Theurban zone of Klaipėda expanded well into the suburbs, which sprang up around the city and surrounded it from three sides. These are partly integrated with the city (city bus lines, city water supply, etc.), and the majority of inhabitants of these suburbs work in Klaipėda. According to data from the Department of Statistics, there are 212,302 permanent inhabitants (as of 2020) in the Klaipėda city andKlaipėda district municipalities combined.[6] As of 2025 the population of Klaipėda city is 160 885 people.[7] Popular seaside resorts found close to Klaipėda areNeringa to the south on theCuronian Spit andPalanga to the north.[8]
Memel city seal, 1446 (diameter 200 mm (7.9 in)). From the Archive of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation,Berlin.
TheTeutonic Knights built acastle in the *Pilsāts Land of theCuronians and named itMemelburg, which would later be shortened toMemel. From 1252 to 1923 and from 1939 to 1945, the town and city were officially namedMemel. Between 1923 and 1939, both names were in official use[clarification needed]. Since 1945, the Lithuanian name ofKlaipėda has been used.[citation needed]
The namesMemelburg andMemel are found in most written sources from the 13th century onwards, whileKlaipėda is found in Lithuanian sources since the 15th century. The city was initially mentioned asCaloypede in the letter ofVytautas in 1413,[9] and in negotiation documents from 1420, the city was namedKlawppeda.[10] In theTreaty of Melno of 1422, the city's name was listed asCleupeda. According toSamogitianfolk etymology, the nameKlaipėda refers to the boggy terrain of the town (klaidyti=obstruct andpėda=foot). Most likely, the name is ofCuronian origin and means "even ground"; it likely originates from a combination of "klais/klait" (flat, open, free) and "peda" (sole of the foot, ground), as a reference to relatively flat terrain of the original settlement's surroundings.[citation needed]
The lower reaches of the riverNeman were named either *Mēmele or *Mēmela byScalovians and local Curonian inhabitants. In theLatvian Curonian language, it meansmute, silent (memelis, mimelis, mēms), as a reference to peaceful flow of the Neman. This name was adopted by German speakers, and also was chosen for the new city founded further away at the lagoon.[citation needed]
The name of the city in theSamogitian language is spelled slightly differently:Klaipieda. The most notable non-Lithuanian names include:Latvian:Klaipēda;Polish:Kłajpeda; Russian:Клайпеда; German:Memel.
The coat of arms of Klaipėda is also used as the coat of arms of theKlaipėda city municipality. The modern version was created by the designerKęstutis Mickevičius. The modern coat of arms was created by restoring old seals of the Memel city (analogous with those used in the years 1446, 1605 and 1618). It was affirmed on 1 July 1992.[11]
A settlement ofBaltic tribes in the territory of the present-day city is said to have existed in the region as early as the 7th century. Klaipėda is the oldest city in modern Lithuania. The Balts initially established Klaipėda as a trading centre for the storage of goods and annual fairs with the Germans.[12]
Preserved historictimber framed architectureSeal of viceregent in Klaipėda, 13th centurySeal of Klaipėda as of 1409 depicting bell towers of theChurches of St. John, St. Mary and St. Nicholas
MasterConrad von Thierberg used the fortress as a base for further campaigns along the riverNeman and againstSamogitia. Memel was unsuccessfully besieged bySambians in 1255, and the Sambians surrendered in 1259. Memel was also colonized by settlers fromHolstein, Lübeck andDortmund. Hence, Memel also being known at the time asNeu-Dortmund, or "New Dortmund". It became the main town of the Diocese of Curonia, with a cathedral and at least two parochial churches, but the development of the castle became the dominant priority. According to different sources, Memel receivedLübeck city rights in 1254[13] or 1258.[14] Following it Klaipėda's status was quite extraordinary as only three cities in theState of the Teutonic Order had Lübeck city rights.[15]
In the spring and summer of 1323, a Lithuanian army led by Grand DukeGediminas came up theNeman and sieged the castle of Memel, while later he marched to other Prussian, Latvian, Estonian territories controlled by the Order, eventually forcing the Order to sue for a truce in October 1323.[16] While planning a campaign againstSamogitia, Memel's garrison of the Teutonic Order'sLivonian branch was replaced with knights from thePrussian branch in 1328. Threats and attacks byLithuanians greatly slowed down the town's development; the castle was sacked by Lithuanian tribes in 1360, and in 1379 the reconstructed castle and town were both sacked once again.[17] In 1409, the castle was rebuilt and in 1422–1441 the strengthening of the castle's fortifications continued when eventually itsramparts reached 7 meters height.[17]
We find that the Memel Castle is built in the land of Samogitians. NeitherMaster, nor the Order was able to prove anything opposing.
Nevertheless, no agreement was concluded and fighting continued until theTreaty of Melno in 1422 stabilized the border between the Teutonic Order and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for the next 501 years. However, two miles of Lithuanian territories, including Klaipėda, was left for the Order.[20] In 1454, KingCasimir IV Jagiellon incorporated the region to theKingdom of Poland upon the request of the anti-TeutonicPrussian Confederation.[21] After the subsequentThirteen Years' War (1454–1466) the city became a part of Poland as afief held by the Teutonic Knights,[22] and thus located within thePolish–Lithuanian union. The rebuilt town receivedKulm law city rights in 1475.[17]
After theTreaty of Königsberg in 1656 during theNorthern Wars, ElectorFrederick William opened Memel's harbor to Sweden, with whom the harbor's revenue was divided. Sovereignty of the margraves of Brandenburg over the region was affirmed in theTreaty of Oliva in 1660.
