The Hill of Urbas
Inspires persistence
Once a menacing travelling sand dune, now the Hill of Urbas is a tranquil landscape of mature pines and romantic walking paths. Find the informational stands dotted along the forest to read all about the persistence and wisdom of the local people. Their mammoth efforts finally curbed and befriended the relentless sand and wind that were about to swallow the third location of the Nida settlement. Learn about the importance of the local leg of the postal road that connected Paris and St Petersburg. The hill’s crowning glory is the legendary lighthouse of Nida that opens up amazing views of the peninsula.
GPS 309246, 6134088 (LKS) 55.305137, 20.99527 (WGS)
The Dune of Preila (Artists’ Dune)
Inspires creativity
When you reach the top of this 53 m dune, it is easy to understand why it has always been popular with artists. Its incredible landscape was immortalised in many paintings, so grab your phone (or a brush!) and make sure to record this one of the most memorable panoramas of the Curonian Spit. Spot the Baltic Sea, the Curonian Lagoon and the Great Curonian Dune complex, or even the Horn of Ventė on the other shore of the lagoon if you are lucky.
The open views, the freshness of air, the ambience and serenity of nature - all you need to awaken your true creativity. Then let your creative juices flow in the library of Preila, which boasts a lagoon facing terrace, free exhibitions and workshop areas for all your inspired musings.
GPS 313231, 6140933 (LKS) 55.368082, 21.053392 (WGS)
The lighthouse of Pervalka (or the Horn of Horses)
Inspires slow living
A lonely lighthouse on a tiny islet. Lulled by the gentle lagoon waves, bathed in the serene cries of the seagulls, it is easy to imagine yourself on that islet, enjoying the faraway horizons, leaning gently onto the lighthouse. Visitors notice that the time somehow stretches, or, perhaps, even stops in this special Pervalka spot - indulge in this deep moment of reflection and relaxation.
The history of the lighthouse is no less fascinating than the present: it has served as a life-saving landmark for horse carriages crossing the lagoon during winters and has been showing the way to fishermen’s boats during summers since 1900, for over a hundred years. Today, although no longer operational due to modern navigation systems, this symbol of Pervalka stands as a proud reminder of the years gone by. The only way to reach it in summer is by boat and by walking in winter if the ice thickness permits.
GPS 317370, 6146508 (LKS) 55.419656, 21.114958 (WGS)
Views off the Hill of Avikalnis
Inspires to protect
One of the most inspiring view points in the whole of Neringa features two protected natural objects. The northern view offers a good look at fragments of Juodkrantė’s ancient forest that is over 230 years old. Once, about several hundred years ago mass deforestation for agricultural purposes meant that the peninsula almost turned into a sand desert. Today, a miracle that let patches of ancient pine forest survive to this day, and in turn, is protecting the fragile landscape underneath - is the parabolic sand dunes. Trace the stretched out horseshoe shaped dunes, the thousand-year-old formations that could only survive where the forest was left untouched.
GPS 317525, 6156981 (LKS) 55.513684, 21.110528 (WGS)