Karaim Wooden Houses

Legends say that when building a house, the Karaites allocated one window to themselves, the second to Vytautas the Great, whom they called Vatai By (translated from Karaite as Crushing the Enemies), and the third to God.

The truth, however, is about wealth. The Karaites had something to gain in the Middle Ages. Like other residents of the area, they paid tribute to the duke, but they could buy windows. The less well-off had one or two windows to the street. However, there are also houses with four windows on Karaimų street - these are resold houses that were rebuilt and replaced after the Second World War.

Did you know? The Karaite community, to which Vytautas the Great granted the privilege of living freely, is the closest in Trakai. Wooden houses are neatly lined up at the end of the street, usually with three windows.

Driving through the streets of Trakai, I noticed the distinctive wooden houses of the Karaim. These houses are not only architecturally interesting, but also an important testimony to the history and culture of the Karaim. The legends surrounding the windows of these houses are particularly fascinating. It is said that the Karaim allocated one window for themselves, the second for Vytautas the Great, whom they called “Vatai By” (Crushing the Enemies), and the third for God. However, these windows were also a sign of prosperity in the Middle Ages. The Karaim, who paid tribute to the Duke, could “buy” windows. The less well-off had one or two windows facing the street, while richer families had houses with three or even four windows. This tradition is reflected in the arrangement of the windows on the carefully aligned wooden houses. Another interesting detail is the historical significance of the Karaim in Trakai. In 1397, Prince Vytautas settled Karaimų as bodyguards alongside Tatars. Their presence in Trakai is a direct result of this historic decision, making the Karaimų Mediniai Namai a living history book. Cycling through the streets of Trakai, past these historic wooden houses, was like traveling back in time. Each house told its own story, and the peaceful atmosphere in the streets provided a perfect opportunity to feel the deep connection between history, culture and architecture.