The construction of a fortified defence system around the entire town, initiated in 1627, noticeably changed its status and prospects.[24][17] In November 1678 a small Swedish army invaded the Prussian territory, but was unable to capture the fortress of Memel.
By the beginning of the 18th century, Memel was one of the strongest fortresses (Memelfestung) in Prussia, and the town became part of theKingdom of Prussia in 1701. Despite its fortifications, it was captured by Russian troops during theSeven Years' War in 1757.[citation needed] Consequently, from 1757 to 1762 the town, along with the rest of eastern Prussia, was dependent on theRussian Empire. After this war ended, the maintenance of the fortress was neglected, but the town's growth continued.[citation needed]
Memel became part of the newly formed province ofEast Prussia within the Kingdom of Prussia in 1773. In the second half of the 18th century, Memel's lax customs andRiga's high duties enticed English traders, who established the first industrial sawmills in the town.[citation needed] In 1784, 996 ships arrived in Memel, 500 of which were English. The specialisation in wood manufacturing guaranteed Memel's merchants income and stability for more than a hundred years. During this era, it also normalised its trade relations withKönigsberg; regional instability had degraded relations since the 16th century.[citation needed]
Memel prospered during the second half of the 18th century by exporting timber toGreat Britain for use by theRoyal Navy.[citation needed] In 1792, 756 British ships visited the town to transport lumber from forests near Memel.[citation needed] In 1800, its imports consisted chiefly of salt, iron and herrings; the exports, which greatly exceeded the imports, were corn, hemp, flax, and, particularly, timber. The 1815Encyclopædia Britannica stated that Memel was "provided with the finest harbour in the Baltic".[citation needed]
The development of the town in the 19th century was influenced by theIndustrial Revolution in Prussia, as well as urbanisation.[24] Even though the population of Memel increased fourfold during the 19th century, and had risen to 21,470 by 1910, its pace of development lagged in comparison. The reasons for this were mostly political. Memel was the northernmost and easternmost city in Germany, and although the government was engaged in a very costly tree-planting exercise to stabilise the sand-dunes on theCuronian Spit, most of the financial infusions in the province ofEast Prussia were concentrated in Königsberg, the capital of the province. Some notable instances of the German infrastructure investments in the area included sandbar blasting and a new ship canal betweenPillau and Königsberg, which enabled vessels of up to 6.5 m draughts to moor alongside the city, at a cost of 13 million marks.
Owing to the absence of heavy industry in the 1870s and 1880s, the population of Memel stagnated, although wood manufacturing persisted as the main industry. It remained the central point of the Baltic timber-trade. A British Consul was located in the town in 1800; in 1900 a British Vice-Consul was recorded there, as well as aLloyd's Agent.
By 1900 steamer services had been established between Memel andCranz (on the southern end of the Curonian Spit), and also between Memel andTilsit. A main-line railway was built fromInsterburg, the main East Prussian railway junction, toSt. Petersburg viaEydtkuhnen, the Prussian frontier station. The Memel line also ran from Insterburg viaTilsit, where a further direct line connected with Königsberg, that crossed the 4-kilometre-wide (2+1⁄2-mile) Memel Valley over three bridges before its arrival in Memel.
During the second half of the 19th century, Memel was a center for the publication of books printed in theLithuanian language using aLatin-script alphabet – these publications were prohibited in the nearby Russian Empire of which Lithuania was a province.[24] The books were then smuggled over the Lithuanian border.
The German 1910 census lists theMemel Territory population as 149,766, of whom 67,345 declared Lithuanian to be their first language. The Germans greatly predominated in the town and port of Memel as well as in other nearby villages; the Lithuanian population was predominant in the area's rural districts.[29]
Lithuanian Army parade in Klaipėda Theatre Square in 1923
Under theTreaty of Versailles afterWorld War I, Klaipėda and the surroundingKlaipėda Region (Memel Territory) were detached from Germany and made aprotectorate of theEntente States. The French became provisional administrators of the region until a more permanent solution could be worked out. Both Lithuania and Poland campaigned for their rights in the region. However, it seemed that the region would become a free city, similar to theFree City of Danzig. Not waiting for an unfavourable decision, the Lithuanians decided to stage theKlaipėda Revolt, take the region by force, and present the Entente with afait accompli. The revolt was carried out in January 1923 while western Europe was distracted by theoccupation of the Ruhr. The Germans tacitly supported the action, and the French offered only limited resistance.[30] The revolt was supported by the Chief Rescue Committee ofLithuania Minor, chaired by Prussian LithuanianMartynas Jankus, which operated since 22 December 1922 with its centre in Klaipėda.[31] TheLeague of Nations protested the revolt but accepted the transfer in February 1923. The formalKlaipėda Convention was signed in Paris on 8 May 1924 and secured extensive autonomy for the region.[32]
Supreme Commander of the Lithuanian ArmySilvestras Žukauskas in Klaipėda, 1925Two 1920s posters, representing the historical attachment of Klaipėda to Lithuania in 1923
The annexation of the city had significant consequences for the Lithuanian economy and foreign relations. The region subsequently accounted for up to 30% of Lithuania's entire economic production. Between 70% and 80% of foreign trade passed through Klaipėda. The region, which represented only about 5% of Lithuania's territory, contained a third of its industry.[33]
Weimar Germany, under Foreign MinisterGustav Stresemann, maintained normal relations with Lithuania. However,Nazi Germany desired to reacquire the region and tensions rose. Pro-German parties won clear supermajorities in all elections to theKlaipėda Parliament, which often clashed with the Lithuanian-appointedKlaipėda Directorate. Lithuanian efforts to "re-Lithuanize"Prussian Lithuanians by promoting the Lithuanian language, culture, education were often met with resistance from the locals. In 1932, a conflict between the Parliament and the Directorate had to be resolved by thePermanent Court of International Justice. In 1934–1935, the Lithuanians attempted to combat increasing Nazi influence in the region by arresting and prosecuting over 120 Nazi activists for the alleged plot to organize an anti-Lithuanian rebellion.[34] Despite these rather harsh sentences, the defendants in theNeumann–Sass case were soon released under pressure from Nazi Germany.[35] The extensive autonomy guaranteed by the Klaipėda Convention prevented Lithuania from blocking the growing pro-German attitudes in the region.
