Old Trakai Hillfort

Senieji Trakai, Lithuania, Lithuania

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Old Trakai Hillfort is a historic site in Senieji Trakai, near Vilnius, and marks the location of one of Lithuania’s earliest masonry castles.

The castle was built in the early 14th century by Grand Duke Gediminas, who moved the capital of Lithuania there from Kernavė, making Old Trakai an important political center for a short period. The castle played a significant role in medieval Lithuania and is traditionally known as the birthplace of Grand Duke Vytautas in 1350.

After being destroyed by the Teutonic Order in 1391, it was abandoned and never rebuilt, as a newer castle had already been established in nearby Trakai. Today, the hillfort is a protected archaeological and cultural monument. The remains of the castle are incorporated into a later monastery complex, and the site offers visitors a chance to explore an important chapter of Lithuania’s early history while enjoying views of the surrounding landscape.