Curonian spit, Lithuania: sights, hotels, weather, vacation

One of the natural treasures of UNESCO is the Curonian spit (Lithuania) – an amazing work of nature, situated between the Baltic sea and the Curonian lagoon. Present on the territory of the reserve is included in most tours in Kaliningrad and Kaliningrad region. But there is a lot of independent travelers, who want not only to touch the nature, not spoiled by civilization, but also to enjoy the peace, purity and the European quality of service.

Description famous braids

The Curonian spit from Lithuania is famous for its resort town of Neringa, which includes 4 former fishing village that has preserved the atmosphere of the 19th century – Nida, juodkrantė, and Preila Pervalka. Lithuanians lovingly preserved houses, thatched and looks like gingerbread.

Sami village, immersed in the greenery and surrounded by the forest promise an unforgettable holiday in one of these houses, some of which have converted into hotels, others in bars, museums and restaurants. Local places differentiates a folk interior design, which gives them a cute charm.

Pride of place (the Curonian spit) - dunes, some of which reach a height of 70 meters. Campers also celebrate the amazing beauty of the quays and beaches, equipped with the latest technology – there are phone numbers, and easy slopes for the disabled, and toilets. In their purity they were awarded the famous Blue flag, this certificate of quality and environmental friendliness, which is awarded to only really decent beaches in the world.

In the Summer the promenade, you can watch the sailing regattas, and August is truly rich in festivals. Lovers of jazz Curonian spit (Lithuania) waiting in early August, and mid-month is the festival of reconstruction of everyday life of the medieval Lithuanians. It is possible not only to observe the work of artisans, but also to learn from them or buy their work. In late August, the Curonian spit hotels are filled with fans of the movies, actors and Directors who came to the international festival «Baltic wave”.

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Those who do not like too much hustle and bustle, relax on the secluded villas or small hotels with beaches, delicious local cuisine, clean sea and European service.

Get Method

Travelers who are interested in the Curonian spit, how to get there, not have to worry, you just need to choose method of travel:

• By Plane to Kaliningrad, Vilnius or Kaunas, where you can take the bus in the direction of Nida. the Price of flights from St. Petersburg or Moscow will be around 3000 rubles., but the numerous promotions from the airlines may well reduce this amount.
• On the train to Kaliningrad can be reached from several cities in Russia like Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Smolensk, Chelyabinsk and Adler. the people of other places will have to go instead. It is important to remember that the train crosses the border of Lithuania, therefore it is necessary to have a passport and a transit visa on the way.
• Drive – one of the most popular types of travel, but need to take care not only about the passport, but the Schengen visa and the international transport insurance. The only highway in this direction-Zelenogradsk-Klaipeda, which is at the entrance to the Park is equipped with post with pay machines. The cost of entry to the Curonian spit (Lithuania) depends on the size of the car and the average is 5 €. It is important to know that the machines only accept bills, what you also need to take care in advance.

  
• People active offers cycle, so that, having arrived in Zelenogradsk or Klaipeda, you can take it out. It is especially convenient that the Curonian spit (Lithuania) is part of the European Cycling path R1.
• Public transport – another way to travel, and the cheapest. Buses run from Kaliningrad, Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk to Klaipeda to 5 times a day. The disadvantage of this method is that they stop just a couple of places that can be not even close to attractions.
• Excursion – this is another kind of travel, which is exempt from such chores as finding transportation, arranging sightseeing, hotel check-in and search for a cafe or restaurant.

Whatever the way or was selected to visit the nature reserve “kurshu neria" (Curonian spit, Lithuania), should consider the route and places of lodging.

Park ", kurshu neria”

This famous Park is located in the Northern part of the spit. It covers an area of 26500 hectares, the most unique of which are the dunes. For tens of kilometers, wherever you look, stretches of sandy hills, which environmentalists and enthusiasts are trying to save from destruction.

The Landscape of the spit is truly unique, no wonder she chose to stay millions of birds migrating North and back. For the season, the ornithologists have counted as many as 20 million birds, including rare species.

The Observation is another form of ecotourism. Hundreds of people climb the dunes or specially equipped observation tower to monitor the behavior of birds.

The Most popular duneOffers free Parking, which is rightly called the bird Observatory. To watch migratory birds from March to may, but most impressive is their return from August to November, when they are joined by their grown Chicks.