Visit ofAdolf Hitler following the German annexation of the city, March 1939
As tensions in pre-war Europe continued to grow, it was expected that Germany would make a move against Lithuania to reacquire the region. German Foreign MinisterJoachim von Ribbentropdelivered an ultimatum to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister on 20 March 1939, demanding the surrender of Klaipėda. Lithuania, unable to secure international support for its cause, submitted to the ultimatum and, in exchange for the right to use the new harbour facilities as a free port, ceded the disputed region to Germany in the late evening of 22 March 1939.[24]Adolf Hitler visited the harbour and delivered a speech to the city residents. That was Hitler's last territorial acquisition beforeWorld War II.[36]
Participants' ships of the 2017 Sea Festival in Klaipėda
During World War II, from the end of 1944 into 1945, theBattle of Memel took place. The nearly-empty city was captured by the SovietRed Army on 28 January 1945 with only about 50 remaining people.[24] After the war the Klaipėda Region was incorporated into theLithuanian SSR, and the post-1937 German occupation of various regions of Europe, including Klaipėda, was considered illegal.[23]
The Soviets turned Klaipėda, the foremostice-free port in the Eastern Baltic, into the largest piscatorial-marine base in the European part of the USSR.[24][5]Shipyards,dockyards and afishing port were constructed.[24][5] Subsequently, by the end of 1959, the population of the city had doubled its pre-war population, and by 1989, there were 202,900 inhabitants.[24] Initially, Russian-speakers dominated the city's local government, but after the death ofJoseph Stalin, more people came to the city from the rest of Lithuania than from other Soviet republics and oblasts, and Lithuanians became its major ethnic group.[39][24] Among Lithuanian cities with a population greater than 100,000, however, Klaipėda has the highest percentage of people whose native language is Russian.[40]
Until the 1970s, Klaipėda was important to the USSR only for its economy, and cultural and religious activity was minimal and restricted. The developers of aRoman Catholic church (Maria, Queen of Peace, constructed 1957–1962) were arrested. The city began to develop cultural activities in the 1970s and the 1980s, such as the introduction of theSea Festival cultural tradition, where thousands of people come to celebrate from all over the country. Based on the Pedagogical University ofŠiauliai and the National Conservatory of Lithuania in Klaipėda, the University of Klaipėda was established in 1991. Klaipėda is now the home of a bilingual German-Lithuanian institution, theHermann-Sudermann-Schule, as well as an English-language university, LCC International University.
In 2014, Klaipėda was visited 64 times bycruise ships and surpassed the Latvian capital,Riga, for the first time.[41]
Klaipėda's climate is under the influence of theBaltic Sea.
Klaipėda's climate is considered to beoceanic (KöppenCfb) using the −3 °C (26.6 °F) isotherm and warmhumid continental (KöppenDfb) using the 0 °C (32.0 °F) isotherm.[42] In July and August, the warmest season, high temperatures average 20 °C (68 °F), and low temperatures average 14 °C (57 °F). The highest official temperature ever recorded was 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) in August 2014. In January and February, the coldest season, high temperatures average 0 °C (32 °F) with low temperatures averaging −5 °C (23 °F). The coldest temperature ever recorded in Klaipėda is −33.4 °C (−28.1 °F) in February 1956.[6]The greatest amount of precipitation occurs in August, with an average precipitation of 85 mm. Meanwhile, the least amount of precipitation occurs in April, with an average of 41 mm.[9]
Climate data for Klaipėda (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present)
Klaipėda was established as an outpost dedicated forGerman crusaders.[24] Initially, Klaipėda developed slowly. In the 13th century, it was often attacked by theSambians andSamogitians, and in the middle of the 15th century, it was attacked by theGdańskians (for trading reasons).[24] Consequently, in the 13th–15th centuries, Klaipėda was burned or ruined around 20 times.[24]
In the second half of the 15th century, the residents began to settle in a territory of the Klaipėda Old Town, which was on a peninsula of the right bank of the oldDanė [lt].[24] Soon, the reconstruction of theKlaipėda Castle began, and all residents moved to the peninsula.[24]
The development of Klaipėda was fueled by the increasing trade of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania with theWestern countries. Around 1503, there were 25 families of full-fledged townspeople, while in 1540, there were 107 families. Eventually, in 1589, there were 143 families in Klaipėda.[24][17] TheLithuanians andCuronians lived alongside the Germancolonists, but themagistrate did not allow non-Germans to joinartisan corporations and did not grant them rights available to townspeople.[24] In theState of the Teutonic Order,Old Prussians and Western Lithuanians were not allowed to engage in trade, crafts, and settle in cities. Thus, in theDuchy of Prussia, most of the cities' residents were Germans.[49] Nevertheless, villages inLithuania Minor were extensively inhabited by Lithuanians,[49] and Klaipėda developed as one of the most important centres of Lithuania Minor.[24] According to thePrussian Law, all native citizens were initially called as Prussians, while only in the 16th century did classification of the population by nationality begin.[49] In 1525–1818, Klaipėda was part of the Lithuanian Province (the term was used in state legal documents and Prussian monarchs decrees), which comprised the most Lithuanian territories of Lithuania Minor (the Klaipėda,Tilsit,Ragainė,Įsrūtis counties).[50]
