The main street is dominated by uniform wooden houses, facing it with two-windowed sides.

The Trakai name, derived from Lithuanian: trakas - "the glade", suggests that the castle was built in a hollow area after deforestation.

According to the Lithuanian Chronicle, Senieji Trakai was established by Grand Duke Gediminas who departed for hunting from Kernavė into another coast of the Neris River and personally liked a mound surrounded by oaks and plains.

It is supposed that the present monastery building dating from the 15th century incorporates the remains of the Gediminas' castle.

[citation needed] This Vilnius County, Lithuania location article is a stub.