our visit to trakai castle
So here we are in summer (supposedly – but let’s not talk about that) in Sydney. And it seems like the Northen Hemisphere has been snowed in of late. Our Facebook newsfeed is filled with photos of places covered in snow. Whether it be because of this winter or previous ones, we can’t be sure… but there are plenty going around. Trakai Castle in Lithuania was one of the ones that we came upon. Such a beautiful castle and even more magical and elegant in snow.
We saw it a couple of summers ago now and it was a stunning blue sky kind-of-day. What we saw and what it looks like at present is no doubt very different.
We do have a fascination with castles… Lured to them when we travel to old countries. Lifestyles of the rich and regal.
Trakai Castle is one of these castles we fell in love with from the outside. There is something so ridiculously “magical” seeing a castle out on an island in the middle of a lake, Lake Galve to be exact.
The castle was built in the 14th Century and was updated in the 19th Century. And no doubt has a colourful history like most castles do.
To reach the castle, we had to walk along a wooden bridge before entering the main gates.
Once inside, it is as if we are stepping onto a movie set, half expecting knights or lords or ladies to poke their heads out and jeer at us. 
Exploring this castle is much like any castle – there’s a left wing, a right wing, Chapels, spiral staircases up into towers or down into dungeons.
Here is David (red top:LEFT) looking around in awe as we sat and appreciated the Chapel and its architecture (and to rest our feet).
Back up on our feet, we walk through doorways, and hallways and balconies. Up, down and around….
Artefacts from archeological finds are displayed in the different rooms and we always love looking at things like that. To think how old some of the objects are simply blows our minds. And even more surreal when we are able to stand in the room that the royal families used to sleep in. Who would’ve thought! 
And it’s not only within the city walls that visitors can explore. We walked around the island outside the city walls.
Seeing too many castles whilst visiting Europe can happen but even so, we love visiting them.
So much history, so much intrigue and how humbling that we can catch a glimpse into what life once was like.
wise monkeys abroad 
February 2, 2016 at 2:10 am
Y’all see so many castles! The experts for sure! Love it!
February 2, 2016 at 8:13 am
Hahah – Diana, we are probably not experts in castles but we are definitely experts in looking at castles 😉 Hope you are well!
February 1, 2016 at 9:29 pm
loved trakai well worth visiting!
February 2, 2016 at 8:13 am
We concur!!! 🙂
January 31, 2016 at 8:33 pm
Oh wow, walking a bridge to reach the castle. That is true castle style right there. Trakai Castle looks like it has a certain charm about it. It doesn’t look enormous (at least from the outside), but on the inside it comes across as cozy and homey. David looked like he was being very cheeky, popping up all over the castle posing for photos 😀 Hope the two of you are well and enjoying summer.
February 2, 2016 at 8:18 am
Oh Mabel, isn’t that the only way to enter a castle? 😉
Hahaha – yeh, after we published the post, we realised it looks like David is one of those illusions that appear in odd places – glad you noticed it!
How is your book coming along???
Sydney has not had a summer – we’ve had monsoonal weather. Humid and hot days and thunder and storms in the afternoon. We’ve been caught out a few times…. drenched!! And more drenched!
February 2, 2016 at 8:22 pm
It did look like David was one very eager traveler who likes to do shot after shot after shot… I can easily see him on a travel TV show like Postcards 😀
My book is coming along slow. Slow 🙂 It’s been quite wet in Melbourne too. Wish we had a bit more warmer days.
January 31, 2016 at 2:21 pm
Just imagine the stories those walls could tell. It’s interesting how brick and stone are both used in construction.
February 2, 2016 at 8:16 am
Yes!!!! As we’ve said to you before, we would LOVE to be flies on the wall sometimes and just see how life was like…. Hope you are well!! Are you back at work now? David went back last week… 😦
February 2, 2016 at 10:25 pm
Back at work after an amazing Hawaiian holiday with Marsha from http://tchistorygal.net/ We had so much fun. I console myself by remembering that work is paying for the next holiday!
January 31, 2016 at 2:19 pm
There is no such thing as too many castles! I really enjoy visiting them. In December, I went to Windsor Castle in England which was amazing!
February 2, 2016 at 8:15 am
Awwwww…. love Windsor Castle! It has been a very very very long time since we were in England. We are well overdue for a visit 🙂