In 1701 theKingdom of Prussia was created and Prussian officials and intellectuals propagated a political direction which claimed that a new nation formed fromPrussian Lithuanians (Lietuvininkai), Old Prussians, and German colonists.[49] In the beginning of the 18th century 300,000 residents lived in the core of Lithuania Minor and up to 100% of peasant farms in theKlaipėda Region were Lithuanian, however cities in Lithuania Minor become centres ofGermanisation,cultural assimilation, and colonization.[49][51][52] In 1700–1721 the Prussian Lithuanians population was dramatically decreased in Klaipėda and other Lithuanian counties by theGreat Northern War plague outbreak which killed 160,000 (53%) of residents in Lithuania Minor (more than 90% of the deceased were Prussian Lithuanians).[49][53] Following it, the Prussian authorities organized a large-scale German colonization of Lithuania Minor.[49][54] The colonists received various privileges, however they constituted for only 13.4% of residents and quite a few of them later departed to other countries.[49][54] In 1736–1818 Klaipėda was part of Lithuanian Department which had over 340,000 residents.[55] The recovering population was ravaged by theImperial Russian Army during theSeven Years' War in 1756–1763.[49] In 1782 Klaipėda had 5500 residents, in 1790 – 6300.[17]
Borussia (Prussia inLatin) Monument in Klaipėda circa 1920
In theGeneral State Laws for the Prussian States (completed in 1794) theserfdom and privileged position of landlords andcolonists was consolidated.[49] During theNapoleonic WarsNapoleon I occupied most of the Kingdom of Prussia, thus in 1807–1808 Klaipėda was a residence of Prussian monarchs and in 1807Frederick William III abolished serfdom. Following the abolishment of serfdom Prussian Lithuanians migrated to Klaipėda, especially its outskirts, and in 1837 they constituted 10.1% of the residents. In 1825 Klaipėda had 8,500 residents.[24][17] Moreover, after theUprising of 1863–1864 part of the Lithuanian insurgents retreated to Lithuania Minor.[49] In 1855Vitė [lt] was added to the city of Klaipėda, thus the number of population increased to over 17,000 and in 1875 reached ~20,000. BeforeWorld War I, the majority of Lithuanians inKönigsberg Region (which included Klaipėda) integrated into the German nation. In March 1915 the population of Klaipėda was yet again ravaged by the Imperial Russian Army.[24][17]
Theatre Square before 1930
Following theKlaipėda Revolt in 1923, Klaipėda Region was incorporated intoLithuania and Lithuanian population in Klaipėda increased due to migration (Lithuanians constituted 30.3% and Germans 57.3% of Klaipėda's 35,845 population in 1925).[24][54][17] German politicians promoted a Memellander ideology and argued that Germans and local Lithuanians were "two ethnicities (Volkstümer), yet one cultural community (Kulturgemeinschaft)".[56] Lithuania ceded Klaipėda Region toNazi Germany due to the1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania, however soonWorld War II started and residents of Klaipėda were evacuated to Germany.[24] In the aftermath of World War II almost all the new residents moved to Klaipėda from Lithuania, Russia,Belarus andUkraine, replacing the former German-speaking population (after the war only six old residents remained in the city).[24] Over the years the Lithuanian population in the city continued to grow and constituted: 55.2% in 1959, 60.9% in 1970, 61.5% in 1979, 63.0% in 1989, 71.3% in 2001, 73.9% in 2011.[24]
As of 2025[update], the population of Klaipėda was 160,979.[57] The latest data shows that there are more women in the city: females make up 52.83% (85,053), males make up 47.17% (75,926).[57] In 2022, Lithuanians constituted 80% of the population in Klaipėda.[58]
Façade of theChurch of St. John with 75-metre tower which dominated in Klaipėda's skyline until World War II, photographed in the 19th century[59]
The first church (possibly chapel) dedicated to the military garrison was built along with theKlaipėda Castle in 1252 and wasconsecrated afterMary, mother of Jesus, although it did not have as much effect for the townspeople, as well as the residents of surrounding villages.[60] Initially, it was planned that Klaipėda would become centre of theBishopric of Courland.[60] Thus, before 1290, a St. Mary's Cathedral was built in the town and a six-memberschapter settled down in 1290.[60] Nevertheless, the cathedral also did not have much effect on the town's religious life in long-term as bishopEdmund von Werth [de] waived his rights to the cathedral in 1298.[60] Eventually, the cathedral was moved toWindau.[60]
Eberhard von Sayn, theTeutonic Grand Marshal, andHeinrich von Lützelburg [de], the Bishop of Courland, agreed in a treaty to build two churches: one for German colonists (Church of St. John), the other forbaptized natives (Church of St. Nicholas).[60] The Church of St. Nicholas was large (with 10 windows) and served residents of many neighborhoods.[60] Thechurch services were held inLatin andsermons were given in German, but there also were translators into the language of the local people who had a dedicated place near thepulpit.[60][61]