No less enthusiasm among travelers cause living here wild boars. Curonian spit (Lithuania-Russia) - not only their homeland, where they were not in danger, but also the opportunity to communicate with people who have these semi-wild animals begging for food. Well, where else can you find wild boar standing on the road in the hope that the machine will stop and he'll get something tasty?

Another reason to come to this region – the opportunity to observe the oldest colony of cormorants and herons, who settled here in Medieval times. During this time, there have been hundreds of generations of birds, and they continue to live where you are protected.

To Learn about the local landscape and its changes over thousands of years, the plants and animals that were here and gone, and those that grow today in the Museum “kurshu neria" (the Curonian spit). The Lithuanian border divides the reserve into 2 parts, but does not make it less unique.

Historical Museum of Neringa

Once on the spit, people lived Curonians. They had their own legend about the appearance of these places. One of Lord a daughter, Neringa, who was a giant. It was intended to help fishermen during a storm, she had to go into the sea and pull the ships to the shore for the anchor chain. Knew her kindness, and lost in the woods, the strangers whom she deduced to nearby villages.

Once people have managed to anger the God of winds, who gave such force to the hurricane that Neringa couldn't go through huge waves to the ships. Then she typed in his apron of sand and began to throw it in the sea until then, until there was formed the land on which the shelter people. In honor of their salvation they are called sandy beach of Neringa, which later appeared in the same city.

The Historical Museum of Neringa in great detail about the events from the first settlement here to the present day. More than three hundred years ago, the local population, without thinking about the consequences, began to cut down forests for building ships, and when their houses one after another began to be absorbed in the dunes, a decision was made about gardening terrain that has not stopped to this day. This was planted herbs and plants with highly intertwined root system. Mesh of roots stopped the sand, and later in the free from dunes, the lands were re-planted trees that are now protected and are cut down only when the threat of falling from old age.

To preserve the thin layer of the earth and the dunes in the reserve established decks, which to go is not recommended. Weather on the Curonian spit allows you to walk here at any time of year although in winter the fishermen are more common than tourists.

Nida

This town, a former settlement of Curonians, today is the capital of this region. It's amazing how people were able to preserve the color, life and home once lived here people. For many tourists, the Curonian spit (Lithuania), sights which are different even from what can be seen on the mainland, is an island completely different life.

Here, every house is distinctive, and local architectural style not found anywhere else-neither in Lithuania, nor in Germany or in Finland, or Latvia, countries whose citizens and become the future people of Cours with its own language and culture.

Each building has its own Nida carved decoration and trim. Curonians were not only fishermen, but also by woodcarvers and fishers crows. About their life you can learn in the small Museum "Fishing life”. In Nida attraction are even cemeteries.

The Curonians had a custom of burying the dead. Instead of a cross at the head of the grave they put in the legs Kristy-carved wooden columns with different shape tops. They were buried to the depth of the grave, as among this people there was a belief that during the last judgment the resurrected will be able to get out of them, grasping the shaft.

Admirers of Thomas Mann can visit his house-Museum and amber lovers will find a whole gallery of this beautiful Sunny stone.

The amber Museum

Every year, thousands of people attracted the Curonian spit. Stay, the cost of which will cost from 2500 rubles/night per room, is considered cheap, considering that these places are rich in sights, beautiful landscapes, here a clean sea and European service.

The Jewel of the town is the amber Museum, where guides will tell the most romantic legends about the origin of this stone and all of its deposits in the territory of Lithuania. Here are the amber of different shapes and sizes, especially impressive are the rough stones of its virgin.

In addition to exhibitions, the Museum has a Department devoted to the work of jewelers, which displays their work from already processed solar stone of different colors. In the gallery you can buy separately amber and products from it. From a variety of shapes, colors and sizes just look at first, but the price on this stone is quite high.

Those who are lucky to get to the exhibition amber gets luckier. There prices are more democratic and the choice is much wider, since it attracts “amber” artists from all over Lithuania.

Juodkrantė

This village is interesting for everyonepeople are attracted to the supernatural and witchcraft. Race to witch mountain, near where he was sheltered for many centuries was the place of gathering of the Gentiles, who were sent here their rituals until the 19th century.

Especially numerous was a pilgrimage of the Gentiles in this region during the Inquisition, when the slightest accusation of people burned at the stake. People came here from all over Europe, the Curonian spit was their natural protection.

