Trakai is a town near Vilnius that was once the capital of Lithuania. It is known for Trakai Castle, now a museum, where the Grand Duke of Lithuania once lived. People visit Trakai to walk along the lakes, enjoy local snacks like kibinai, and see the castle. In winter, cars can drive on the frozen lakes. Amber washing ashore from the Baltic Sea is an important natural resource and cultural symbol for Lithuania. Children collect pieces of amber along the coast, and adults craft beautiful amber jewelry that is a traditional wedding gift.

1. Trakai Castle
Trakai is a small town not far from
Vilnius. It was the capital of Lithuania
600 years ago. The Grand Duke of
Lithuania lived in the castle of Trakai.
Now there is a museum in the castle.
Castle is pilis in Lithuanian.
People come here to walk, swim, sail
and enjoy kibinai (little meat pies). In
winter the lakes are covered in ice.
The ice is so thick that some cars
drive on the lakes.

4. The waves of the Baltic Sea bring wonderful yellow stones
to the shore. They are called amber. It is fossilized resin.
Amber – the Lithuanian gold
Photo by Elisabeth from the Netherlands
Can you see a spider in the
amber?

6. Amber is the symbol
of Lithuania
Some people think they are
the tears of gods. Others
say it’s the sun in stones.
Amber jewelry is a
traditional gift for brides
from their parents. Amber
is gintaras in Lithuanian. It
can be yellow, orange and
brown.
Children walk along the
coast and collect pieces of
amber. Adults make
beautiful jewelry:
necklaces, rings, earrings.

7. Some historical facts
• 1240 Duke Mindaugas unites Lithuania
• 1323 first mention of Vilnius in documents
• 1569-1795 Lithuania and Poland are united
in a Commonwealth
• 1918 Lithuania declares independence after
tsarist Russian rule
• 1991 Lithuania declares independence after
Soviet rule
• 2004 Lithuania becomes member of EU

8. Famous People of Lithuania
President Dalia
Arvydas Sabonis
Grybauskaitė
Credits to "Lipofsky Basketballphoto.com"
Photo by Augustas Didžgalvis http://www.basketballphoto.com/NBA_Basketball_Photographs.htm

9. Potatoes, beetroot, pork, different kinds of
mushrooms and berries, brown bread, garlic
are the main ingredients of Lithuanian cuisine.
Mushrooms and berries
picked in the forest
Shakotis wedding cake
Cepelinai (potato
dumplings)
(photo by Jpatokal)
Brown bread
Cold beetroot soup
(photo by RsAzevedo)
(photo by Phillip Capper) (photo by Bearas)

10. Our school is situated in the outskirts
of Vilnius not far from the
TV Tower.
There is a café with TV Tower “dressed” as
great views on top a Christmas tree
Photo by M.Lucenko
Photo by Sfu

11. Views from the TV Tower café

12. This is our school, “Svaja”. It’s pronounced “Svaya”.
It means “dream” in Lithuanian.

13. Thank you for your attention!

14. This presentation was made by class 4A, 2012 and their
English teacher Raisa Shapiro for Comenius Project
Legends of Our Region.
Special thanks to 4a pupils Laura Krulikovska and
Arina Kostusiova.
Photos from Wiki Commons and by parents and friends of
our school. Special thanks to Marina Lucenko, Olga Gulko,
Daniel Milner.