Following the creation of theDuchy of Prussia in 1525 and due to theReformation movement, theEvangelical faith was spread in the languages of the local people, includingLithuanian.[60] In 1620, the Lithuanian Parish of Klaipėda became an independent unit, but in 1627, the Church of St. Nicholas was demolished due to necessity to build a city wall around a growing city and the parish was left without its own church.[60][61] The construction of anew church for the Lithuanian Parish began in 1686, and the new church was consecrated in the summer of 1687.[60][61] Johann Lehmann worked in the new church, and by having a great knowledge of Lithuanian language he checked theDaniel Klein'sGrammatica Litvanica and wrote other texts in Lithuanian.[60] Following Lehmann's death, the parish was taken over by his son, who worked there for 32 years, and then his grandson, who worked there in 1696–1722.[60] Later priests of the parish (e.g. Abraham David Lüneburg, Johann Richter) also knew Lithuanian language and published Lithuanian texts.[60]
The Lithuanian Church was destroyed during the Great Fire of Klaipėda in 1854.[60][61] Consequently, the parishioners collected funds and the reconstruction project was prepared by architectFriedrich August Stüler which was completed in the winter of 1856.[60][61] The Lithuanian Parish of Klaipėda was large (it had 15,600 parishioners in 1848 and 16,000 parishioners in 1878).[60] In 1852, German services started being held in the Lithuanian Church, and since then, the church was calledLandkirche, but was eventually renamed to Church of St. Jacob.[60][61] Karl Rudolf Jacobi worked in the Church of St. Jacob in 1859–1881 and in 1879 was selected as Chairman of theLithuanian Literary Society.[60] After Jacobi's death he was replaced by Janis Pipirs who is also known for his prominent Lithuanian publications.[60][62] Following theKlaipėda Revolt in 1923 the priests of the Church of St. Jacob stayed loyal to Lithuania and did not demonstrate vast support for Adolf Hitler in 1939.[60] Due to migration following the revolt, the number of Catholics in Klaipėda increased and in 1926 thedeanery of Klaipėda was assigned to theRoman Catholic Diocese of Telšiai.[63] In 1939 the Catholic deanery had 25,000 believers.[63] In 1944 almost the entire Lutheran parish was evacuated westward to avoidSoviet repressions.[60] Due to the forceful implementation ofstate atheism in the post-war period, the damaged churches of St. John, St. Jacob,Evangelical Reformed, Anglican and Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity were completely demolished.[24][61][64]
In 1956, there were 30,000 Catholics in Klaipėda.[63] Following the death ofJoseph Stalin, a construction of the Church of Mary, Queen of Peace, in Rumpiškės Street was started in 1961, but the Soviet administration did not allow to open it.[63] Furthermore, with the support of theSoviet Army, the tower of the church was demolished and it was rearranged into a philharmonic, while priests who built the church were imprisoned.[63] The church was eventually returned to the believers in 1987.[63]
Following therestoration of independent Lithuania in 1990, Klaipėda has one of the largest parishes of theLithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church.[65] Since 1991, the Catholic Church of Klaipėda Region belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Telšiai.[63] The Days of Lutheran Culture that features various concerts, discussions, lectures and other events are held annually in Klaipėda Region since 2023.[66]
The Klaipėda city municipality council is the governing body of the Klaipėda city municipality.[67] It is responsible for municipal laws. The council is composed of 31 members (30 councillors and a mayor) and is directly elected for four-year terms.[68][69]
The Port of Klaipėda is the principalice-free port on the eastern coast of theBaltic Sea.[70][71] It is an important transportation hub in Lithuania, which connects sea, land and railway routes from East to West.[70] Klaipėda is a multipurpose, universal, deep-water port.[70] Nineteen stevedoring companies, as well as ship-repair and shipbuilding yards, operate within the port, where marine business and cargo handling services are rendered.
The annual port cargo handling capacity is up to 60 million tons.[72] In 2022 the port handled 36,1 million tons of cargo and it was visited by 5605 ships.[73] The port operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.[72]
Klaipėda's main attractions are the historic buildings in the city's centre, dating from the 13th to 18th centuries. Some of its older buildings havehalf-timbered construction, similar to that found in Germany, France, England,Denmark and southern Sweden. Other places of interest include:
The remnants of theKlaipėda Castle, built in the 13th century by theTeutonic Order. It had and a quadrangular tower, surrounded by the ramparts and brick bastions. It lost importance after the Russian occupation from 1756 to 1762, and thenceforth started to decay.
TheŽardė ancient settlement, situated on the right bank of the river Smiltelė. It is dated to the late Iron Age (10th century), and was inhabited until the 16th century.
The remnants of the so-called "Dutch" defence system around the entire town from the 17th–18th centuries.
The maritime museum in Fort Wilhelm, built at the end of the 19th century at the spike of the Curonian Spit.
