Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

CASTLES AND FORTRESSES 29

Trakai

Romantically situated on an

island in the middle of a lake,

Trakai Island Castle (see pp56–7)

was the one-time residence of

Grand Duke Vytautas the Great,

who extended Lithuanian power

as far as the Black Sea.

Tsarevets

A fortress that also served as Bulgaria’s

capital city, Tsarevets (see pp626–7) was

home to the Bulgarian tsars from 1185 to

1393. It now plays host to a spectacular
      son-et-lumiere show on summer evenings.

Bran

The captivating

hilltop strong hold of

Bran (see pp580–81)

was built in the 14th

century to defend

Europe from the Turks.

It was subse quently

used as a holi day

home by the Romanian

royal family.

Kalemegdan

Affording access to the Danube river,

this medieval fortress (see pp550–51)

was used by Serbian, Ottoman and

Austrian rulers. It now serves as

Belgrade’s most popular park, offering

sweeping views from its battlements.

BLACK

SEA

BULGARIA

SERBIA

ROMANIA

ESTONIA

St Petersburg

LATVIA Moscow

LITHUANIA

RUSSIAN

FEDERATION