www.LithuanianTravel.com The Republic of Lithuania is a country situated along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Its area covers 65, 3 thousand sq. km. Of its 3,397,000 residents, 83, 5% are Lithuanian, 6, 7% Polish, 6, 3% Russian, and 1% others. In 2009, the capital city of Vilnius – with over 550 thousand residents, will become the first Europe culture capital from the new members of EU. Other large towns include Kaunas, the seaport of Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. The Baltic sea There are over 100 towns in the country, of which, 30 were established over 750 years ago. Content Klaipėda – sea gates of lithunia ............................................................................. 2 Palanga – summer capital of the country .............................................................. 8 Šventoji ................................................................................................................. 10 Curonian spit – unique beauty of nature ............................................................. 15 Nida – centre of Neringa’s resort .......................................................................... 17 Juodkrantė – Preila - Pervalka ............................................................................. 18 By the bird migration route .................................................................................. 22 Ventės ragas – Kintai ............................................................................................ 23 Šilutė – Rusnė – Minija (Mingė) .......................................................................... 24 Coast of amber he Lithuanian Baltic seacoast is undoubtedly one of the most Tbeautiful in all of Europe. White sand beaches are followed by dunes, while fresh pinewoods separate beaches from settlements. It is to our country’s coast that the Baltic Sea washes ashore the most beautiful amber in the world. The sea resorts of Lithuania themselves are comparative to a necklace of amber, where every town or settlement, as the “sun stone“, has its own characteristic glow. laipėda is the sea gate of the country – it is the largest centre Kof industry and culture located in western Lithuania. It is also one of the most rapidly developing cities of the country. During the warm season of the year, Palanga becomes the summer capital of Lithuania - it is full of uproar offering different entertainment and culture events. When it is chilly, the resort in the pinewoods – it is an excellent place for conferences, seminars, or to improve health in convalescent homes all year round. he Curonian Spit is a declared UNESCO world heritage site, it Tis a real miracle created by sand, wind, and people between two bodies of water. It includes the whole panorama of dunes – white Volant sand beauties playing with the wind; still, Gray (Dead) dunes that poured over several villages; green hills overgrown with old woods. Romantic set- tlements that have preserved the old fisherman architecture style harmoni- ously match the surrounding nature. he eastern seacoasts of the Curonian Bay are completely dif- Tferent. The fishing delta of Nemunas fascinates visitors by the beauty of its lush wild nature, fauna, and abundance of birds. The old fisher- man villages – Rusnė, Mingė, Kintai and Dreverna – smell of smoked fish. The lighthouse of Ventės ragas stands as if to guide the bird migration route. Seemingly, the lighthouse invites the winged travellers to “wear“ the mark of one of the oldest bird ringing stations in Europe. Klaipėda – sea gates of Lithuania Klaipėda, the only seaport in Lithuania, style located the Klaipėda’s old town; stone houses is also the most northern non-freezing port in with jugend (modern) elements of the middle the Baltic Sea. The seaport located by the strait of the 19th century are located nearby; elegant of the sea and the Curonian Bay is the industrial neogothic-neoclassic red brick buildings. and cultural centre of Lithuania’s seacoast and the third largest town of the country. Music life is very active on the seacoast in the summer – several serious and light music Klaipėda was already known as a trade festivals, and concerts take place; a real treat to centre from the 13th century, where, after crossing the melomans is the international Pilies Jazz the Baltic Sea it was visited by the merchants from Festival in the beginning of June. As is fit for a Northern and Western countries. The founding seaport, the most spectacular event in Klaipėda date of the city is considered August 1, 1252; in is the Sea Festival (since 1934). The most famous 1257, Klaipėda was given Lubek (city) rights. art collective of Klaipėda is the sport dance Klaipėda established in the old lands of the ensemble “Žuvėdra“ –multi European and world Curonians