City of Trakai, Republic of Lithuania

 “A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” — Henry David Thoreau

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(in the city of Trakai, in Lithuania) The southernmost and largest of northeastern Europe's three Baltic states, the Republic of Lithuania was a powerful empire that dominated much of eastern Europe in the 14th–16th centuries before becoming part of the Polish-Lithuanian confederation for the next two centuries. Lithuania was occupied by Russia beginning in 1795, was controlled by Germany for a brief period during World War II, and was incorporated into the U.S.S.R. in 1944. Lithuania was occupied by Russia beginning in 1795, was controlled by Germany for a brief period during World War II, and was incorporated into the U.S.S.R. in 1944. (It achieved independence in 1991.) Featured here is Trakai Castle, on an island in Lake Galve, near Vilnius. Built by Vytautas the Great (ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania), it was completed in the 15th century. Stepping across the wooden walkway to Trakai's Gothic castle is like tripping into a fairy tale. Construction of the castle was driven by Grand Duke Vytautas' need for stronger defenses. Its Trakai History Museum, now conveys the history of past eras.