Focused on Klaipeda, Lithuania 8/09

If you are spending time in Lithuania then it might be worth you considering a quick visit to either Latvia or Estonia. Although many foreign visitors assume that the three Baltic states and their people are very similar, you will fi nd enormous differences among the cultures, traditions and geographical highlights of above mentioned countries.

Travelling to Lithuania it´s worth spending a few days in the excellent historic port city of Klaipeda. Klaipeda is undoubtedly one of the most attractive towns in Lithuania and, indeed, the whole Baltic region. This is the third largest population centre in the country with aproximately 200 000 citizens. The city dates back more than 750 years - Klaipeda Memel was founded in 1252, it´s original name Memel comes from German. That´s why the Old Town´s architectural style is similar to many western European cities with which it had close links.

Situated on the coast of the Baltic sea Klaipeda, with its rich history, traditions, cultural life, unique architecture in Fachwerkstyle, has become an outstanding tourism attraction centre. Highlights include Theatre Square, Aukštoji Street, The Arch, Sculpture of the „Mouse" and the beautiful sailing ship „Meridianas".

Theatre Square seems to be the heart of the city thanks to a statue of Anna von Tharau in the fountain in the middle of the square. The monument is dedicated to Simon Dach, a German poet, who fell in love with Anna at fi rst sight. Unfortunately, she was engaged to another man. Simon Dach wrote a poem to her and called it „Anna von Tharau". In Aukštoji Street we will see the oldest and the most beautiful buildings in fachwerk- style dating from the middle of the 18th century. Nowadays the tiny warehouses are being used by various artists, writers or photographers.

The Arch a monument to the United Lithuania bulit to commemorate the time when Klaipeda region joined the rest of Lithuania in 1923. „Meridianas" - the ship was built in 1948 in Finland and it is now one of the most beautiful sights of Klaipeda.

Pavla Mrůzková, Katedra jazyků