Lithuania, Litauen, Lietuva

The area was originally inhabited by the Jatwingers. In the 16th century, Lithuanians began to settle here. The settlement may be founded in 1667. At that time, the village was called Pašesupis. In 1701, the area belonged to the Prienai estate, after which the Kvietiškis estate was separated from it. Its owners gave the settlement the status of a town. In 1736 the new name of the settlement, Starapol, was mentioned in writing for the first time. Later, the Marians established a monastery in the town and built a church in 1750. After them, the town was called Marijampolė. It belonged to Prussia from 1795 to 1807, then to the Duchy of Warsaw until 1815 and from then to the Russian Empire. After Lithuania's independence in 1919, a railway line was built through the town. This led to the development of industry and the growth of the town. In 1940 Marijampolė was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1940-1941, the Soviet authorities deported several hundred inhabitants of Marijampolė. In 1941, the city was captured by German troops. Due to the war, the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. On 31 July 1944, the Soviet army entered the town again. In the late post-war years, the town was rebuilt and repopulated with residents from other parts of Lithuania. An orthodox church under construction.

The area was originally inhabited by the Jatwingers. In the 16th century, Lithuanians began to settle here. The settlement may be founded in 1667. At that time, the village was called Pašesupis. In 1701, the area belonged to the Prienai estate, after which the Kvietiškis estate was separated from it. Its owners gave the settlement the status of a town. In 1736 the new name of the settlement, Starapol, was mentioned in writing for the first time. Later, the Marians established a monastery in the town and built a church in 1750. After them, the town was called Marijampolė. It belonged to Prussia from 1795 to 1807, then to the Duchy of Warsaw until 1815 and from then to the Russian Empire. After Lithuania's independence in 1919, a railway line was built through the town. This led to the development of industry and the growth of the town. In 1940 Marijampolė was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1940-1941, the Soviet authorities deported several hundred inhabitants of Marijampolė. In 1941, the city was captured by German troops. Due to the war, the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. On 31 July 1944, the Soviet army entered the town again. In the late post-war years, the town was rebuilt and repopulated with residents from other parts of Lithuania. After the Marians had established a monastery in the town, the first wooden church was built. In 1777 a parish school mentioned. The church and the monastery were destroyed by fire in 1809. In 1824 the construction of a neo-baroque brick church started, that over the decades got enlarged and altered several time. By now it is a "minor basilica".

The area was originally inhabited by the Jatwingers. In the 16th century, Lithuanians began to settle here. The settlement may be founded in 1667. At that time, the village was called Pašesupis. In 1701, the area belonged to the Prienai estate, after which the Kvietiškis estate was separated from it. Its owners gave the settlement the status of a town. In 1736 the new name of the settlement, Starapol, was mentioned in writing for the first time. Later, the Marians established a monastery in the town and built a church in 1750. After them, the town was called Marijampolė. It belonged to Prussia from 1795 to 1807, then to the Duchy of Warsaw until 1815 and from then to the Russian Empire. After Lithuania's independence in 1919, a railway line was built through the town. This led to the development of industry and the growth of the town. In 1940 Marijampolė was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1940-1941, the Soviet authorities deported several hundred inhabitants of Marijampolė. In 1941, the city was captured by German troops. Due to the war, the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. On 31 July 1944, the Soviet army entered the town again. In the late post-war years, the town was rebuilt and repopulated with residents from other parts of Lithuania. After the Marians had established a monastery in the town, the first wooden church was built. In 1777 a parish school mentioned. The church and the monastery were destroyed by fire in 1809. In 1824 the construction of a neo-baroque brick church started, that over the decades got enlarged and altered several time. By now it is a "minor basilica".

I found these coffee-selling machines everywhere in the Baltic States. However, I never tried the coffee because I prefer street cafes.

The area was originally inhabited by the Jatwingers. In the 16th century, Lithuanians began to settle here. The settlement may be founded in 1667. At that time, the village was called Pašesupis. In 1701, the area belonged to the Prienai estate, after which the Kvietiškis estate was separated from it. Its owners gave the settlement the status of a town. In 1736 the new name of the settlement, Starapol, was mentioned in writing for the first time. Later, the Marians established a monastery in the town and built a church in 1750. After them, the town was called Marijampolė. It belonged to Prussia from 1795 to 1807, then to the Duchy of Warsaw until 1815 and from then to the Russian Empire. After Lithuania's independence in 1919, a railway line was built through the town. This led to the development of industry and the growth of the town. In 1940 Marijampolė was occupied by the Soviet Union. In 1940-1941, the Soviet authorities deported several hundred inhabitants of Marijampolė. In 1941, the city was captured by German troops. Due to the war, the town was heavily damaged and almost emptied. On 31 July 1944, the Soviet army entered the town again. In the late post-war years, the town was rebuilt and repopulated with residents from other parts of Lithuania. The synagogue, built after the town fire of 1894, was used by the Jewish community until the 1930s. After the war, the Soviets established a warehouse and a grocery here. The damaged building got reconstructed in the 1980s.

