Juodkrantė

Juodkrantė is the second largest settlement in the Curonian Spit, 18 km south of Klaipėda, by road 167 Smiltynė–Nida. The settlement is located in the territory of Neringa municipality. A historical-urban reserve, a settlement with a linear plan, stretching 2 km along the lagoon. There is the Juodkrantė Evangelical Lutheran Church (built in 1885, also called Francis of Assisi Church), a functioning civil cemetery. Remaining in the 19th century the end of the 20th century of early villas and other buildings, coastal fishermen's homesteads, there is a harbor by the Curonian Lagoon, a marina for yachts. During the summer there is a ferry from Dreverna. Rest houses, L. Rėza sea cadet school, primary school, library (since 1959), post office (LT-93017), cultural center are in operation. A monument to bureaucracy stands.

 

 

Etymology

Juodkrantė is a value from the earlier German place name Schwarzort, meaning "black place". It is believed that the XIV century. A shipwreck took place in the Baltic Sea at Juodkrant, which is why the area could be called a black place. There is also a version that from the other shore of the Curonian Lagoon, the area looked dark because of the overgrown coniferous trees.

 

History

People have lived here since ancient times: stone, brass and Early Iron Age archaeological amber artifacts have been found in its vicinity. Juodkrantė is mentioned in written sources as early as 1429. Then it was closer to the sea, 2.5 km north of the present settlement. 1509 Juodkrantė received a fishing privilege.1599-1600 the old village (13 homesteads) was almost covered by sand. in 1603 it suffered greatly from the plague, only 6 inhabited homesteads remained here. The sand was still shifting and the seaside Juodkrantė was mentioned for the last time in 1724.

In front of Gintara Bay, there used to be the village of Grikienė (or the village of Sins), now located in the territory of Juodkrantė.

in 1669 the forest warden Hans Reinish got the privilege of establishing a bittern next to the road. in 1682 a permit was obtained and to build for fishermen. 18th century at the end of the year, the inhabitants of the ruined village of Karvaičiai moved to Juodkrantė, together with the relocation of the Karvaičiai church, which in 1878 burned down Senoji Juodkrantė (in the north), Naujieji Karvaičiai (in the south) and Juodkrantė near the church (in the middle) merged into one settlement. in 1885 the brick church of Juodkrantė was built.

Around 1840 Juodkrantė became famous as a resort and in 1858 Steamships from Klaipėda, and later from Tilžė, started sailing to it. Around this time (1855, 1860 and 1861), amber was found while dredging the bottom of the lagoon. This further encouraged the development of the settlement. 1861-1882 very valuable prehistoric amber articles were found near Juodkrantė. 1860-1890 the development of the resort was promoted by the company "W. Stantien & M. Becker's amber mining activities. 19th century - 20th century at the beginning, many hotels, villas, summer houses, restaurants and shops were established in Juodkrante.

in 1946 August 3 Juodkrantė became a city-type settlement (as a summer residence), in 1947. connected to Klaipėda, and from 1961 incorporated into the new city of Neringa. During the Soviet era, rest houses were built, among them - the rest house of the Vilnius furniture combine "Ėuolynos" (architect E. Guzas), the republican rest house for agricultural builders (architect E. Jurgelionis). in the Lutheran Church in 1973. a museum of miniatures was established, where painted miniatures, jewelry, medals were exhibited, and the windows had stained-glass windows by artist B. Bruža.

 

Geography

Juodkrantė is located in the valley of the old parabolic dunes, there are still fragments of old pine forests. Close to Juodkrantė are the protected Pilkojis kopa. Near Juodkrantė there is an observation deck on Garniai hill. Near Juodkrantė has been since the 19th century. A colony of gray herons and cormorants is observed at the beginning of the year. Currently, it has expanded greatly and is beginning to pose a threat to the forest, as the trees are drying up from their acidic excrement.

There is a place near Juodkrantė where most amber was mined in Lithuania. It has been mined here since 1862, the place is called Amber Bay.

 

Culture

Exhibition of wooden folk sculptures of the Witches' Hill, established in 1979-1981 and 1988. (the authors of the project are the sculptor S. Sharapov and the architect A. Nasvytis, the sculptures were carved by more than 100 folk craftsmen). Most of the sculptures are characters from folk tales and fairy tales.
Stone sculpture park "Earth and Water", established in 1995. on the embankment under construction (architect R. Krištapavičius).
The exhibition hall of the Lithuanian Art Museum, installed in 1982.
Juodkrantė exhibition house
Evangelical Lutheran Church (Catholic services are also held)

 

Residents

Famous people
Famous Lithuanian folklorist Liudvikas Rėza hails from Juodkrantė, Karvaičiai village. He was here in 1994. built monument (author Arūnas Sakalauskas). Ludvikos Rėza sea cadet school in Juodkrantė is also named after L. Rėza.

The German painter Gustavas Fenkol (1872–1950) spent his youth in Juodkrante. Publicist Martin Kakies (1894–1987) was born in Juodkrante.

 

Sports

Juodkrantė is one of the most versatile sailing spots in Lithuania. Kites and windsurfing are available both on the lagoon side and on the sea side at the small lifeguard station. Suitable for all wind directions.