LT2. Part 2 Trakai-Semeliškės

Vilnius-Trakai? (mit Varianten):http://gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qbyklxwhlysxryux

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1. Vilnius-Trakai-Semeliskes

Vilnius –Trakai

The length of the route – 38 km (asphalt roads). Start in Cathedral Square in Vilnius at 12:00). Vilnius –18– Lentvaris –11– Old Trakai –5– Trakai –4– sleeping place near lake Totoriškiai.

28.6.

Vilnius – 25 – Trakai-22?-Semeliskes-15- Aukstadvaris

Trakai – Totoriškės – Raudonė I 8 km (asphalt);

Raudonė I – Kariotiškės – Lentvaris mansion-house 6 km (gravelled road);

Lentvario mansion-house – Mūrinė Vokė – Vilnius 18 km (asphalt);

Viso: 32 km (26 km asphalt, 6 km gravelled road).

Sightseeing

· Užtrakis palace and park (see description);

· Panoramic views of Lake Galvė;

· Lentvaris mansion-house / Gutshof;

· Trakų Vokė

· Vilnius (see description);

Service

Kariotiškės (??);

Lentvaris (food shop);

Vilnius (all pleasures).

Lentvaris settled here in the second half of the 19th century, near freshly built railway station, close to the Lentvaris estate, which belonged to the count J.Tiškevičius. The current name of Lentvaris dates back to 1939, when Vilnius and its surroundings were returned to Lithuania. In the sources written in Slavonic languages dating 17th century the settlement had names of Litavaravas, Landvarovas. It is considered that the primary name is coming from the name of a person. Count Tiškevičius with family in the second half of the 19th century built here English neogothic style palace, and in the 7th decade a park by a famous French landscape architect E. Andre project a park was founded.

Lentvaris

The estate of Liovariškiai is mentioned from the XVII century. Later in the XIX century, this estate turned into the settlement of Lentvaris. It is believed that this name comes from a personal name. In the 2^nd half of the XIX century, the counts Tiškevičiai have built here an English neogothic castle. In the 7^th decade of the XIX century, according to the landscape architect E.Andrea’s project, a park was started.

Catering. Restaurants & Cafés

Lentvaris

D.Lavrukaitytė’s café-bar, Geležinkelio str. 21, , (528) 20670;
Lentvika, Klevų alley. 20, (528) 29259;
Shops: “SAULUTĖ”, Geležinkelio g. 11a; EURO APOTHECA, Geležinkelio g. 11a; HANZA bank, Bažnyčios g. 3; Train station, Geležinkelio g. 15

Trakai Historical National Park

The Trakai National Park was designated in 1992 to embrace the historic city of Trakai, some 25 km outside Vilnius, as well as the forests, lakes and villages in its environs. The total area of the park is 8 thousand kilometres. The most valuable monuments in the park are the Trakai insular castle, the remnants of the peninsula castle and the ancient site of the Senieji Trakai (Old Trakai) castle with a church and village. It was in the castle of Senieji Trakai that, according to old chronicles, the capital of Lithuania was transferred by the Grand Duke Gediminas in the 14^th century. The greatest Lithuanian ruler of all times, Grand Duke Vytautas was born there. Later, the capital was transferred to the castle situated on a peninsula between the lakes of Lukas and Galvė. The castle was presumably one of the largest in Lithuania of those times and served as residence for a number of Lithuanian rulers before the insular castle was constructed a short distance away on an island of Lake Galve. It became the stronghold and residence for a number of Grand Dukes of Lithuania, including Kźstutis and Vytautas. It was there that Vytautas died in 1430. Ruined during the wars in the 18th century, the castle is completing its restoration and houses an impressive History Museum at the present time. Trakai is a small town, its main attraction being the old part, notable for the wooden houses built by the Karaites, a tribe of Turkic people who were brought to Lithuania by the Grand Duke Vytautas from the Crimea to serve as his bodyguards. The Karaites’ house of worship, a kinessa, and the museum of the Karaite culture are places worth visiting. In and around Trakai there are about 20 lakes, the largest of them being Lake Galve, an established centre of water sports in Lithuania. Trakai is increasingly becoming one of Lithuania’s busiest recreation zones, hosting a number of international events every year, like the hot air balloon festival of 1990. The environs of Trakai, with old villages and ancient castle hills, attract not only those interested in history but also numerous lovers of nature. In the Varnikai – Ilgelis and Plomenai nature reserves one can find a number of rare species of birds and plants. Over 300 thousand people visit the Trakai National Park every year.

Trakai

The vast lakes of Trakai and fairy tale castle have been the sources for inspiring legends and superstitions for centuries. Lake Galvė (“head” in Lithuanian) got its name when Grand Duke Vytautas tossed the head of a slain crusader into the waters. Apparently, this only whetted the lake’s appetite and it now won’t freeze before it has taken its head (i.e. a drowning). Trakai, which is 25 km from Vilnius, is also a home to the Karaites, a Turkic ethnic group practicing a religion akin to Judaism, who came to Lithuania from the Crimea in the 14^th century as warriors for Vytautas. Today the country’s smallest ethnic group counts almost 300 members.