The Lithuanian Maritime Museum is set in a former nineteenth-century fortification of theSpit. In the Maritime Museum, there is an aquarium, which features exhibitions of marine fauna, mammals and seabirds. The aquarium is populated with invertebrates, and freshwater fish ofLithuania, as well as various tropical fish. The museum's courtyard has a pool filled with seals, sea lions, and penguins. The marine fauna exhibition has diverse exhibits: mollusk shells, variousfossils, algae and other special exhibits, including prehistoric organisms.[75]
Annual events include Klaipėda Music Spring, theKlaipėda Castle Jazz Festival, Museum Nights, the International Festival of Street Theatres, the International Short Film Festival, and theKlaipėda Sea Festival, among others.[76][77][78] TheParbėg laivelis folk festival, which involves concerts, ship displays and theatrical performances, is also regularly held.[79]
The city plan is linear, stretching along the shores of theCuronian Lagoon and theBaltic Sea.[80] The main parts of the city Old Town on the left bank of theDanė River, as well as the new residential areas built after 1945 (Pempininkai, Naujakiemis, Alksnynė, Gedminai, and others).[80] The specifics of the port city are emphasized by the quays, warehouses,half-timbered and industrial buildings typical of theKlaipėda Region.[80] In the Old Town of Klaipėda, a rectangular network of streets was formed in the 13th–15th centuries, including Naujamiestis on the right bank of the Danė River.
"Old Mill hotel", a look alike fachwerk style building
Some of the fortification structures that were built before the 20th century and facilities have survived.Klaipėda Castle, which was used from the 13th through 18th centuries, as well as its accompanyingbastion, built from 1559 remains on the left bank of the Danė River.[81] Klaipėda Castle's bastion complex, which dates from the 15th through 18th centuries, still exists on the right bank of Danė River.[80] Old public buildings, including Theater Palace, which was built on the site of a burnt-downNeoclassical building in 1857, still exist on the old town in Klaipėda. Half-timbered and brick warehouses and residential houses are prevalent throughout Klaipėda.[80]
Following the fire of 1854, the city was intensively rebuilt.[80] In the Naujamiestis district, which began to form in the second half of the 19th century, notable historical buildings include the State Bank (1858), Courthouse (1862), the railway station (1875), the Louise Gymnasium (1891), theneo-Gothic Post Office (1890, architect H. Schoede), the barracks complex (1907, nowKlaipėda University Central Palace[82]), Teachers' Seminary (1908), City Hospital (1902), and the Craftsmen's Shelter (1910).[80]
Biržos Bridge, photographed before 1930. Thebascule bridge was an important source of income for the city.
Furthermore, during this period, many residential houses and various other buildings were built. For instance, residential buildings were built on Liepų Street. Also, a neoclassical palace was built in Liepų Street 12. The palace would get expanded around 1820 as well as in the late 19th century. The palace is now used as the Klaipėda Clock and Watch Museum.[83] Also, a wooden villa in Giruliai, Šlaito Street 4 was built in the second half of the 19th century. Furthermore, a Neo-Renaissance villa was built in 1874. The aforementioned villa is now used as the Klaipėda County I. Simonaitytė Public Library. Industrial buildings, including a gas factory built in 1861 by the architect J. Hartmann, the fachwerk Union Chemical Fertilizer Factory built in 1869–80, the pulp factory built in 1900 and later expanded to form 1994 Klaipėda Cardboard Company, were also extensively constructed. Furthermore, abascule bridge was built over the canal between the castle and the Danė River in 1855.[80] The bascule bridge had important economic impacts for the city, as every passing vessel was required to pay a bridge lifting fee.[84]
Klaipėda Old Town in 1932
In the early 20th century,Jugendstil style buildings were built in the city, including houses at Tiltų Street 13 and H. Manto Street 30, as well as a villa at Smiltynės Street 11.[80] Following theRestoration of Independence of Lithuania and theKlaipėda Revolt, the Red Cross Hospital (1933, architect R. Steikūnas; now Klaipėda County Hospital), Vytautas Magnus Gymnasium (1934, architect H. Reissmann), Klaipėda Pedagogical Institute Sports Hall (1937, architect V. Landsbergis ‑ Žemkalnis; known since 2005 as the Klaipėda Physical Culture and Recreation Center), City Savings Bank (1938), Power Plant Complex (3rd–4th decade of the 20th century, architect of some buildings H. Reissmann) were built and are characterized by rationalist features.[80]
During World War II, 60% of the buildings in Klaipėda were destroyed.[80] Moreover, the buildings reminiscent of Klaipėda's Germans were destroyed, and the remains of bombed-out Catholic and evangelical Reformed churches were demolished.[80]
During theSoviet occupation, the historical part of Klaipėda was redesigned.[80] The construction of the St. Church of the Queen Mary of Peace was started in 1957 with the funding of the believers (architect J. Baltrėnas). However, in 1960, it was deprived of believers. Instead, a branch of the LSSR Philharmonic was established there in 1963. The building would later be used as a place of worship again in 1988.[85] Other notable constructions from that period include the Palace of Culture (1963, architect A. Mikėnas, now Klaipėda Musical Theater), Marriage Palace (1980, architect R. V. Kraniauskas), Lithuanian Maritime Museum and Aquarium (1979, architects P. Lapė, L. Šliogerienė; located in Kopgalis Fortress, 1866), and Hotel Klaipėda (1986, architect G. Tiškus; now Amberton Klaipėda).[80]
Following theRe-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, the Dolphinarium of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum (1994, architect P. Lapė), large shopping centers, administrative buildings, hotels and residential buildings were built.[80]
Klaipėda Vytautas the Great Gymnasium, the first Lithuanian gymnasium in the city, est. in 1922
