Where the waters of the Curion Bay meet the Baltic Sea is the location of the Lithuanian port city

of Klaipeda. It is a city of distinguished age though still young at heart.

Klaipeda was founded in the thirteenth century. The founders called the city Memelburg or Memel,

giving it the same name as the Lithuanian Nemunas River which flows into the Baltic Sea near Klaipeda.

Throughout Klaipeda's history, various foreign occupations have resulted in the city developing a diverse

population of citizens - Lithuania, Russian, German, Ukranian, Polish and others live in Klaipeda.

Klaipeda is a picturesque city. There are few cities today in Europe where you can still see houses

typical of 19th century architecture, yet untouched by modernization - where decrepit old buildings

stand much as they did 100 - 200 years ago among stone-paved sidewalks, with hidden courtyards.

You will notice many young people in the streets of Klaipeda. There is a University where they study

marine, technical and humanitarian subjects; a Pedagogical College and a Conservatory. Many of

Klaipeda's residents and tourists enjoy strolling along the banks of the Dane River. Many of these people

flock to the ferry to make the short trip across the bay to Smiltyne, the city recreational centre.

If you walk through the wooded pine forest you will find yourself at the Baltic Sea. There you will see

the sparkling beaches and the dunes unfold before your very eyes. In Smiltyne there is a hotel, a cafe

and further on - a yacht-club. Most tourists however come here to visit the renown Maritime Museum

and Aquarium which is located in a 19th century citadel.

From Smiltyne many visitors head to the Neringa National Park, the Sahara of Lithuania. The road between

two bodies of water - the Bay and the sea, over the exotic dunes covered with pines, leads to one of the

most beautiful recreational areas not only in Lithuania, but perhaps the entire Baltic region.