Trakai, Lithuania, is a fairytale town centered around the stunning Trakai Island Castle, a 14th-century red-brick fortress on Lake Galvė, serving as a historic symbol of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and a major tourist hub. Beyond the castle, Trakai boasts a unique Karaim heritage, with their distinct wooden houses and savory kibinai pastries, alongside picturesque lakes, historical churches, and opportunities for boating, hiking, and exploring traditional crafts, making it a charming escape near Vilnius.
Medieval Castle
The Hill of Crosses. Lithuania's revolt against the Communist attempt to eliminate religion. The Communists take the crosses down and clear the land... the Lithuanians put their crosses on the hill again and again.
The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių Kalnas) in Lithuania is a mystical pilgrimage site, a small hill covered in over 100,000 crosses symbolizing Lithuanian Catholic faith, national identity, and peaceful resistance against oppression, especially during Soviet rule when authorities repeatedly destroyed it, only for locals to defiantly rebuild it, making it a powerful testament to enduring hope and freedom. Visitors leave various crosses, from tiny wooden ones to large statues, creating a dense, melodic forest of faith and remembrance that Pope John Paul II famously blessed.