The architectural monuments in Trakai are the Church of St. Virgin Mary’s Visit (1409, rebuilt in 1717, with Gothic and Baroque features), a kinesse of the Karaites (18th c.), a roofed pole to St. Jonas Nepomukas (17^th century). Certainly, the unsurpassed monuments are fragments of the Peninsular castle and the Insular castle. This Gothic castle is one of the most outstanding defence constructions of the Middle Ages Lithuania, the only insular castle in East Europe. It was built at the end of the 14^th century – the beginning of the 15^th century by Grand Dukes Kęstutis and Vytautas on one of the islands of Lake Galvė. In the 15^th century the castle was the residence of the rulers of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. The investigation and restoration of the castle was started in the 19^th century and is still in process.

Today Trakai is a famous Lithuanian centre of tourism and recreation.

Sightseeing:

• Island castles – history museum;
• Užutrakis castle (19th century), the park;
• Dominican monastery (18th century), Kęstučio 4;
• St. Mary visit church (15 – 18th centuries), Birutės str.;
• St. God’s Mother birth church (19th century);
• Karaim living houses (19-20 century.), Karaimų str.;
• Kenesa (19 a.) – karaims pray house, Karaimų str.30;
• St. John Nepomukas chapel pole (18th century a.)
• Varnikai mound
• Service Trakai (Tel. Code: 528)

Tourist Info

TURIZMO INFORMACIJOS CENTRAS, Vytauto 69, tel./fax. 51934; trakaiTIC@is.lt , www.trakai.lt

National Park Trakai: Karaimų 5, Trakai, tel./fax. 55756, tel. 55753; El.paštas: hinterlandas.parkas@is.lt ; http://www.is.lt/area.patria

Museum/s

Trakai history museum (administration), Kęstučio 4, , trakai.museum@is.lt
Island castle, May-September. 10.00-19.00; October to April. II-IV 10.00-17.00pm;
Lithuanian institute of geology museum,;
Karaims ethnographical exhibition, Karaimų 22,, III-VII – 10.00-18.00;

Accommodation / Unterkunft

bed & breakfast

• “TRAKŲ SALA”; N. JUTKEVIČ ; Karaimų 29; Tel. 55179; Mob. 8 687 57053; 30 Lt p.P.
• ČIUPKOVIENĖ MARYTĖ; Gilušio 9; Tel. 52167; Mob. 8 687 42937; r.c@takas.lt ; 30 – 40 Lt p.P.
• KERŠIENĖ DALIA; Birutės 16a; Mob. 8 652 63287; Tel. 51121; 50 Lt p.P.
• KLERAUSKIENĖ DANUTĖ; Mikulionio 7 – 2;; Tel. 8 5 28 51328; 25 – 30 Lt p.P.
• MORKŪNIENĖ ALEKSANDRA; Šaudyklos 6; Tel. 52811; Mob. 8 676 37626; grmor2000@yahoo.de ; 25 – 50 Lt p.P.
• PAŽERECKIENĖ GENOVAITĖ; Mikulionio 7 – 1; Tel. 52644; Mob. 8 670 49638; 30Lt p.P.
• ŪSAS JUOZAS; Trakų 10 – 11; Tel. 50104; Mob.8 698 04051; virzinija@one.lt ; 20 – 30 Lt p.P.
• TYLERTIENĖ JELENA; Karaimų 39; Tel. 51020; Mob. 8 699 46234; tylertas@delfi.lt ; 30 Lt p.P.
• ZURLIENĖ AUGUTĖ; Karaimų 83; Tel. 51402; Mob. 8 685 20229; zurliukas@one.lt; www.ilsekis.ten..lt ; 30 – 40 Lt p.P.; 200 Lt p. H
• JANINA BAKŠIENĖ; Šaudyklos 5; Trakai; Tel. 52626; Mob. 8 67338975; 25 Lt p.P.
• Hotels
• “TRAKŲ VIEŠBUTIS”; Ežero 7; Trakai; Tel. 55505; F. 55503; hotel.traku@takas.lt; http://members.hotels.lt/traku ; 220- 300 Lt p. R.
• TRAKŲ SPORTO CENTRO VIEŠBUTIS ; Karaimų 73; Trakai; Tel. 55501; F. 55387; sportocentras@mail.lt; www.sc.trakai.com; 144 – 300 Lt; p. R. b & b
• “ROTUŠĖ ”; (summer); Vytauto 1; Trakai; T./f. 55148; Mob. 8 671 73339;Mob.8 686 54135; 20 Lt p.P.
• SVEČIŲ NAMAI; Vytauto 87; Trakai; Mob. 8 614 16496; Tel. 55893; F. 55936; traku.vsp@is.lt ; 40 Lt p.P.

CAMPING

• “KEMPINGAS SLĖNYJE ”; Slėnio 1; Trakai; T./F. 53880; Mob. 8 686 11136; kempingasslenyje@one.lt; www.camptrakai.lt ; 25 – 120 Lt p.P.

