Smiltynė

Smiltynė (German: "Sandkrug") is a part of Klaipėda city municipality in Lithuania. Smiltynė, with a bit more than 50 residents, is located on the northern tip of the Curonian Spit, next to a narrow strait which connects the Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea. Across the 0.5 km wide strait is the port city of Klaipėda on the mainland of Lithuania. Ferries daily transport vehicles and people between the two cities across the strait, because there is no connecting bridge. Smiltynė serves as the beach for Klaipėda residents, as all of the coastline around Klaipėda is devoted to port.

The village started as a travel point between Klaipėda and Königsberg (present-day Kaliningrad). Travelers would stay to rest or wait for better weather to cross the strait. Smiltynė is first mentioned in 1429. An inn and tavern was built only in 1525. It largely depended on travelers and thus was especially hurt during wars. Until the dawn of the 20th century, it was just an inn with a handful of fishermen houses, but later Smiltynė turned into a popular resort among wealthy residents of Klaipėda because the village officially became part of Klaipėda in 1897. Land now could be sold to individuals. In 1901 a big, two-store hotel with a restaurant and roulette was built. The kurhaus was a popular and luxurious hotel. Other villas very built also. After the World War II, the luxury lifestyle is gone. Most of these buildings have survived to this day, but were altered.

North to Smiltynė there is a small cemetery, active before World War II. There is also a museum of nature. It educates visitors about the geology, changing landscape, unique fauna and flora of the spit. Just a few hundred meters away from the kurhaus there is pier big enough to accommodate up to 100 yachts. With modern hotel and restaurant, it is quite popular spot for international yachters.

References

* Nijolė Strakauskaitė, Klaipėda, Kuršių nerija, Karaliaučius (2005). R. Paknys Publishing. Pages 94-103. ISBN 9986830826.
* [http://www.nerija.lt/en/zmogus/smiltyne.php History: Smiltyne (former Sandkrug)] , Direction Kursiu Nerija National Park. Accessed August 19, 2006.