TRAKAI, LITHUANIA
Trakai (Trakai; see names section for alternative and historic names) is a city and lake resort in Lithuania. It lies 28 kilometers (17 miles) west of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, or just 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the administrative limits of the Lithuanian capital city. Because of its proximity to Vilnius, Trakai is a popular tourist destination. Trakai is the administrative center of Trakai district municipality. The city is inhabited by 5,357 people, according to 2007 estimates.
A notable feature of Trakai is that the city was built and preserved by people of different nationalities. Historically, communities of Karaims, Tatars, Lithuanians, Russians, Jews, and Poles lived here.
Historically, the Trakai Island Castle, whose construction was finished by Grand Duke Vytautas, served as a residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
