Located in the Užutrakis Manor Estate, the Historic Parks Exploration Centre welcomes visitors to an interactive exhibition housed in the recently restored former distillery building. This exhibition offers an immersive journey through the historic landscapes of Trakai and showcases the artistic legacy of landscape architect and botanist Édouard François André (1840–1911).
Guided by a professional tour guide, the exhibition serves as an invitation to rediscover the serene beauty of Užutrakis and to appreciate the natural and cultural heritage that is often overshadowed by the modern image of Trakai as a bustling tourist hotspot known for kibinai pastries and summer crowds.
Over seven centuries ago, Lithuania’s Grand Dukes, alongside their people and welcomed foreign settlers, established Trakai, a cradle of statehood. Nature played a pivotal role in this creation – glacially formed lakes, numerous islands, dense forests, and marshlands provided both protection and a place to build a home. Understanding Trakai means recognizing the delicate balance between culture and nature, which defines its uniqueness. What seems ordinary and constant in Trakai today is actually a fragile masterpiece, woven from the mysteries of its dark lakes, fields rippling in the light of the sun or moon, the whispers of forests, and the echoes of history: tragic fates of people and nations, ruined sanctuaries, and the fading prayers of the Virgin Mary for Lithuania, absorbed into the sacred walls of the church founded by Vytautas the Great.
This exhibition also invites visitors to see Trakai as a work of art, much like the Tiškevičiai noble family once did when they brought the French landscape master Édouard André to Užutrakis. Inspired by the ideals of La Belle Époque, the estate reflects a time when harmony between humans and nature was still possible. A closer look at André’s parks worldwide allows visitors to appreciate Lithuania’s treasures – his beautifully designed parks in Palanga, Lentvaris, Trakų Vokė, and Užutrakis.
OPENING HOURS:
Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
The Centre is closed on public holidays.
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