traditional Karaite dish “kybyn” (Lith. kibinas) and other dishes made by different nations residing in the area. Trakai Municipality has a great deal to offer - one can sail on the lakes either in a yacht, boat or water bicycle. There is a wide range of country homesteads available, which offer exotic services: - horse riding tracks, paragliding, sailing through the reeds in an aero-boat, wading in the marshlands or for something different try finding your way back from the forest in the middle of the night - that is truly “extreme”!

Edmundas Malūkas,

Public Relations Officer, Trakai Municipality

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