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LOCATION
Lithuania Minor (Prussian Lithuania) is a south-western part of Lithuania, conquered by the Teutonic Knights to constitute a part of Prussia. Today divided between Kaliningrad Oblast and Lithuania. It is a well-developed area as far as tourism is concerned, with the unique Curonian Spit. Although Christianity has prevailed here for 600 years, the previous visions of the world where whatever is real mixes with the spiritual and supernatural, are still visible here. Klaipėda (Lit. Klaipėda, Germ. Memel) 55°42′N 21°08′E is the main city with a harbour and ferry connections with Swedish Karlshamn. There is also an airport (Palangos oro uostas) in Palanga (Lit. Palanga, Germ. Polangen).
SIGHTSEEING
The sites located along the coast are connected with convenient asphalt roads. The Curonian Spit is only accessible by ferries from Klaipėda (the old and new passage, ferry payable). You can get Nida, 50 km away, and the villages located on the Spit, by car or local bus transport (correlated with the ferries). Nida and the settlements forming the town of Neringa are situated within the area of the National Park of the Curonian Spit, and therefore admission fee is required. Parking is subject to charge in Klaipėda all year long, and in Nida in high season as well. Churches are open during the day (usually from 9 am to 5 pm). You need to be ready for a longer walk in the case of the Hill of Witches in Juodkrantė (Raganu Kalnas), and Parnidis Dune in Nida (Parnidžio Kopa). The sightseeing is worth dividing into two days – one for the Curonian Spit and the other for Klaipėda.
ATTRACTIONS
The Curonian Spit is a unique kingdom of nature, with cosy summer resorts by the Curonian Lagoon. When in Juodkrantė you must go to the Hill of Witches (Raganu Kalnas). It is here that a park of sculptures inspired by Lithuanian beliefs was created in 1979. On the way to Nida it is worth going to the top of magnificent Grey Dunes (Pilkosios Kopos, c.a. 2 hours). Nida is a well-known resort and the former summer resort of German bohemia. In the centre there is a modern Catholic Church of Blessed Virgin Mary (Taikos str. 17) as well as a neo-Gothic Evangelical church next to which there is an old cemetery with 19th century wooden graves. On Parnidžio Dune (Parnidžio Kopa) there is an astronomical clock (Saulės Laikrodis) indicating time and holidays throughout the year. Klaipėda was destroyed in 80% in 1945. It is worth visiting the Church of Virgin Mary the Queen of Peace (Rumpiškės str. 6), reconstructed after the war, to see the site of the former Lutheran Cathedral (Pylimo str. 2).
