The Curonian Spit is just under a hundred kilometers into the Baltic Sea towering lands, each about half a part Lithuania and the Kaliningrad Oblast (Russian Federation) is.
background
Both countries have declared the area to be national parks. The Lithuanian part is called in the national language Kuršių Nerija, the russian Kurschskaya kossa (Куршская коса). The area has been a World Heritage Site since 2000.
Entry requirements
- Lithuania is a participant of the Schengen area, nothing stands in the way of entry of EU citizens.
- In principle, the strict ones apply to the Kaliningrad Oblast Russian entry and registration requirements. An invitation and / or booking through an approved travel agency is essential. (Details). “In the Lithuania-Russia border region (Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad region) the approx. 4 km long border is not marked with a continuous fence. Raised border signs in the dune area mark the 1.8 km length of the border. Anyone who illegally crosses the border from Lithuania (even for a few meters) must expect arrest by the Russian border police. According to Russian law, illegal border crossings are punishable by imprisonment. The same applies to illegal border crossings by water (paddlers, swimmers). The border is marked by yellow buoys. "[1]
history
The area was part of East Prussia until 1923, the north, at that time administered by the French military, was declared in a “coup” by Lithuanian nationalists as “Memelland“Struck this country. This takeover was tolerated by the victorious powers, as they feared that in the event of a referendum the region would opt for the German Empire like all other areas and that the newly independent Lithuania would not have had a seaport. Lithuania returned the area to Germany in March 1939 as a result of the German ultimatum to Lithuania. Together with the rest of the Baltic States, it was occupied by the Soviet army at the end of 1944.
landscape
The spit is almost entirely wooded. The highest sand dunes in Europe can be found in the Russian section. The Parnidžio dune is separated by the border.
Localities
There are some villages on the spit (km-indications seen from the south).
In the Russian part: Lesnoi (Лесной, German: Sarkau; km 10.8), Rybatschi (Рыбачий, German: Rossitten, km 34) and Morskoje (Морское, German: Pillkoppen, km 44.3, haff side).
All Lithuanian villages (except Smiltynė at the northern tip) belong to the municipality of Neringa, a recognized health resort. Alksnynė (German: Erlenhorst), Juodkrantė (German: Schwarzort), Pervalka (German: Perwelk). The last village before the border is Nida (Eng .: Nidden, km 47.3), which is also the tourist center.
Flora and fauna
There are designated bird observatories in several places. For some areas, especially to protect the dunes and bird breeding grounds, entry is prohibited.
Ticks are common in the forests, and TBE vaccination makes sense, as it is in all of Europe.
getting there
The journey is from the south to Lesnoi.
The northern tip can be reached by car and passenger ferry from 1 Klaipėda ferry terminal to the 2 Smiltynė ferry terminal with the Smiltynė recreational area. See also Arrival to Klaipeda. The pedestrian ferry from the old landing stage runs every half hour from 6:00 a.m. to midnight in summer. There is a car ferry from the new pier, which runs continuously at least every hour, prices and timetables for both ferries can be found below www.keltas.lt (engl.).
You can also get from Šilutė (Eng .: Heydekrug) to Nida by ferry. There is a landing field for sports pilots near Nida (ICAO: EYND).
Of Kaliningrad There is a direct bus (32 km). You can also take the train to Zelenogradsk (Зеленоградск, Eng. Crantz) and then take a bus.
Fees / permits
Both countries charge a fee upon entry. On the Russian side, this was around € 10 per vehicle plus € 2 per person in 2014.
The Lithuanian environmental tax is levied at Alksnynė and depends on the size of the vehicle, for motorcycles and cars € 5 is due in 2017, from June 20 to August 20 it is € 20 for cars (Fee overview (Lithuanian) with pictograms).
mobility
There is a country road, number 27A-015 in the Russian part and number 167 on Lithuanian territory. There is also a border crossing on this road. Pay attention to the entry regulations of both countries!
Bicycles can be rented in Smiltynė (€ 9–12 per day). From there to Nida, buses run every 2–3 hours from 7:00 am to around 9:00 pm and take around 55 minutes to cover the entire route.
Tourist Attractions
Described in more detail in Nida.
- Morsko Musei Nationalnogo parka (Музей природы национального парка Куршская Коса). National Park Museum in Morskoye, to which a “Museum of Russian Superstition” is attached.
- Museum of the Sea. In Smiltynės, in the fortress at the north end (Smiltynės g. 3), apart from the dolphin show, it will be closed for renovation from 2015. The National park exhibition (Smiltynės g. 11) is May – Sept. Open from 11 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays).
- In Nida, Thomas Mann's former summer house has been designed as a small museum.
- Fisheries Museum, Naglių g. 4th. Ethnographically oriented.
activities
- hike
- watching birds
- Even in June, the Baltic Sea is likely to be too cold for most people to swim.
shop
With the exception of Nida and Smiltynė, there are hardly any shopping opportunities when there are general stores that, like everywhere else in the area of the former Soviet Union, at least ensure that you are never more than a few kilometers away from essentials such as bread and vodka. The souvenirs are mainly smoked fish and amber, not necessarily from regional production. On the Russian side, the closest supermarket is only in Zelenogradsk.
kitchen
Directory of cafes and inns (with seasonal opening times; Lithuania)
accommodation
In all villages (seasonally) privately rented rooms or holiday apartments are offered. These can be of very different quality. Probably also because of the short season, the prices are above the national average.
Upscale
camping
Wild camping is strictly forbidden in the national park.
- Nidos kempingas, Taikos st. 45A, Nida. The only Lithuanian campsite is in Nida.Price: low / high season: tent or car € 3.50 / 5; 5 / 6.50 p.p .; Shower for non-guests: € 3.
literature
See the Travel guide to Lithuania.
- Andrée, K .; Curonian Spit, Europe's sandy desert. A manual for the hiker and nature lover; Königsberg 1932 (Graefe & Unzer)
- Baltėnas, Arūnas; Berthel, Klaus (ex.); Curonian Spit; Vilnius 2007; ISBN 9955736119
- Rimantienė, R .; Curonian Spit from the point of view of the archaeologist; Vilnius 1999; ISBN 9986571480 ; (Orig .: Kuršių Nerija archeologo žvilgsniu)
- Schimpke, Bernd; Nidden: Landscape of Longing; Hamburg 2012; ISBN 9783981513509 , (to the artist colony)
Web links
- Russian National Park Administration (Russian only) there is one of this National park app
- Tourism website of the municipality of Neringa (German; with hotel booking option) and Brochures to download
- Room rental portal
- ↑Foreign Office travel warning (2016-04-26)