Since the 14th century, Klaipėda has been a center for education inLithuania Minor.[86] During the period of Teutonic Knights there were so-called Latin schools near the city churches in Pilsotas, the northern part of the Klaipėda Region inhabited by theCuronians, however most of the schools were established inSambia Peninsula.[87][88]
During the period of the Duchy of Prussia schools in Lithuania Minor were created based on the regulations of the church authorities.[87] In the 16th century a dozen Lithuanian parochial schools operated in the Duchy of Prussia.[87] The earliest documented fact about teachers in Klaipėda dates to 1540 when a tax payer was described as "living with the teacher".[89] Around 1590, the Lithuanian community became independent, and then in ~1620 a separate Klaipėdian Parochial School was opened in a house built on a plot belonging to a priest of the Lithuanian Church, located between the extension of John's Street and Market's Street, but the church and school were demolished in 1627.[90][89] In 1687, a newLithuanian Church was built in the Friedrich's suburb and the Lithuanian Parochial School was also established next to it.[90] At the beginning of the 19th century, the significance of the Lithuanian Parochial School in Klaipėda decreased and in 1817 the Magistrate of Klaipėda occupied the building and the school ceased its activity after operating for nearly 300 years.[90]
Ewangeliszkas Malonės Dawadas, a popular 18th century educational book in Lithuanian[90]
In the first half of the 18th century KingFrederick William I carried out a reform of thePrussian education system and was one of the first in Europe to try to implement universal primary education.[87] Out of 1160 new primary schools 275 were established in Lithuanian Province which included Klaipėda.[87] Moreover,Lutheranism provisions encouraged the use of the language of the local people in public life, including in church schools, and in the 18th century the number of primary schools in Lithuanian counties eventually risen to 449 (in 340 of them pupils were taught only in Lithuanian or in German).[87] Nevertheless, a big obstacle for Lithuanian children to study wasserfdom which wasabolished in Prussia only in 1763.[87] In the 19th century, mixed schools resulted inGermanisation of Lithuanian pupils as bilingual schools eventually became monolingual German.[87] In theinterwar period Klaipėda became part of Lithuania since 1923, however in this period out of 102 schools only four were Lithuanian and seven were mixed German–Lithuanian in the entire Klaipėda Region.[91]
Stasio Šimkaus Conservatory
At the end of the 17th century, the Great School (or the Latin School) was established which was the first upper school in Klaipėda, and in ~1850 the school was grantedgymnasium status, while in 1891 it was named after QueenLouise.[89][92] In 1829, the Klaipėda Navigation School was established due to the demand to trainnavigators andsea captains.[89][93] In 1902, the Klaipėda Teachers' Seminary was established with an objective to prepare teachers who knowLithuanian language.[94] In 1923, the KlaipėdaConservatory was established on the initiative of composerStasys Šimkus to educate professional musicians which is still active.[95][89] In 1925, the Klaipėda Accelerated School was established alongside its German counterpart which after 2 years studies provided an opportunity to its graduates to continues studies in the gymnasium.[96]
Currently, Klaipėda has 12 gymnasiums, 3 primary schools, 17progymnasiums, and 4 elementary schools.[97] Additionally, there is Eduardo Balsio Gymnasium of Arts.[98] Most of pupils in Klaipėda later studies in the universities or colleges as Lithuania is one of the world's leading countries inOECD's statistics of population with tertiary education (58.15% of 25–34-year-olds in 2022).[99]
Initially, Klaipėda had no university, therefore many Klaipėdians and prominent Lithuanians from Lithuania Minor andLithuania proper studied and lectured at theUniversity of Königsberg which was established in 1544 with a permission ofSigismund I the Old and had equal status to theUniversity of Kraków.[87][100] Since 1718 the University of Königsberg had the Lithuanian language seminar which was the first independent discipline of Lithuanian language in higher education.[101]
In the interwar period three high schools were established in Klaipėda.[89] The Klaipėda Trade Institute (est. in 1934) which had three departments: banking, commercial, and consular (since 1937: banking–commercial and consular).[102] The Klaipėda Pedagogical Institute (est. in 1935) which prepared higher qualification teachers for primary schools.[103] The Klaipėda Regional Pedagogical Institute (est. in 1935) which prepared higher qualification teachers for regional German schools.[104] There also were proposals to establish a university in Klaipėda, howeverGerman annexation of the Klaipėda Region in 1939 and subsequently occurredsovietization of Lithuania prevented it from being realized.[105][106]
In theSoviet period branches of theKaunas Polytechnic Institute (1959) andŠiauliai Pedagogical Institute (1971), as well as Faculty of Preschool Education of the Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute (1975), and the Klaipėda Ecology Centre of theLithuanian Academy of Sciences were established in Klaipėda.[106] In 1990, following there-establishment of the State of Lithuania, they were merged to establishKlaipėda University.[106] The Klaipėda University has three faculties (Marine Technology and Natural Sciences, of Social Sciences and Humanities, and of Health Sciences) and two institutes (Marine Research Institute and Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology).[107] In 2019, Klaipėda University joined the EU-CONEXUS which is an international alliance of coastal cities universities aiming to enhance cooperation between them.[108] Every year over 3,000 students study at Klaipėda University, while nearly 40,000 arealumni.[108]
A number of libraries are located in Klaipėda, with the most notable being Klaipėda University Library (est. in 1991, has hundreds of thousands of publications copies),[116] Klaipėda City Municipality Imanuel Kant Public Library (est. in 1920, has 20 departments),[117] Klaipėda County Ieva Simonaitytė Public Library (est. in 1950, has over 900,000 documents of which nearly 600,000 are books),[118] etc.
