Norwegian Sea Skuodas PALANGA Kretinga Telðiai Ðiauliai Panevëþys FINLAND KLAIPËDA NORWAY Utena SWEDEN Nida Ðilutë North Atlantic Ocean ESTONIA RUSSIA Tauragë LATVIA Kaunas Nord Sea Baltic Sea IRELAND LITHUANIA VILNIUS UNITED KINGDOM LITHUANIA Marijampolë BELARUS NETHERLANDS POLAND GERMANY BELGIUM Flag Coat of Arms of Lithuania of the State Alytus CZECH REP. UKRAINE FRANCE SLOVAKIA Bay of Biscay MOLDOVA SWITZERLAND AUSTRIA Capital: Vilnius HUNGARY SLOVENIA ROMANIA National language: Lithuanian CROATIA ITALY Parliamentary System of governance: PORTUGAL BOS.& Black sea HER. democracy International memberships: SERBIA a member of NATO since 29 March 2004, a member SPAIN BULGARIA Geographical position: of European Union since 1 May 2004. Adriatic Residents: Sea MACEDONIA Lithuania is in the northeast of the eastern Baltic Sea ALBANIA coast. Lithuania shares borders with Belarus (660 population of about 2 million 979 thousand residents, Tyrrhenian Sea TURKEY km), Latvia (588 km), Poland (103 km) and Russia of which 84,2% are Lithuanians whose native GREECE Aegean along Kaliningrad region (273 km). The coastal strip language is Lithuanian (this language belongs to the Mediterranean Sea Ionian Sea Sea is 90 km long. The territory of the country is 65 300 m2. Indo - European language family and is one of the The distance from the north of the country to the oldest in Europe). Largest ethnic minorities of south is 276 km, and the distance from the west Lithuania are the Poles (6.6%), Russians (5.8 %), to the east is 373 km. In 1989 researchers of the and Belarusians (1.2 %). French National Institute found out that the Climate: geographical centre of Europe is in Lithuania, this The climate is maritime, continental. The average fact is recorded in the Book of Guinness World temperature of July is +170C; in January average Palanga International Airport Records. temperature is – 4.90C. However, the temperature in Palanga International Airport is the third largest airport in Lithuania offering 0 0 scheduled passenger flights. It is located very close to the coast Religion: summer can rise up to +30 C and drop to - 32 C in of the Baltic Sea and has a status of a regional airport. Geographical Most of Lithuania's residents are Roman Catholics. winter. Lithuanians also professes Orthodox, Evangelical National currency: airport situation is convenient for both tourism and business trips. Lutherans, Evangelical Reformers, Old Believers, National currency is euro (EUR) as of 1 January 1 Liepojos Rd., LT-00169 Palanga Judaism, Islam and other faiths. 2015. Tel. +370 460 52020, [email protected], www.palanga-airport.lt Nida Klaipëda Ðilutë Palanga Kretinga Skuodas Family–Friendly Palanga will Astonish with Thousand Surprises Family-friendly Palanga attracts holidaymakers because of the opportunity to escape routine and urbanized surroundings, to gain strength from natural health resources - sun, sea water, clean and fresh seashore and pine forest air, and of course, the opportunity to enjoy holidays with the entire family. If you would ask a hundred people the same question – what is Palanga like - most likely you would hear hundred different answers. And this is not surprising at all – everyone will be able to find interesting activities and leisure opportunities in the largest resort of the country regardless of their age or interests. Some like Palanga in summer when the city is entertaining, wanton, and vivacious, others, on the other hand, are fascinated by tranquillity and romance in autumn or winter. However, regardless of the season, your family's stay in Palanga will be enjoyable and interesting every time. Fine and smooth sandy beaches surrounded by dunes and pine forests will fascinate everyone. Peaceful family holidays cannot be imagined without walks in marvellous Birute Park or interesting bicycle rides. Palanga visitors looking for action should definitely come to the perpetually lively J. Basanavicius Street full of colours of sand and water. Stay in Palanga cannot be imagined without exclusive concerts, sports and cultural events. Everyone will be able to find something according to his/her taste. Families like this seaside resort because of its mild climate, entertainments for both adults and small children, opportunities to actively spend their leisure in a place surrounded by pine forests, also, because of attention to the guests of all ages. Opportunity to dive into the Baltic Sea or enjoy sunbaths on smooth and fine seaside sand is one of the greatest summer pleasures in Palanga. Since 2003 Birute Park Beach has been annually awarded the Blue Flag, a sign of highest quality. Resort visitors will not be bored even when the weather gets cold. Autumn in Palanga offers sports and cultural events, the longest and the most hospitable county's table under the open sky. During the Christmas period, the resort lights with thousands of festive lights, families may enjoy unique attractions specially designed for families and children. The city also decorates a unique Christmas tree surprising with something new every year. When Christmas bustle calms down, the smell of smelt sweeps through Palanga as the resort invites to unique Smelt Festival (lt. “Stintø ðventë”) having no analogues in the country. The spring brings Easter and J. Basanavicius Street becomes an alley decorated with record-sized Easter eggs. Shortly, the god of sea and storm Bangpûtys covers the seashore with millions of amber stones. After full circle of four seasons, Palanga again invites you to enjoy active holiday season. Visit hospitable Palanga at any time of the year and have no doubt, you and your family will certainly have no time to be bored. 