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Klaipeda, already founded in 1252, is a city on the Lithuanian west coast, on the place where the Curonian lagoon (Kursiu marios) flows into the Baltic sea.
Much of the old charm has been preserved in the largely restored Old City. Currently Klaipeda, with 205,000 inhabitants, is the 3rd city in Lithuania, and one of the most important cities of the country. Klaipeda is the most northern ice-free sea port, with many fishing boats, commercial shipping, bridges for international ferries and docks for the contruction, maintenance and repair of ships.
The city boasts a university, a large number of museums, a library and concert halls, art galleries, a statue park and a myriad of historical and cultural monuments. The Old City, with its magnificent Teatro square, is very characteristic and inviting. Other places that make Klaipeda an attractive city, are Giruliai forest, several parks, nearly 10 km. of beautiful sand beach, and certainly also the Maritime Museum with the dolphinarium. Last but definitely not least is Neringa, the narrow stretch of land that separates the Curonian lagoon from the Baltic Sea.
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Palanga is a beach resort on tha Baltic sea shore, in the North-West corner of Lithuania. Already in the 12th century Palanga was a well known trade center, one of the harbours along the "Hanse-route". Nowadays Palanga is a modern resort with more than 18 km. clean sand beach, which at several points is over 300 mtrs wide. It is located in an almost untouched natural environment, and since time immemorial one of the richest amber sites. Naturally Palanga hosts a large number of amber workers and also a unique amber museum. In a large park in Palanga a small 19th |
century chapel with beautiful stained glass windows, on top of Birutes Kalnas (Birute's Hill), reminds of a piece of Lithuanian history. Legend has it that ages ago the Grand Duke Kestutis was so impressed by the beauty of the priestess Birute, that he abducted her and took her to his palace.
On the south side of the Lithuanian part of the narrow stretch of land, called Neringa - an area that was declared UNESCO World Heritage site for its breathtaking beauty and fragility - lies the small city of Nida. Since Neringa has the status of National Park, you will have to pay an entrance fee to get there. The exceptionally diverse forest makes Neringa the natural habitat of a wide variety of game that normally doesn't really belong in a sandy environment. In Nida you will find the house of Thomas Mann, the famous German writer, who spent a few summers there. The house now is a museum dedicated to him. The Nida beach was awarded the "Blue Flag" status in 2002, which means that the sea water is of a very clean and healthy quality. Nida and Neringa are worthwhile all year, special is that the Curonian lagoon sometimes freezes over in winter time. |
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