Klaipėda, Lithuania

Claipe da Castle

A historic fortress appeared in these places thanks to the Knights of the Teutonic Order as early as the 13th century-first in wood and then in stone. And in 2002-on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the founding of Klaipėda-an excellent museum opened in the city castle. Here you can see weapons, everyday household items, utensils, and jewelry of ancient tribes that lived in the territory of present-day Klaipėda up to the 11th century, models of the city in the 13th and 17th centuries, a gold signet ring with very rare gemstones, and a highly valuable silver goblet used by the Klaipėda merchants’ guild only on days of special celebrations. In the castle you can also see a huge cannon, a collection of antique tiles, and brewing equipment. And there is also a wonderful panoramic view of Klaipėda from the fortress.

The Sculpture “Wonderful Little Mouse”

This miniature sculpture is made of bronze and stone. A rather plump little mouse sits on a stone hemisphere. Its paws are folded, and its face is raised upward; a thin, long tail hangs down. The sculpture is only 17 centimeters tall, yet that doesn’t stop it from being considered magical. Although the sculpture has been installed quite recently, it has already gained recognition among the residents and visitors of the city as an granter of cherished wishes. All you have to do is whisper your wish into the mouse’s ear, and your thoughts-transformed into words-will become magic at the whim of the little creature. Of course, you may not believe in magic, but when you stroll through the labyrinths of the narrow streets of the Old Town-it's as if you’re transported a few centuries back. And that, too, is magic: the magic of antiquity.

The Old Town of Klaipėda

The Old Town of Klaipėda has preserved all the outlines and atmosphere of long-gone times. On its narrow streets, the history of Lithuania lives on, along with houses renovated in a modern style-peacefully coexisting with German half-timbered buildings. After all, ever since its very founding in 1252, the city was called Memel and belonged to the Germans. Wandering along the narrow medieval streets, you can spend hours admiring charming houses of merchants and townspeople, built of stone with a wooden beam framework. And around the corner, you may come across a whimsical little bronze sculpture. An eared mouse, a cat, a doberman peeking out of a house near the old market, a chimney sweep sitting on the roof of a house on Kurpių Street-these can all bring luck to whoever rubs their nose, button, or ear.

Sculpture of the Guardian of the Old City

The sculpture “Guardian of the Old Town” is located in the city of Klaipėda, on Turgaus Street, near the Market Square. The sculpture features bronze head, chest and paws of a “Doberman” dog, as if emerging from the wall of a house. Above the figure there is an inscription in Lithuanian: “Guardian of the Old Town.” Although the bronze head of a “Doberman” dog appeared in Klaipėda only recently, the legend of the City Guardian has been known for a long time. They say that as soon as twilight falls on the city streets, an important and majestic dog goes out to keep order. They claim that he protects the residents and guests of Klaipėda from bad people. Word has it that if you touch the bronze nose of the sculpture, nothing bad will happen to you in the city.

Black Phantom Sculpture

A bronze sculpture has been installed in the place where once stood the famous Klaipėda city castle, right by the drawbridge over the city canal. The black ghost is two and a half meters tall-a huge figure that climbs out of the water onto the bridge. In his left hand, he holds a lantern of an unusual shape, and with his right hand he braces against the roadway. The black ghost is dressed in a cloak of the same color, which is unfastened and tangles around his feet; a hood that conceals his face is draped over his head. At the same time, the ghost greets everyone who comes close. The reason is that the sculpture is equipped with sound equipment, so the black ghost turned out to be quite talkative.

Curonian Spit

According to legend, the Curonian Spit, built by the giantess Neringa’s daughter, became a protection for local fishermen from a sea monster. Here, indeed, there is a quiet and very beautiful place, hidden from storms. On the Curonian Spit there is a small town, Smiltynė. It occupies a narrow strip of land and stretches for one hundred kilometers. The farthest point of Lithuania on the Curonian Spit is Nida, and the Russian border begins immediately after it. Nida is a fishing settlement that has preserved its way of life and appearance. Wooden houses are clad with colorful boards and covered with thatch, and some of them can be rented out. One of the local attractions is the house on Teschina Hill where the writer Thomas Mann lived. Not far from Nida you can see the 60-meter Efą dune, created by nature.