and belonging to the ethno region of champions. Samogitia. Germans administered it for 500 years (until 1923) and it was called Memel. This period is Klaipėda attracts by excellent recreation reminded by a whole block of buildings in fachwerk possibilities: spacious white sand beaches of 2 3 Smiltynė separated from the town by a strip of Klaipėda is included in the route of the pinewood (complying with the requirements Baltic Sea cruise ships. The cruise ship terminal of Blue Flag); it is easy to reach the beaches of and Pilies yacht port is located in the very centre Melnragė or Giruliai. There are many places to of the city offering 5 international ferry routes, visit in the city and on the outskirts; there is a excellent land roads leading to the seaport, and wide selection of cafes, restaurants, nightclubs – the closest airport is located in Palanga. Therefore, according to cuisines, and styles. Almost 40 hotels, we can say that all roads lead to Klaipėda – to the guesthouses, and rentable cottages are located in centre of the Lithuania’s seacoast. the city. Places to visit Theatre square - heart of the port and the artist, but also the works of other old Lithuanian favourite place for cultural events. Its colourful art. Music of 48 bells of carillon sound from the history dates back to the 17th century. Its focus: beautiful neogothic old post tower built in the the Klaipėda drama theatre building built in end of the 19th century chimes every Sunday 1819 – the oldest theatre building in Lithuania, at noon; at the Clock Museum, one of the and a sculpture of poet’s Simon Dach poem hero biggest clock exhibitions in Europe is displayed. “Tarava Anikė” erected for his memory in 1912. Nearby, you can find a monument for the author The square is surrounded by different workshops of folk art, souvenir shops, and cafes. The history of Klaipėda city and region is displayed in the Pilies and Mažoji Lietuva museums; many original heritage exhibits are also displayed in Smithery (Kalvystės) museum. Klaipėda old town fachwerk block represents a whole “art island“: the ensemble of 7 buildings includes Klaipėda Art Exhibition Chamber; Barotti gallery which is located at its side; the whole pallet of seaport artists’ creations can be found at the Klaipeda gallery. Also close by, are several very original art galleries. ”Residents of Klaipėda have a sense of humour” – this is what you will think when you see snappy sculptures – restored informational pillar of Birža bridge, a village resident guiding a child across a street or a happy cat. Liepų Street rich in neogothic and modern buildings is another art zone: gallery of Pranas Domšaitis, in which not only exhibits this 2 3 Klaipėda – sea gates of Lithuania of the first Lithuanian fiction book Kristijonas of trained dolphins and California sea lions Donelaitis, and a sculpture in memory of the attracting many spectators are organized in the pioneer of Lithuanian writing Martynas Mažvydas dolphinarium. Other interesting activity of the decorates the beautiful square of Lietuvninkai. museum covers dolphin therapy for children with The Mažvydas sculpture park, created by the disabilities. In the dungeons of the embankments Soviet government, is located in the place of old of the castle, history of Lithuania’s navigation Klaipėda cemetery. Over 100 modern artists works are displayed there. Upon crossing the strait Smiltynė – the spearhead of the Curonian Spit is located on the other shore. At its end, you will find the most popular Lithuanian sea museum- dolphinarium – it is annually visited by over 0, 5 million people. The complex of the museum located in the former Kopgalis castle includes a rich and attractive sea nature exposition, fauna can be found in aquariums and pools; exhibitions 4 5 is exhibited. Curonian Spit NP Nature museum is also located in Smiltynė. Diverse expositions of this original peninsula are displayed in three ancient buildings. The most beautiful panorama of Klaipėda, Smil- tynė pinewoods and sea opens up from the St. Virgin Mary Queen of Peace Church’s tower at almost 50 metres tall. The most picturesque views of the dunes, the Curonian Spit, and the other shores will open if you travel by ship in the Curonian Bay. If you want wild nature, then go to the Seacoast regional park between Klaipėda and Palanga located on a 30 km strip. Karklė village is a settlement of amber fishermen and the haven of holidaymakers searching for tranquillity. Especially specific historical heritage – the Black Castle (II World War seacoast castle) – is located in the territory of the park. It is now an informational exposition featuring places to visit in the park. Beer from the brewery “Švyturys“ ope- rating for over 220 years can also be considered the “visiting card” of Klaipėda. Excursions