Senieji Trakai was a castle located in Senieji Trakai, Lithuania. It was the first enclosure-type brick castle built by Grand Duke Gediminas, who moved the capital of Lithuania from Kernavė to Trakai before 1321. This site holds significant history, including the wedding of Grand Duke Kęstutis and Birutė and serving as the birthplace of Grand Duke Vytautas in 1350.
In 1391, the Teutonic Order destroyed the castle, which was then abandoned because Kęstutis had erected a new castle in Trakai. In 1405, Vytautas granted the ruins of the castle to Benedictine monks. It is presumed that the current monastery building, which dates from the 15th century, contains the remains of Gediminas' castle.
Archaeological research conducted in 1996–1997 confirmed the existence of a former rectangular masonry castle wall that surrounded the hill. The findings suggest that residential buildings occupied the area near the church and the churchyard.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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