Seaside Regional Park

More than 5,000 hectares of the Baltic coastline between Klaipėda and Palanga, valued for its trees, flowers, small animals and birds, have been declared a protected reserve under state protection. There are many beautiful avenues here, pleasant not only for walking, but also for cycling and riding horses; picturesque lakes formed after a vast glacier that once covered the Baltic shores melted away; wonderful seaside beaches with white sand and all the amenities. And there are also quite a few architectural attractions: historic manors and an ancient cemetery dating back to before our era, with stone wreaths on the graves, in the settlement of Kalotė; Lithuanian wooden monuments in Karklė; and a German restaurant-club from the 19th century in Nemirseta.

Sea Museum and Dolphinarium

At the northern tip of the Curonian Spit, in a reconstructed 19th-century defensive fortress, lies Klaipėda’s main treasure-the unique Sea Museum of Lithuania. Some of the most interesting halls include the exhibition of veteran ships and the Fisherman’s Manor Museum. In the central redoubt of the fort, aquariums are located on two floors. The shell collection that was once started by Klaipėda sailors is now considered the largest in Europe. A Russian-language guided tour of the Sea Museum and the Aquarium costs 100 litas. The dolphinarium at the Sea Museum is the only institution of its kind throughout the entire eastern Baltic. In its huge concert hall for 1,000 spectators, water shows featuring a wide variety of marine animals are held.

Watch Museum

Here you can see the mechanisms by which people learned the time, from the earliest eras to the present day: Chinese water, sand, fire, mechanical, electromechanical, electromagnetic, quartz, electronic, and more-no fewer than 2 floors of a historic building are devoted to the global history of watchmaking. In the garden around the museum (where there used to be a park from the 19th century) you can find large sundials, and in summer the clock faces are covered with bright flower petals. Nearby stands an old German post office, whose tower houses a historic instrument-the carillon-made up of many bells of different sizes, and on weekends and public holidays, the Museum of Clocks is filled with delightful bell music.

Shvituris Brewery

One of the first breweries in Lithuania was founded in 1784. Although beer in the country was brewed in many cities, it was Švyturys that became the most popular brand, and already in 1883 it received its first gold medal at an international fair. Since then, the awards for the Klaipėda brewers have kept piling up, and the drink they make (eight magnificent signature varieties) has become even tastier. You can watch how Švyturys is made, learn all about the traditions of Lithuanian brewers, explore the production methods, and, of course, sample the fragrant foamy beverage by booking a tour in advance at the Tourism Information Center. The excursion lasts 2 hours and stays with you for a lifetime.

Botanical Garden of Klaipėda University

On the north side of Klaipėda, along the Dana River, a park stretches with neat avenues, flowering shrubs, and lush coniferous and deciduous trees - all told, more than 3,000 species of plants on 10 hectares of land. Today, all this green beauty belongs to Klaipėda University, but once these were royal grounds: a historic estate with an English-style garden stood here, where the Prussian ruler Friedrich Wilhelm III lived with his wife Luise and their children. It was here that he held important meetings with monarchs from other countries, including the Russian Emperor Alexander I, and it was here that Friedrich’s long-lasting, steadfast friendships and family ties with the House of Romanov began (he even married his daughter to the Russian prince Nikolai).

Guided Tour of Old Klaipėda

Klaipėda is the third largest city in Lithuania and the only port in the country with access to the Baltic Sea. It has a long history before it became a major port city: from a small fishing settlement of the ancient Balts, it was then conquered by German crusaders, who founded a castle here in 1252, known as Memel. The sightseeing tour of Klaipėda includes a visit to the Old Town, interesting for its historic residential houses of German merchants. With its elaborately painted fachwerk-style designs, the area of the old Castle, and the Theatre Square with the Simon Dach fountain. The fountain was named after the German poet of the 17th century, a native of Klaipėda. In the center of the fountain stands a statue of a girl who has a real-life prototype named Annechen von Tharau, the heroine of a famous German wedding song. If you wish, you can also visit the Clock Museum.

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