Section 73. Dreverna – Klaipėda. Coastline of Curonian lagoon.

The 27-kilometer-long channel was built from 1863 to 1873 and connected Klaipėda Port and Minija directly.

This is the third largest city of Lithuania and a seaport, where the Curonian Lagoon connects with the Baltic Sea.

The Reform Movement (Lith. Sąjūdžio) Park was established to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Reform Movement of Lithuania. In 2018, the park was renovated to suit the needs of active leisure lovers, e.g., roller skaters, skateboarders, gymnasts and runners. Cycling and hiking trails are available in the park.

In 17th century, the city was fortified with Dutch-style fortifications: 3.5-meter-high ramparts and bastions were built, and defensive moats (fosses) were dug. Based on their size, these fortifications are categorized as a great royal fortress.

Here, you can discover architecture inherent to German towns and old stone-paved streets.

This wooden sailing ship has already become a symbol of the City of Klaipėda.

www.klaipedatravel.lt

The youngest Lithuanian university was established in the historical buildings of neogothic barracks built in the beginning of the 20th century.

Dreverna marina is located on the coast of the Curonian Lagoon. The marina offers various water activities as well as ship and boat, paddle board and paddle boat services. There is also a camping area set up along with a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts, beach volleyball, and basketball courts as well as a children’s playground. The marina hosts a restaurant that is a must-visit to experience the region’s culinary fish heritage. One of the biggest attractions here is the 15-metre-high observation tower, which invites visitors to marvel in the beauty of the Nagliai Nature Reserve and the Curonian Lagoon. The observation tower is equipped with viewing binoculars. Once you’re up there, the general aural ambiance is overtaken by nature - sounds of the wind and the songs of the birds.

Birds observed here

From here, you can often see the common reed bunting, the black-headed gull, the grey heron, the great reed warbler, and the great egret. On rare occasions, you might also see the little tern.

• Parking lot 55.517362, 21.237787
• Observation tower with fixed binoculars 55.516091, 21.233593

Binoculars rental

Klaipėda district tourism information centre branch Jonas Gižas ethnographic homestead (Jono Gižo etnografinė sodyba) Žvejų gatve 13, Dreverna Ph. +370 64823198

Tyrai is a one-of-a-kind locale where visitors can enjoy bird songs all year around. The picturesque hike begins at the King Wilhelm Channel and continues through the woods, turns towards an oxbow lake, stumbling upon a bog, and then meanders into a flood-meadow. Right beyond the reedbed lies the Curonian Lagoon. Tyrai hiking trail is meant for the whole family. The total distance up to the observational tower and back is 6 kilometres. And if you’re lucky, at sunset, you might hear the song of an especially rare bird, the aquatic warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola). Tyrai is one of the most important nesting grounds for birds in Lithuania. At the end of the Tyrai educational trail, visitors reach a birdwatching tower which houses viewing binoculars. Here, folks can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Curonian Lagoon and the Curonian Spit Sand Dunes, and observe the birds.

There is an educational trail between Dreverna marina and Tyrai Marsh Birdwatching Tower called “the Bird Trail”, the length of which (there and back) is 14 kilometres. The trail is meant for hiking. While the trail is family-friendly, appropriate footwear is a must. It is recommended to follow the directional signs along the trail and listen to bird sounds through headphones. Lone tourists travelling the marked trail will have a great opportunity to visit protected locations and to get to know three ecosystems at once – the forest, the marsh, and the meadow – all the while enjoying the bird songs of the seaside region. For this, visitors will need to scan the QR code on one of the informational stands with pictures of birds and to download the BirdNET app. In turn, visitors will hear the birds marked on the informational stand, and this will help them recognize the different birds in the wild.

Birds observed here

Aquatic warbler, water rail, common snipe, common redshank, Montagu’s harrier, corn crake, northern lapwing and others.

• Parking lot 55.537370, 21.248248
• Fixed binocular in the observation tower 55.545409, 21.210882

Binoculars rental

Klaipėda district tourism information centre branch Jonas Gižas ethnographic homestead (Jono Gižo etnografinė sodyba) Žvejų gatve 13, Dreverna Ph. +370 64823198