After the German Wehrmacht had occupied the rural municipality of Pilviškiai in 1941 a self-defence unit was formed. Since June 1941 after making public the antisemitic order issued by the Nazis, the Jews were not allowed to walk on the pavement, they could not leave their home later than 8.00 pm and they were not allowed to buy or sell on the market. At the end of August 1941 summoned the police unit. They were told to arrest the Jews. The policemen and the members of the self-defence unit arrested about 400 Jewish men. Following this was an operation of mass killings. On August 27-29 1941, the Jewish men were conveyed to this place. They were told to excavate two ditches. Nex to them the Jewish men were forced to stand. Prior to murdering, the victims were undressed to underwear, then grouped in small groups by the ditch and killed. The men were out to death by shooting in their back from about 10m distance. The Germans and several members of the self-defence unit comprised the firing squad. The executions were photographed by German officers. According to data from the historical investigation, about 300-350 Jews and several dozen Soviet activists were killed here. During the Nazi occupation, 190.000 Lithuanian Jews were killed

The Kurs, a Baltic tribe, had a wooden castle here, that was conquered in 1252 by the Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order. On the side of the old castle, the "Memelburg" was built and only a year later the city of Memel was founded next to the castle with the decisive participation of merchants from Dortmund. Dortmund's influence was so great that at first it was considered to call the city Neu-Dortmund. In 1258, Memel was granted city rights (Lübsches Stadtrecht). In 1328, the castle and town passed to the Teutonic Order, making Memel part of the Prussian state of the Order. Lithuania, which had successfully resisted the expansionist efforts of the knightly orders since 1261, became a powerful state under Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Christianity in 1386 and married the Polish heiress Hedwig of Anjou, thus establishing the Polish-Lithuanian Union In 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Gediminas laid siege to the castle of Memel after conquering the town, forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October. Attacks by Lithuanians greatly thwarted the town's development; the town and the castle were both sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1379. Poland-Lithuania inflicted a heavy defeat on the Order at the (Battle of Grunwald) Battle of Tannenberg in 1410. The Christianisation of Lithuania had eliminated the purpose of the Order. New taxes led to internal conflicts between the Order and the Estates, which, led by cities such as Danzig and Königsberg, organised themselves into the Prussian League and subordinated themselves to the King of Poland. This led to further wars between the Order and Poland, during which the city of Memel was plundered or burnt down several times. Memel remained part of what became Prussia and Germany; the border to Lithuania remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest-lasting borders in Europe. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became independent in 1990 and made Klaipėda a free economic zone. Since then, the city has experienced a strong economic boom that continues to this day Not much is left of the former Ordensburg.

The Kurs, a Baltic tribe, had a wooden castle here, that was conquered in 1252 by the Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order. On the side of the old castle, the "Memelburg" was built and only a year later the city of Memel was founded next to the castle with the decisive participation of merchants from Dortmund. Dortmund's influence was so great that at first it was considered to call the city Neu-Dortmund. In 1258, Memel was granted city rights (Lübsches Stadtrecht). In 1328, the castle and town passed to the Teutonic Order, making Memel part of the Prussian state of the Order. Lithuania, which had successfully resisted the expansionist efforts of the knightly orders since 1261, became a powerful state under Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Christianity in 1386 and married the Polish heiress Hedwig of Anjou, thus establishing the Polish-Lithuanian Union In 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Gediminas laid siege to the castle of Memel after conquering the town, forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October. Attacks by Lithuanians greatly thwarted the town's development; the town and the castle were both sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1379. Poland-Lithuania inflicted a heavy defeat on the Order at the (Battle of Grunwald) Battle of Tannenberg in 1410. The Christianisation of Lithuania had eliminated the purpose of the Order. New taxes led to internal conflicts between the Order and the Estates, which, led by cities such as Danzig and Königsberg, organised themselves into the Prussian League and subordinated themselves to the King of Poland. This led to further wars between the Order and Poland, during which the city of Memel was plundered or burnt down several times. Memel remained part of what became Prussia and Germany; the border to Lithuania remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest-lasting borders in Europe. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became independent in 1990 and made Klaipėda a free economic zone. Since then, the city has experienced a strong economic boom that continues to this day

