8. Senieji (Old) Trakai Castle Site (mid-13 cent.-1405)

The site of Senieji (Old) Trakai Castle is 3 km from Trakai in the territory of the Senieji (Old) Trakai Castle Site Cultural Reserve, at the end of the Trakai - Senieji (Old) Trakai road, A107). The castle site is surrounded to the north, west and south by a ditch that is 35-40 m wide and 6 m deep and on the eastern side the site is reached by a natural, boggy ditch with water which lies along with the Senieji (Old) Trakai old habitation territory in the Senieji (Old) Trakai Archaeological Strict Reserve. An embankment has been built across the ditch in the eastern part of the castle site to enable motorised access to the castle site and church on the north-western edge of the castle site. A historical cultural ensemble protection zone protects the site from negative visual impact.

Senieji (Old) Trakai castle was built in a strategically important place next to the Teutonic Order's military route to Vilnius. Legend has it that this site was once the centre of the Lithuanian state. Senieji (Old) Trakai is mentioned for the first time in written sources in Wigand of Marburg's Chronicle sub anno 1337. Senieji (Old) Trakai castle as built by Gediminas is one of the oldest stone/brick castles in Lithuania. Between 1345 and 1382 it was home to Prince Kęstutis, the Duke of Trakai.

Around 1350 it was here that the future Grand Duke Vytautas (1392-1430) was born to Prince Kęstutis and his wife Birutė. The castle was destroyed in 1391 during an attack by the Teutonic Order and it was never rebuilt.

Archaeological excavations were carried out at Senieji (Old) Trakai in 1994-97 in an area covering 400m². During excavations it was discovered that the walled castle was built in an uninhabited area after a great amount of work. The brick-shell construction of the walls with bricks that were well-baked, 30-33 cm long, 15-16 cm wide and 7-9 cm thick was formed on the exterior in the tradition of the Balts, and the roof was covered in channelled tiles.

According to the Trakai Historical National Park planning scheme Senieji (Old) Trakai Castle Site is to be set aside for educational leisure.