The Mountain is in fact – is a dune covered with pine forest. Today here is a terrific Museum of wood, where the master-carvers brought to this material all the beliefs and fears lived here once of Cours. For example, there are a lot of witches and dragons, there are water gods and pagan Lithuania.

The image of the wooden man embodied the legend of the storyteller, who knew thousands of stories about evil spirits and told them to all who wanted to listen. God Perkunas demanded that he entertained him with them all night, for what promised bag of gold. The storyteller replied that he could not tell under duress, and for which he was sent to witch mountain as a punishment.

In Juodkrante no less interesting is the gallery of weathervanes that were built by the Curonians. They come in different shapes and colors, each of which symbolizes a story from the life of this nation.

Maritime Museum

If the weather is on the Curonian spit has deteriorated, you can spend the day in an interesting Sea Museum-aquarium. It is located in the Bastion of the fortress of the 19th century, built by the Germans in Smiltyne. Among the exhibits there stands, dedicated to marine life and the history of shipping and shipbuilding, and space gun platforms took the anchor that had been brought here from across the country.

In the redoubts there are aquariums in which I feel great 40 species of marine life. On the site of the former village of fishermen, near the Bastion, there was an ethnic village, where played at home and utensils, and household items Pomor fishermen lived here, even their ships and boats on which they came to the Baltic sea to fish.

Inhabitants of aquariums are the representatives of the Lithuanian rivers, lakes and sea, as well as guests from the tropics – catfish, Chub, grayling, saber fish, eels and exotic sea stars, a huge freshwater Moray eel, sea urchins and corals collection.

Equipped outdoor pools inhabited by penguins, seals and sea lions. In summer, next to the Bastion works Dolphinarium with participation of black sea dolphins.

Where to stay

Even in the peak summer season for new arrivals available at the Curonian spit. Stay, the cost of which varies from 10 euros per night at the campsite and up to 4500 RUB hotel, considered one of the best for the budget.

As noted vacationers, the only drawback of a braid is a certain workload this places motorists, although most of them come just for a night or two.

The Most popular are hotels in Curonian spit, part of which – a converted fishing house, fully fitted for a comfortable stay. For example, Nidos Banga 3 – guest house of Hermann Blode, the founder of the creative late 19th-century colony for artists. Today's 3 villas, which are equipped with cosy rooms and a restaurant with national cuisine.

The Large popularity of the Curonian lagoon Villa enjoys “Elvira", located in the middle of a pine forest. This hotel has only 9 rooms, but each of them has a bathroom and satellite TV. At guests disposal a common room with a fireplace and leather furniture, is located in the basement of the house. On-site garden, which features gazebos for picnics with barbecue.

For travelers who love to gawk at the sights, but to spend your vacation with advantage, fit the Nidos Seklycia. There is a Spa where you can spend time in an infrared sauna, large Jacuzzi or in the bath. For business people equipped conference room for 35 people.

In every room - bathroom with heated floors, satellite TV, mini-bar, bathrobes and Slippers and necessary toiletries.

Camping and guest houses

Offers the Curonian spit guest houses, equipped with the latest technology. For example, in Vasara (Nida) offers rooms with a DVD player, Autonomous heating and satellite TV. They selected areas with lounge furniture, table and tea and coffee facilities, and bedroom with modern beds and hypoallergenic bedding. In a shared kitchen for guests to prepare or heat food, while the nearest café is 50 metres away.

But not only in Nida offers the Curonian spit. Guest houses in Neringa, Juodkrante and can boast of their accomplishment. For example, “Oro Pervalka” is a perfect example of the combination of price and quality. This guest house offers rooms with improved design with all amenities. It is chosen by those who like actively spend their vacation. Taking here, rent a bike, you can make walks in the surroundings and not depend on finding Parking for the car while sightseeing.

People in private vehicles waiting for camping on Curonian spit (Lithuania). Its location is simply unique. Located between the dune offers free Parking and sea, it is only a hundred meters from the white beach and ancient sites of the stone age people.

Guestshere offers you cosy rooms in winter and a place to put the car and stretch a tent in the summer. At the disposal of guests - clean toilets and showers, shared kitchen, equipped with several plates for cooking. Even in high season, it is possible to find shelter, and queues in public places are never there.

A Beautiful landscape and the friendly staff attracts tourists from year to year. Curonian spit – it's not only the biggest bar in the world, but also the most comfortable for rest and for life.