6 7 G G N N I I E E E E S S H H T T R R O O W W Sculpture Park Fascinates with The Symbol of Palanga – Sea Pier the Works of Acknowledged Artists It is impossible to imagine Palanga without the Sea Pier, a place attracting everyone. Beautiful scenery of dunes, yellow beaches and limitless sea open before the eyes of onlooker, the sounds of the sea and shrieks of seagulls fill The sculpture park is located in the city centre at the crossing of Vytauto and in the air. Evenings may be comfortably spent on the benches with J. Simpsono Streets. This park attracts not only the attention of passers-by, loved ones watching amazing sunsets. it is also a place of attraction for those preferring quiet relaxation with family, children or friends. At the end of the 19th century Palanga was ruled by Counts Tiðkevièiai. They decided to build a dock for ships that could be used to transport bricks Park visitors may enjoy as many as 28 sculptures given made in counts' brickyard. The dock was built in 1884-1888 and vessel “Phoenix” to Palanga City Municipality by Lithuanian Art Museum. cruised to Klaipeda and Liepaja. Later, when the export of bricks failed, the ship was used for transportation of passengers. Unfortunately, after storms the dock Currently, the sculpture park exhibits works would be covered in sand, therefore, it was realized that the bridge was not of acknowledged Lithuanian sculptors suitable for navigation. Kazimieras Kisielius, Bronius Vyðniauskas, Leonas Strioga, Bronius Zalensas, Since 1892, the pier became the most popular place for taking walks. Impacts Albertas Donatas Belevièius, Vaclovas Krutinis, of time, sea waves and wind destroyed this structure, thus, a new pier of 470 Aloyzas Toleikis, Antanas Þukauskas, meters in length was built on concrete poles in 1998. Daliutë Ona Matulaitë. There are also sculptures of the famous Lithuanian artist Vytautas Kazimieras The sculpture “Jûratë and Kastytis” (sculptress N. Gaigalaitë) that became Jonynas created in emigration. The exposition another symbol of the resort was built in the nearby square in 1961. includes valuable works by sculptors from Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and Armenia. 8 9 Comfortable relaxation in Palanga cannot be imagined Project “The Reflections of Birute Park History” not only without the sea but also without a walk in one implemented for the last ten years in the park silently Birute Park – the Pearl of Palanga – of the most beautiful parks in Eastern Europe – Birute brings the visitors back to the past of the resort during Park. This resort area called the pearl of Palanga is the times of Counts Tiðkevièiai. On summer Thursdays G G N adorned every year in order to make it even more one can meet characters representing Counts N I More Beautiful Each Year attractive to holidaymakers. The novelty of this year, Tiðkevièiai and their guests who lived in Palanga of the I E E E an overnight lighting of the park, allows resort visitors last century. Authentic clothing is made according to E S S watching the sunset to continue their memorable the surviving photographs of the family of Counts H romantic evening in the cosy shelter of nature. Tiðkevièiai. Recreated jewellery and details such as H T antique bicycle or baby stroller provides the visitors of T R Birute Park was established in the territory of the former Birute Park with the sense of reality rather than a R O sacred Birute Forest and Birute Hill. At the end of 19th theatrical impression. O W century, famous French architect Édouard Francois W André prepared a project for a landscape park at the Traditionally, three times a week on every summer order of Tiðkevièiai. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. brass music fans gather in park rotunda where professional Brilliantly designed park has a large variety of images orchestra of Palanga gives free concerts for the and sentiments with artfully arranged pathways and residents and guests of Palanga in the surroundings of flowerbeds in yards. This swampy area of Tiðkevièiai nature. estate was overgrown with hassocks. At the request of the counts, ponds were excavated in this place and the The series of chamber music concerts “Night soil was used for the construction of the mansion.