Senieji Trakai

History

According to the Lithuanian Chronicle, Senieji Trakai was established by Grand Duke Gediminas who departed for hunting from Kernavė into another coast of the Neris River and personally liked a mound surrounded by oaks and plains. Sometime before 1321, Grand Duke Gediminas transferred the capital of Lithuania from Kernavė to Trakai (today's Senieji Trakai) and erected his brick castle. In 1337, it became a seat of the newly established Duchy of Trakai. Gediminas' son Kęstutis erected a new castle in New Trakai (today's Trakai). Kęstutis' son Vytautas was born in Old Trakai ca. 1350. The castle in Senieji Trakai was destroyed by the Teutonic Order in 1391. The ruins of the castle were donated to Benedictine monks by Vytautas in 1405. It is supposed that the present monastery building dating from the 15th century incorporates the remains of the Gediminas' castle.

Most-observed species

• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,357
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,285
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  1,157
• Eurasian Blue Tit

  Cyanistes caeruleus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  851
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  756
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  721
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

  Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  706
• Great Spotted Woodpecker

  Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  646