The Klaipėda railway station (Lithuanian: Klaipėdos geležinkelio stotis) is located at Priestočio g. 1, north of the Old Town.
The railway station consists of two buildings. The old building, made of yellow bricks and reflecting features of Classical architecture, was built in 1881. Currently, the building hosts various small businesses. The new railway station was built of red bricks in 1983.[citation needed]
The railway network of thenPrussia reached Klaipėda in 1878. Initially used for lumber and fish freight on the Klaipėda–Šilutė and Klaipėda–Šilutė–Pagėgiai routes, the railway grid network ofLithuania Minor received a major boost after theKlaipėda uprising and the annexation of the region by Lithuania in 1923.[citation needed]
As of 2017,Lithuanian Railways were operating two routes from Klaipėda railway station. 4 daily trains on route Klaipėda –Vilnius and 2 daily trains on the Klaipėda–Radviliškis routes. Train tickets could be obtained at the station.[119] lt or with a surcharge – on board the trains.
Domestic and international commercial scheduled airline services are provided byPalanga International Airport. The airport is connected with Klaipėda by a city bus.
Klaipėda also has a small, privately runaerodrome with a focus on sports aviation and charter services.
View to the Klaipėda central ferry port terminal – the Old Ferry port
Klaipėda is located next to the Curonian Spit and a small part of the peninsula (Smiltynė) is within Klaipėda. People can reach the peninsula by ferry using one of the two terminals.
The Old ferry terminal (Danės st. 1) – ferry from city center for passengers traveling on foot or with bikes;
The New ferry terminal (Nemuno st. 8) – ferry for people with motorized vehicles.
In Klaipėda, there are three ferry lines and two ferry companies:DFDS Seaways andTT-Line.
Ferries depart from the Central Klaipėda Terminal (CKT). DFDS operates ferries toKiel (Germany) andKarlshamn (Sweden), and TT-Line ferries head toTrelleborg (Sweden).
Klaipėda Bus StationElectric busDancer, manufactured in theKlaipėda Free Economic Zone and used for city's public transportation since 2020[120]
Klaipėda's bus public transportation is arranged in a north–south axis, based on three parallel principal streets, running along the coast of Curonian Lagoon and thus making the grid logical and comfortable for commuting.[121]
In shops and newsstands, electronic cards could be bought for the purpose of paying for transportation. Public transport is organized, supervised and coordinated by theKlaipėda city passenger transport.
Buses to other cities and towns depart from Klaipėda bus station (Butkų Juzės g. 9).Buses to Curonian Spit villages Nida and Juodkrantė depart from a bus stop in Smiltynė (next to the Old ferry terminal).
Trams in Klaipėda functioned in 1904—1934 and 1950–1967. It was the only tram transport in the history of Lithuania, as well as the last years of first independent Lithuania, then in Soviet Lithuania. It was an interurban transport which was operated by Memeler Kleinbahn AG company.
The tram system had two lines with 12 km of tracks and 17 tramcars. The first line was from the old city (lighthouse and Strandvilla restaurant) through center and northern suburbs, which included Royal (Didžioji) Vitė and Bomelio Vitė localities. Eventually, the route would go to beaches, then to Melnragė, a resort. The second line was from the old city through Royal Smeltė, an industrial suburb, then south to Wilhelm Channel and Wooden Bay. Line The tram lines were all connected to the stock exchange in the center of the city. Branches of the tram routes connected the center with railway station through Liepaja (now Manto) Street and Liepaja (now Lietuvninku) Square. Another tram route passed near the Winter Port through the Vite locality. In 1950—1967 tram run functioned in line to Smeltė only. Tram lines were used for delivery of goods from railways and ports. Eventually, the tram degraded and closed due to wear, as well as lack of funds for its renewal and development.[122]
City authorities are currently planning to revitalize the tram system in Klaipėda. The proposed tram routes plan to connect Klaipėda withŠventoji throughPalanga International Airport, as well asPalanga. In 2017, a feasibility study began for first tram line on Herkus Manto and Taikos streets.[123][124][125]
Klaipėda's Old Town is notable among other towns inLithuania for its abundance of German and Scandinavian architecture. Klaipėda's Old Town is unique with its fachwerk architectural style and its planned street structure, which is uncharacteristic to any other old town inLithuania. Its streets are geometrically configured very correctly, and theangle of intersection is straight.
One of the most popular places in Klaipėda's old town is The Theatre Square. It hosts a variety of concerts, the Sea Festival, the InternationalJazz Festival and other events. An important focus of the Theatre Square is theTaravos Anikė sculpture depicting a youthful barefoot girl. The sculpture was erected in the memory of the poetSimonas Dachas and perpetuates one of the poet's described heroes.[126]
Klaipėda is famous forŠvyturys brewery, established in 1784
Klaipėda generates approximately 12 percent of Lithuania's GDP and about 80 percent of western Lithuania's GDP.[127] Much of Klaipėda's economy is impacted by trade in thePort of Klaipėda. In the eastern part of the city, there is theKlaipėda Free Economic Zone, which offers 0 percent tax incentives for first 6 years.
According to theLithuanian Department of Statistics, the GDP in the second quarter of 2017 as compared with the first quarter of 2017, has increased by 7.7 percent, while comparing with the second quarter of 2016 it has increased by 4.0 percent. The rise is also planned in the further years.[127]
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