The Kurs, a Baltic tribe, had a wooden castle here, that was conquered in 1252 by the Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order. On the side of the old castle, the "Memelburg" was built and only a year later the city of Memel was founded next to the castle with the decisive participation of merchants from Dortmund. Dortmund's influence was so great that at first it was considered to call the city Neu-Dortmund. In 1258, Memel was granted city rights (Lübsches Stadtrecht). In 1328, the castle and town passed to the Teutonic Order, making Memel part of the Prussian state of the Order. Lithuania, which had successfully resisted the expansionist efforts of the knightly orders since 1261, became a powerful state under Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Christianity in 1386 and married the Polish heiress Hedwig of Anjou, thus establishing the Polish-Lithuanian Union In 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Gediminas laid siege to the castle of Memel after conquering the town, forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October. Attacks by Lithuanians greatly thwarted the town's development; the town and the castle were both sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1379. Poland-Lithuania inflicted a heavy defeat on the Order at the (Battle of Grunwald) Battle of Tannenberg in 1410. The Christianisation of Lithuania had eliminated the purpose of the Order. New taxes led to internal conflicts between the Order and the Estates, which, led by cities such as Danzig and Königsberg, organised themselves into the Prussian League and subordinated themselves to the King of Poland. This led to further wars between the Order and Poland, during which the city of Memel was plundered or burnt down several times. Memel remained part of what became Prussia and Germany; the border to Lithuania remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest-lasting borders in Europe. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became independent in 1990 and made Klaipėda a free economic zone. Since then, the city has experienced a strong economic boom that continues to this day After the predeccesing building burnt in 1854. The ruins of the theatre were privately sold and in 1857 a new building was completed. With the outbreak of WWI the theatre was closed. In 1935 the lithuanian Šiauliai Theatre was moved to the only theatre building in Klaipeda. The damaged theatre was completely renovated and rebuilt between 2007 and 2015. Located on the square in front of the theater is the "Simon Drach Brunnen" with a figure of "Ännchen von Tharau", known from a German folk song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PULeiMxXaxM

The Kurs, a Baltic tribe, had a wooden castle here, that was conquered in 1252 by the Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order. On the side of the old castle, the "Memelburg" was built and only a year later the city of Memel was founded next to the castle with the decisive participation of merchants from Dortmund. Dortmund's influence was so great that at first it was considered to call the city Neu-Dortmund. In 1258, Memel was granted city rights (Lübsches Stadtrecht). In 1328, the castle and town passed to the Teutonic Order, making Memel part of the Prussian state of the Order. Lithuania, which had successfully resisted the expansionist efforts of the knightly orders since 1261, became a powerful state under Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Christianity in 1386 and married the Polish heiress Hedwig of Anjou, thus establishing the Polish-Lithuanian Union In 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Gediminas laid siege to the castle of Memel after conquering the town, forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October. Attacks by Lithuanians greatly thwarted the town's development; the town and the castle were both sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1379. Poland-Lithuania inflicted a heavy defeat on the Order at the (Battle of Grunwald) Battle of Tannenberg in 1410. The Christianisation of Lithuania had eliminated the purpose of the Order. New taxes led to internal conflicts between the Order and the Estates, which, led by cities such as Danzig and Königsberg, organised themselves into the Prussian League and subordinated themselves to the King of Poland. This led to further wars between the Order and Poland, during which the city of Memel was plundered or burnt down several times. Memel remained part of what became Prussia and Germany; the border to Lithuania remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest-lasting borders in Europe. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became independent in 1990 and made Klaipėda a free economic zone. Since then, the city has experienced a strong economic boom that continues to this day

The Baltic Sea is known for fish and Klaipeda is famous among the tourists for freshly smoked fish.

