Juodkrante

Juodkrante, one of the oldest settlements on the Curonian spit (Stone Age relics have been found here), attracts less tourists than Nida and, in general, is a sleepier town than its neighbour. Juodkrante comes from the words juodas (black) and krantas (shore). If you've no place to stay, just ask the folks at the fish shacks, most of them are or know the old ladies who rent rooms for 20 - 40Lt. In winter rooms cost less than the prices listed below. Call ahead for reservations and to confirm the price you'll pay. Breakfast included unless otherwise noted. Prices are substantially lower in off season. Prices tend to be highest in June and July.

If you want to call more ports in Bay of Curonia we can recommend Amber Harbour (Gintaro ilanka) half way between Nida and Klaipeda.

The harbour is situated close to the small village Joudkrante, and the port was once used for shipping amber from the amber plant at the site. However we didn't find any huge heap of left amber. Today the port is used by some fishing boats. The inlet is quite shallow and could be a problem. We found our way in from NE, thus avoiding some sandbanks blocking the inlet.

The village was busy restoring and constructing facilities for tourism. This will very soon become a resort like Nida. In Juodkrante you will find a pedestrian way in the wood, lined with wooden statues. In the dim light among the trees, the twisted and grim features seams pagan. To o the story we must add that Lithuania was the last country at the Baltic sea to be Christened. Perhaps it has something to do with statues..

What to see & do

Beach - Walk a 1.6km or so through the cool pine forest to the beach. Paths are marked on the map at the parking lot to Witches Hill (Raganu kalnas) or be intrepid and put your back to the lagoon and walk forward.

Raganu Kalnas - You must stop here. This is the pride and joy of Juodkrante. Built in 1979 - 1980, Witches Hill is home to about a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path. The path begins on Rezos and ends in a parking lot where souvenirs are for sale.

Rent a Boat - Explore the lagoon by water in a rowboat. Find them (at the northern entrance to town) across the street from Dile café on Rezos 6a or (at the southern entrance to town) across the street from the Azuolynas hotel, Rezos 54.

Rent a Horse - tel. (+370-59) 53 194. Ride from Nida to Juodkrante and back.

Lagoon Path
Begun in 1995, the 2.4km-long paved path along the lagoon features the Earth and Water sculpture collection. The sculptures were made during a 1997 International Sculptors' Convention in Juodkrante. Every summer more sculptors gather in Juodkrante and their works are contributed to the collection lining the path.

Exhibition Hall
Rezos 3, tel. (370-6) 53 323. Open 12:00 - 18:00. Closed Mon.
Features temporary exhibitions of local and foreign art.

Evangelical Lutheran Church
This quaint brick church, decorated with stained glass windows, was built in 1885 after the wooden church that stood here burned to the ground in 1878. During Soviet times the church was used as a figurine museum and was only returned to the faithful in 1989.