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  Seaside Cycle Route  
 

It is the first cycle route in Lithuania marked with special cycle route signs displaying a bicycle symbol and a route number [10] against blue background. The future plan is to integrate the seaside cycle route, linking Latvia with Kaliningrad region, into the European cycle route network EuroVelo(c) (No. 10 “The Baltic Sea Ring”, www.eurovelo.org) and the route R1 (Calais (France)-St. Petersburg (Russia)).

The seaside cycle route consists of 3 different parts whose total length is 216 km. Upon starting a trip in Klaipėda cyclists can choose one of three sections:

1. From Curonian Spit in Klaipėda to Nida – 52 km
2. From Klaipėda to the border of Latvia–49 km
3. Along the seaside from Klaipėda to Rusnė Island –115 km


1. From Curonian Spit in Klaipėda to Nida – 52 km

One will be really fascinated by this most impressive cycle route in Lithuania. The trip starts on a ferry going from the centre of Klaipėda to Curonian Spit. The company of shrieking terns will remind you that Klaipėda is a marine city, which is proud of its sea museum–an aquarium and a dolphinarium. The route further extends along the Curonian Spit National Park, which was recognized as one of the most unique natural and cultural heritage sites of the Baltic Sea region by UNESCO. The landscape of Curonian Spit is the result of cooperation between man and nature. The most breathtaking sceneries are those of sand dunes drifted by the wind squeezed into pine woods that open marvellous views to the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon. Juodkrantė, Pervalka, Preila and Nida, the settlements scattered along the coast of Curonian Lagoon, are fascinating by ethnographic fishermen’s houses with reedy roofs and fishing nets drying nearby, seacoast beacons, wooden sculptures of the Hill of Witches, and the colony of cormorants and grey herons  settled in the neighbourhood. Spacious beaches of golden sand invite to relax and refresh oneself in the sea.

Those who choose this route will reach Nida by a cycle trail with asphalt paving extending by pine woods throughout the entire Curonian Spit. Tourists can travel from Nida to Nemunas delta by boat and take the roads stretching along the coast of Curonian Lagoon to return back to Klaipėda. Those interested in Soviet exotics can easily reach Kaliningrad from Curonian Spit.

2. From Klaipėda to the border of Latvia–49 km

Cycling along this route will help discover the real seaside of Lithuania, and the landscape of the Seaside Regional Park stretching via the territory of former Soviet military grounds from Giruliai to Nemirseta will leave the cyclists with indelible impressions for a long time.

Those who choose this convenient cycling path from Klaipėda can reach even Šventoji  where the cyclists will admire three Daughters of a Fisherman sculpture standing in the seaside dunes, a Monkeys’ Bridge over the Šventoji River and Žemaičiai alkos (a pagan Samogitian sacred place) with a palaeoastronomic observatory. On the way to Šventoji the cyclists will visit the places of interest of the Seaside Regional Park, including Dutchman’s Hat, the highest scarp of Lithuania, the ancient Curonian cemetery in Karklė, the Plazė lake of glacial origin and the Nemirseta seaside dunes, which were formed by the ancient Litorina sea that existed there around 8 thousand years ago. The summer capital Palanga will attract you by its beaches, fascinate with unforgettable views of sunsets from a sea peer and a romantic whisper of the Love Alley, and reveal the secrets of the Amber Museum to you.

After bathing in the sea and resting in Palanga or Šventoji one can easily reach Būtingė. Those who enjoy longer trips are offered to visit the seacoast of the neighbouring Latvia, or Žemaitija National Park.

3. Along the seaside from Klaipėda to Rusnė Island –115 km

The cyclists having chosen this route will visit a number of villages and small towns with typical seaside architecture. The route ends with the Nemunas Delta Regional Park of unique beauty, which boasts the largest gathering place of water birds in the Baltic Sea region. The migration path of Arctic-European-East African birds crosses the Park’s territory. This route differs from the others not only by nature, flora and fauna but also by human activities. Constant floods and natural elements forced people to defend themselves, therefore these low areas are protected against water by polders that cannot be found anywhere else in Lithuania. As a result,  Uostadvaris Boosting Station and the Canal of King Vilhelm were built and Minija (Mingė) village, also called the Venice of Lithuania, sprung up.



This cycle route does not have separate cycling paths, expect Klaipėda city, therefore, its major part coincides with motor roads (mainly gravelled roads). The cyclists can reach Priekulė either by the main marked route or choose an alternative unmarked route stretching via Dituva gardens. Those eager for more impressions can continue their trip by the Nemunas cycle route from  Rusnė Island to Kaunas or even Vilnius or, upon reaching Nida by boat, by Curonian Spit to Klaipėda.

Tourism information sources

For information about sites of interest and tourist services on the seaside cycle route with exact geographical locations, visit this website or contact tourism information centres of the seaside region and major cities where publications useful for your trip (a tour guide and a map with typical itineraries of the seaside cycle route, other specialised publications for cyclists) are available. The majority of the seaside cycle route publications can be downloaded in "pdf" format at www.bicycle.lt/pajuriotrasa.

The latest information about specialised services for cyclists (bicycle stores and repair shops, bicycle rent, maps and publications, BaltiCCycle rides) is available at a virtual cycle information centre, founded by the Lithuanian Cyclists’ Community, at www.dviratis.lt and www.bicycle.lt, by e-mail dvirINFO@dviratis.lt.



 
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