Come for the Curonian Spit’s epic sand dunes, stay for the hand-carved wooden sculptures, curious legends, and ancient lore.
Perched atop a windswept backbone dune overlookingthe Curonian Spitsits an enchanting forest . The Hill of Witches , orraganų kalnas , is a position above the sand dunes fill with artistry and legend .
Throughout the ages , the dunes ofLithuaniahave inspired a riches of folklore , passed down through generation . But among these tales , none is more illustrious than the legend of how the Curonian Spit was form : The friendly female behemoth Neringa was so beautiful that an evil tartar bring up Naglis wanted to marry her . When she turn down , he became enraged , invoke up storms from the ocean that jeopardize to demolish the coastline . In reply , she pour backbone across the sea to constitute a long strip — a barrier to protect the land and her people .
The Hill of Witches , now an outdoor nontextual matter gallery , is fill with wooden carving depict stories from the state ’s folklore and rich cultural history . Since the late 1970s , artists have carved out figures and placed them in the forest , each one telling a different folktale — from the mischievous antics of forest spirits and body snatcher to the fierce conflict waged between light and dark , including that of Neringa and Naglis .
Photo by Malika Bowling
The Hill of Witches , located on the spit near the town of Juodkrantė , is a must for any visitant .
The view from the top of the dunes
geologist think that the Curonian Spit , a unique formation about 60 miles long , emerged around 5,000 old age ago , largely out of glacial debriswhipped into dunesby the farting and currents ofthe Baltic Sea .
The dunes themselves are stunning to see in somebody , but they ’re also shrouded in mystery . story of ancient civilization , buried cities , and rustle of long - forgotten caption are all part of their allure , dating back thousands of year .
Several villages ( Nagliai , Karvaiciai , Kuncai , Gausute , Predine , and Lotmiskis ) thrived beneath these flaxen dunes , only to be swallowed whole by time as the wind and body of water blanketed the metropolis in sand . As the centuries passed , the Curonian Spit by nature evolve . The moxie dunes originate and fell , remold the coastline with each passing time of year .
The carved wooden sculptures inside the “Hill of Witches."|Photos by Malika Bowling
UNESCO world heritage site
In 2000 , the Curonian Spit wasdesignated a UNESCO World Heritage Sitein credit of its unparalleled ecosystem of dense forest , windswept dunes , and pristine beaches . The Curonian Spit is also a living testament to Lithuanians ’ deep connection to the res publica and their inscription to protect and preserve it for future genesis .
How to visit the Curonian Spit and Hill of Witches
The adept way to get to the Curonian Spit , which is about 250 miles from Lithuania ’s capital urban center , Vilnius , is to take a car at around 30 euro a day or to engage a equipment driver at around 10—20 euros an hour . This will take you to the embrasure town of Klaipėda . From there , visitors can take a 1 euro fairy to the spit to continue for the day , or stay overnight in the townspeople of Nida — a democratic vacation place for many Lithuanians . Located on the spit about 13 mi from the grit dunes , remain in the modest town of about 2,000 people allows you more time to explore the dune and the Hill of Witches .
When visiting the Curonian Spit , you have a couple choices : take a ferry over from the town of Klaipėda ( approximately 1 euro ) , a charming port townspeople . Or if you want to have more time on the spit , take the ferryboat over and stay in the town of Nida ( population just over 2,000 ) , where many Lithuanians like to vacation . Located on the spitting itself , about 13 international mile from the sand sand dune , it ’s a perfect choice if you require to spend one or two night , allowing you time to spend more than just a twosome hour at the sand dunes and Hill of Witches . This pace here is irksome than other cities in Lithuania as most are on vacation . Many get around on wheel or walking , as vacation home and restaurants are site quite secretive and there is a lovely paved path that extend parallel to the water .
The cost to enroll the Curonian Spit is around 2 euros per individual ( there is no fee for The Hill of Witches ) . The top of the sand dune is about a 30 mo walk .
viseri/iStock/Getty Images Plus
The entrance to Parnidis Dune and the surrounding dunes southeast of Nida is rather unassuming . But just step beyond a slightly wooded , grassy area , a boardwalk start out , run visitor part of the way . This gives agency to an surface area of blonde sand and a roped off lead . It ’s near this detail that visitor will see several marked crosses give tribute to the metropolis entomb below . Those who mount to the top of Parnidis can look out on shine piddle and stretches of shifting sands , some almost 200 foot high-pitched . It ’s inconceivable to see these dune , to feel the sand beneath your foot and whipping through your hair , and not call back of the legends and lore that built them — almost as much as the fart and tide .
An aerial view of the Curonian Spit shows the variation of geography.|alisbalb/iStock/Getty Images Plus
A fountain in Nida, Lithuania, a tiny town where your journey to the Spit can begin.|Photo by Malika Bowling
