Klaipeda

Klaipeda is a port city of around 200,000 people. It is now Lithuania‘s gateway to the world and the capital of the west of Lithuania.

The Old Town is a regular grid of narrow streets around the Theatre Square. A distinctive feature of the Old Town’s architecture is the half-timbered or Fachwerk construction buildings for which Klaipeda is known to this day. The last disastrous fire in 1854 destroyed nearly the whole town, but it was rebuilt on the very same foundations as it had been before, after other fires and sieges in the XVII & XVIII centuries.

The Klaipeda symbol – the statue of Annchen von Tharau stands in the Theatre Square. The demure and diffident young lady posing in front of the drama theatre is dedicated to the memory of the Memel born XVII century German poet Simon Dach.

A very relaxing retreat – the Klaipeda University Botanical gardens in Tauralaukis. The gardens have a very interesting historic connection. In 1807, when Klaipeda became the capital of Prussia, Queen Luise, one of the most beautiful women of the time, used to spend summer afternoons there and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Klaipeda is a vibrant and exciting city in which to live and work.