Grand Duke Kęstutis began the stone castle in the 14th century, in the second half of that century for the first phase. Vytautas the Great completed major works around 1409, and he died in the castle in 1430. It stands on the largest of three islands in Lake Galvė. The style is Brick Gothic, with red Gothic bricks as the main material and stone in the foundations and upper parts.
The keep has six stories and is 115 feet (35 m) tall on the southern side. The Ducal Hall measures about 33 by 69 feet (10 by 21 m). In the third phase the walls were strengthened to 8.2 feet (2.5 m) thick, with three corner towers.
Wars with Muscovy in the 17th century damaged the castle, which fell into disrepair. Major reconstruction began in 1946, and the main portion was finished in 1961. The Trakai History Museum owns it and recorded 300,000 visitors in 2008.
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