Vilnius County is the prestigious center of the nation where emerald hills hide the ruins of a medieval empire. **Trakai** is the highlight of any road trip with its red brick castle sitting on an island in the middle of Lake Galvė. Here the wooden houses of the **Karaim** people line the shore offering a taste of history and the famous kibinai pastries. The county is home to the geographic center of Europe marked by a stone monument and a park filled with massive art installations. In **Kernavė** you can climb five hillforts that overlook the **Neris** River valley where the first capital of the country once stood. The landscape is a mix of deep historical forests and rolling meadows that change color with the seasons. Beyond the historic sites you find modern manor estates and quiet regional parks where the river has carved high cliffs and stone outcrops. You can watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon or explore the quiet paths of the Europa Park art reserve. This is the heart of the country where the royal legacy of the grand dukes meets the wild beauty of the northern woods.

Vilnius (county) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Vilnius (county)

Vilnius County is the imperial heartland where the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was established as the largest state in Europe in the 1300s. The **Trakai** Island Castle completed in 1409 served as the high security residence of the dukes and was the only island fortress in Eastern Europe. The region became a global center for the **Karaite** community who were brought from Crimea in 1398 to serve as the royal guard. In the 1500s the Statutes of Lithuania were written here establishing a legal system that influenced the entire region for three centuries. The county also holds the **Kernavė** Valley where five massive hillforts mark the site of the nation’s first pagan capital from the 1200s. These archaeological treasures provide a window into the transition from tribal society to a centralized European power. During the 17th century wars the region’s grand manors like **Liubavas** were centers for high tech industrial experiments including early water powered metalwork. The nobility here were patrons of the arts and sciences creating a sophisticated cultural landscape of baroque churches and manicured estates. The history of the county is a narrative of grand imperial visions and cultural endurance.

Vilnius (county)

Vilnius (county) highlights

Part of these road trips

History of Vilnius (county)

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