NERINGA
Solar clock-calendar (Nida)
The Sundial was built in March 11, 1995. From the astronomical point of view the Parnidis dune is an ideal and unique place for this Sundial where opens an absolute mathematical horizon. Only there you will see the sunrise from the lagoon and the sunset to the Baltic Sea.
A shadow as a clockwise makes its daily circle, falls from the obelisk built in the centre of a platform.
Hours and half hours carved in a semi circle on the small stages are covered with granite slab. One for each month and other four for solstice and equinox. In every stage the semi circles are getting higher towards equinox and decreasing towards solstice. The largest semi-circle belongs to June, two small ones to December and January. The granite is engraved with celestial luminaries and graphics of eternal route. Each line of a scale is dictated by the rhythms of nature: nothing unnecessary, no creative notions. The geometry of mini stages reminds us the sand layers winded from olden dunes. The flowing time on the Parnidis dune could be felt physically. We see how the shadow of the obelisk is inexorably moving along the scale, and every sunrise and sunset, moreover, the noon is a great cosmic event on this platform. On special calendar days, namely in solstice and equinox, like the ancient priests and priestesses we can set the astronomic beginning of a season.
Furthermore, this Sundial shows local time. Every time the shadow recalls to a holidaymaker, that a man is nature’s child, dependent on its rhythms. Only nature is free to give strength and recovery.
Witches' Hill
The Hill of Witches (Lithuanian: Raganų Kalnas) is an outdoor sculpture gallery near Juodkrantė, Lithuania.
It is located on a forested sand dune about 0.5 kilometer west of the Curonian Lagoon, on the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. Begun in 1979, it has been expanded several times, and now contains about 80 wooden sculptures along a series of trails. The artists drew on a long tradition of woodcarving in Samogitia, and on the equally long tradition of Midsummer Night's Eve (Joninės) celebrations on the hill. The pieces depict characters from Lithuanian folklore and pagan traditions.
Woodcarving symposia are held at the park on a regular basis, and new works are added. Admission is free.
The lighthouse on the hill of Urbas (Nida)
This is one of the largest lighthouses on Lithuanian seacoast.A 27 meter high lighthouse of red bricks was built in 1874.
Nida's present lighthouse is made of ferroconcrete and painted in red-white horizontal lines. The tower is 29.3 m high. It sends flashlight signals, which are seen 41 km to the sea (22 sea miles).
Flesh signals are sent only during the night. The light turns on and off automatically by natural daylight. Radio signals are send all the time. The lighthouse has an autonomic power station. The goal of the Nida Lighthouse is to help sailors orienteering in the Baltic Sea. The flash signs (two short and one long) tell them that there is no seaport here.
Etnographic farmstead of fisherman
An ethnographic fisherman's farmstead has been built in 1977–1979 on the shore of the Curonian Lagoon at the place where the old Kopgalis fishing village used to stand. The farmstead comprises a farm, cattle-shed, store, bathhouse, cellar and smokehouse. The interior of the buildings were restored to reflect the beginning of the 20th century.
Catholic Church In Nida
The church was built in 1888. It lost its purpose after World War II; Neringa History Museum was opened there instead. In the year 1989, the museum was relocated and the Neogothic building was returned to the Evangelic Lutheran community. Nida church celebrates Mass nowadays; in summer, classical music concerts are organized there.
Juodkrante's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Juodkrante Evangelic Lutheran Church was built in 1884-1885 by the initiative of Juodkrante preacher O. E. Richter. After World War II the church was turned into a warehouse. It was restored in the seventies; windows were decorated with a stained glass. For some time it was used by the Miniatures Museum. In 1989 the building was given back to the church.
Memorial sculpture to Vytautas Kernagis
Opened in 2009 by sculptor Romas Kvintas, this is a memorial to author, performer and pioneer of sung poetry, director of entertainment programs, presenter of TV shows, Vytautas Kernagis.
Lighthouse of Pervalka
The lighthouse was constructed in 1900 in the Curonian Lagoon beside Pervalka, behind Agilos gulf, facing Horses Cape rising across Birstvynas. It was reconstructed twice. Currently in action. Is reachable by a ship and can be seen from the Curonian Spit shore.
Memorial Stone For Nida Gliding School
Memorial composition in the place of the main Lithuanian Gliding School. This school existed between 1933 and 1939. Between 1939 and 1943 it had been used as a school by German military airforce. The symbolic hangar arch and memorial stone was built in 1979 remind visitors about the former gliding school.
Monument to G. D. Kuvertas
The monument for the first person, who enriched the environment with greenery, was built in 1856. Later in this place dune attendants and foresters were started to be buried. In the old foresters’ small graveyards in Nida rest the pioneers of enriching environment with greenery – father Gottlieb Dovydas and his son Georgas Kuvertas. In XIX century, they started to plant the wandering Nida’s dune and dune’s sand plain near the old Post Office road, in this way rescuing Nida and the old Post road from being blown with sand. The monument is situated near the second entry to Nida.
Valley of Death
In the southern part of Parnidis Landscape Reserve, in the hollow of dune curve lays the Valley of Death. In 1870–1872, there was a camp of French prisoners of war. Many prisoners died of heavy imprisonment conditions, exhaustion and disease. The dead were buried in the cemetery right there. Thus the Germans “repaid” the French for the imprisonment conditions in the Sahara.
Monument for L. Rėza in Juodkrantė
Monument to the professor of Karaliaucius (Kaliningrad) university, Lithuanian poet and folk-ethnologist, L. M. Reza (1779 - 1840m.). He was first to publish the famous poetry work "Metai" by K. Donelaitis and fables. Monument was erected in 1994; his author is the artist A. Sakalauskas.
Amber Gulf
Deepening a waterway in the vicinity of Juodkrante in 1855, workers found amber in sludge. Thousands of tons of amber have been dug out from 1860 till 1890. While digging the port of the bay, an amber collection of the middle Neolithic and Bronze ages was found; it was later called the Amber Treasure. W. Stantien & M. Becker, amber excavation company compiled a selection of mined ancient amber articles.
Ethnographic Cemetery And Christenings
Next to Nida Evangelic Lutheran church is a XIX–XX century Nida ethnographic cemetery. Original wooden tomb monuments, “krikstai”, are extant in the ethnographic cemetery, which are characteristic to the Curonian Spit. Krikstai is one of the oldest tomb monument forms in Lithuania, originated in the XVII century. Horse heads, plants and birds were carved in male krikstai, while female krikstai also portrayed heart motives next to birds and plants. The cemetery is open for visitors.
Sculpture of L. Rėza near Pervalka
Karvaičiai village is the homeland of one of the most famous folklorists and poets of the beginning of the 19th century, professor of Königsberg University Liudvikas Martynas Rėza (1776–1840). He was the first to publish „Metai“ (Year) by K. Donelaitis in 1818, later – the fables, in 1825 he published the first collection of the Lithuanian folk songs „Dainos“ (Songs). The wooden sculpture to L. G. Rėza by the folk artist E. Jonušas was erected in 1979 on the Skirpstas Dune near Pervalka.