Catering. Restaurants & Cafés

• “APVALAUS STALO KLUBAS”, restoranas; Karaimų 53a, asklubas@takas.lt ; 11 – 23
• ”KYBYNLAR”, restoranas; Karaimų 29, Trakai; Tel. 55179;kybynlar@takas.lt ; 11 – 22
• “TURISTAS”, kavinė – baras; Karaimų 66a, Trakai; Tel. 59164 F. 66300; 8 – 24; 8 – 04 (IV, V, VI)
• “KEMPINGO SLĖNYJE” kavinė; Slėnio 1, Trakai; Tel./F. 53880; : kempingasslenyje@one.lt; www.camptrakai.lt ; 10 – 23
• “TRAKŲ VIEŠBUČIO” kavinė; Ežero 7, Trakai; Tel. 528 55505; F. 55503; hotel.traku@takas/lt; www.members.hotels.lt/traku ; 12 –24
• SPORTO CENTRO kavinė – svetainė; Karaimų 73, Trakai; Tel. 55501;F. 55387; sportocentras@mail.lt
• “ARGO”, kavinė; Vytauto 89,Trakai; Tel. 55278; 11 – 24
• “MARKIZAS”, kavinė – baras; Karaimų 25a, Trakai; Tel. 55859; Mob. 8 687 45372; 11 – 24

Other / Andere
Trakai Busstation, Vytauto 90 : Tel. 51333

Trakai Train Station, Vilniaus g.: Tel. 51055

Policija, Vytauto 57, tel. 55912, 02

Senieji Trakai (Alt-Trakai, Old Trakai)

The Old Trakai is very old Lithuanian capital. According to the legend The Old Trakai was founded by Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. In the second half of the 14th century there has already been a brick castle, ruled by the duke Kźstutis. In the 1350 m. the great Duke Vytautas was also born here. In 1405 m. Vytautas Magnus let the benedict monks settled here and close to the place has built a church for them. Benedict’s monastery buildings have remained to this day. In the 19th century part of them were rebuilt into neo-gothic church. The settlement of the Old Trakai has kept the features of Dzūkija region (ethnical region of Lithuania) street type village.

Užutrakis palace

The Užutrakis palace was built at the turn of the century by the wealthy and prominent Tiškevičius family. They lived there until 1939. After the war, it was used for a variety of purposes, including as a tourism base. Although the mansion is a derelict disaster now, evidence of its beauty is still apparent, especially in the well-planned garden with its tree-lined paths and stone ornament designed by the French landscape architect Edourd André. If anything it’s still a fine place to picnic in a faded and mouldering glory, while gazing back at Trakai castle, Lake Galvė, and the islands.

Accommodation/Übernachtung

AUKŠTADVARIS

Aukštadvario Regional Park (direkcija) Aukštadvaris, Draugystes 2, tel. 528 65246

Kaimo sodybos / Country Holidays / Urlaub auf dem Lande

ZUBRICKIENĖ NIJOLĖ; Draugystės 22; ( Navos ež.); Tel. 65310; Mob. 8 652 48830; zhenrikas@one.lt; www.turizmas.mums/lt ; 35 Lt p.P.

BIELINIS ANTANAS; Pušyno 6; Trakų raj. (Navos ež.); Tel. 65346; Mob.8 699 25985; Mob. 8 616 29130; antanas.bielinis@takas.lt ; 30- 40 Lt p.P.

ULEVIČIENĖ GRAŽINA; Pušyno 5; (Navos e˛.); Tel . 65381; Mob. 8 615 10438; 35 – 40 Lt p.P.

ŽILINSKIENĖ IRENA; Vilūnų k.; (Navos ež.); Tel. 59541; Mob.8 685 30100; romturas@mail.lt ; www.romturas.com ; 100 – 260 Lt / house

SKIRKA VYTAUTAS; Krakių k.; Trakų raj.; ( Krakės ež.); Tel . 65726l Mob. 8 685 61665;

OTHERS

Erholungsheim “Vernėjus”, Dorf / village Nikroniai, Tel. 65586;

Resting house “Deimantas”, Semeliškės, tel. (528) 31072;

Gentainiai, UAB, Draugystės str. 22, Elektrėnai, (528) 35406

“Abromiškių sanatorija”, Abromiškės village, Elektrėnai, tel. (528) 39612, email: abrsan@post.omnitel.net.

“Bačkonys”, Vilnius–Kaunas highway, tel. (346) 41435, 52260;

TRAKŲ PRIEMESTIS (3 km to / vor Trakai)

GEDVILAS ANTANAS; Jovariškių k. Trakų raj. (Akmenos ež.); Tel. 74494; Mob. 8 685 59630; Mob. 8 652 42150

g.antanas@is.lt; 30 – 40 Lt p.P.

“AKMENINĖ REZIDENCIJA”; Bražuolės k.; Trakų raj.; Mob. 8 698 30544; Tel./Fax. 25186; info@akmenineuzeiga.lt; www.akmenineuzeiga.lt ; 295 – 795 Lt; p.R., b&b