The Kurs, a Baltic tribe, had a wooden castle here, that was conquered in 1252 by the Livonian Order, an autonomous branch of the Teutonic Order. On the side of the old castle, the "Memelburg" was built and only a year later the city of Memel was founded next to the castle with the decisive participation of merchants from Dortmund. Dortmund's influence was so great that at first it was considered to call the city Neu-Dortmund. In 1258, Memel was granted city rights (Lübsches Stadtrecht). In 1328, the castle and town passed to the Teutonic Order, making Memel part of the Prussian state of the Order. Lithuania, which had successfully resisted the expansionist efforts of the knightly orders since 1261, became a powerful state under Grand Duke Gediminas in 1323. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila converted to Christianity in 1386 and married the Polish heiress Hedwig of Anjou, thus establishing the Polish-Lithuanian Union In 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Gediminas laid siege to the castle of Memel after conquering the town, forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October. Attacks by Lithuanians greatly thwarted the town's development; the town and the castle were both sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1379. Poland-Lithuania inflicted a heavy defeat on the Order at the (Battle of Grunwald) Battle of Tannenberg in 1410. The Christianisation of Lithuania had eliminated the purpose of the Order. New taxes led to internal conflicts between the Order and the Estates, which, led by cities such as Danzig and Königsberg, organised themselves into the Prussian League and subordinated themselves to the King of Poland. This led to further wars between the Order and Poland, during which the city of Memel was plundered or burnt down several times. Memel remained part of what became Prussia and Germany; the border to Lithuania remained unchanged until 1919. It was one of the longest-lasting borders in Europe. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lithuania became independent in 1990 and made Klaipėda a free economic zone. Since then, the city has experienced a strong economic boom that continues to this day Only a few hundred metres separate the ferry port from the Curonian Spit. The wind is blowing and the girl is breathing the fresh air from the Baltic Sea.

The ferry crosses the Curonian Lagoon. The boat trip from Klaipeda to Smiltynė on the Curonian Spit takes only a few minutes. The Curonian Spit is a 98 kms long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Its southern part lies within Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia) and its northern in Lithuania. It stretches from the Sambia Peninsula on the south to its northern tip next Klaipėda. The spit was originally covered with forest. The first clearings took place as early as the time of the Teutonic Order. Only clear-cutting during the Nordic War (1674-1679) and the Russian period allowed unvegetated and higher dunes to emerge. So huge shifting sand dunes buried the existing villages again and again. It was not until the second half of the 19th century that the dunes got stabilized by planting.

The Curonian Spit is a 98 kms long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Its southern part lies within Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia) and its northern in Lithuania. It stretches from the Sambia Peninsula on the south to its northern tip next Klaipėda. The spit was originally covered with forest. The first clearings took place as early as the time of the Teutonic Order. Only clear-cutting during the Nordic War (1674-1679) and the Russian period allowed unvegetated and higher dunes to emerge. So huge shifting sand dunes buried the existing villages again and again. It was not until the second half of the 19th century that the dunes got stabilized by planting.

Palanga is an elegant and very busy seaside resort town on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Along the pedestrian area, that runs to the beaches, are all kinds of restaurants, bars, rides for the kids. And at the beach, Palanga has a really very long pier.

The village of Kretingalė (Deutsch Crottingen) was founded in the 17th century. There had been a wooden chapel there since 1652. In 1741, a new church was built of fieldstone with a wooden tower. When the tower became crooked during a storm in 1801, the upper part was removed and the lower part of the tower was covered with a dome. This tower was replaced in 1875 when a massive tower with an octagonal brick top was added.

In 1602, a first wooden church was built in Kretinga. From 1605 to 1610, the Bernardines built a monastery and from 1610 to 1617 a stone church was built with the support of the Grand Herman of Lithuania Jan Karol Chodkiewicz. The altar of the church contains a miraculous image of St Anthony of Padua, which has attracted many pilgrims over the centuries. The monastery and the church were raided twice by the Swedish army (in 1659 and in 1710), but the buildings got repaired and renewed. In 1907–1912 the church was rebuilt, two side naves were annexed and a transept was built, as well as a new wooden tower. In mid-20th century, the church was damaged by the fire and was also partially damaged during World War II. Finally, the Soviet government confiscated the property and limited the church's activities. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Franciscan Observants returned to the monastery in 1989 and were able to put it back into official use in 1991.

In 1602, a first wooden church was built in Kretinga. From 1605 to 1610, the Bernardines built a monastery and from 1610 to 1617 a stone church was built with the support of the Grand Herman of Lithuania Jan Karol Chodkiewicz. The altar of the church contains a miraculous image of St Anthony of Padua, which has attracted many pilgrims over the centuries. The monastery and the church were raided twice by the Swedish army (in 1659 and in 1710), but the buildings got repaired and renewed. In 1907–1912 the church was rebuilt, two side naves were annexed and a transept was built, as well as a new wooden tower. In mid-20th century, the church was damaged by the fire and was also partially damaged during World War II. Finally, the Soviet government confiscated the property and limited the church's activities. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Franciscan Observants returned to the monastery in 1989 and were able to put it back into official use in 1991. The pilgrims gave hundreds of votive offerings. Mainly legs, which amazes me with Antonius.