page_title: Gothic architecture in Lithuania
section_title: Castles with hard walls
hierarchical_section_title: Gothic architecture in Lithuania / Buildings / Castles with hard walls
caption_attribution_description: A une trentaine de kilomètres de Vilnius se trouve une zone de lacs aux bords desquels le Grand-Duc Kestutis , fils de Gediminas (voir le premier château de Gediminas à Vilnius), puis son propre fils Vytautas le Grand ont construit des bâtiments fortifiés pour créer un système défensif contre les chevaliers Teutoniques. Les lituaniens étaient alliés aux polonais contre les chevaliers envahisseurs. Il reste de cette période importante de l'histoire du pays, le château actuel construit à la fin du 14ème siècle sur une presqu'île au bord du lac Galvé et qui a été très restauré pour en faire un parc national historique, emblématique de l'identité de la Lituanie. Le site est un lieu de loisirs et la principale attraction touristique de la région de Vilnius. Trakai est aussi connue pour sa petite communauté de Juifs karaïtes, qui y sont installés depuis que le grand-duc Vytautas le Grand les a engagés pour la garde de la forteresse au début du XVe siècle. Extrait de l'article de Wikipedia sur Trakai fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trakai
context_page_description: Lithuania is not the very centre of Gothic architecture, but it provides a number of examples, partly very different and some quite unique.
context_section_description: Castles built of stones and bricks, dates of the first complete building after wooden precursors:
  Kaunas Castle, built in the mid 14th century, explored by Teutonic Knights in 1361 and destroyed in 1362, in 1384 once more conquered by the Order and reconquered by the Lithuanians,
  Trakai Peninsula Castle, 1350–1377,
  Trakai Island Castle, Fortifications built in the second half of the 14th century, palace after 1410,
  Medininkai Castle, 1392, after mid 15th century residential
  Gediminas Tower in Vilnius, completed 1409.
  Almost all of the Lithuanians medieval castles and forts were built of wood and earth.
caption: Trakai Island Castle, as rebuilt in the 1970s
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