Introducing Klaipėda: Lithuania's 3rd-Largest City

Today is going to be an introduction to Lithuania’s third largest city - the port city of Klaipeda. I know a few viewers have asked for this and I wanted to try and explore the city myself before making any content specific to this corner of the country. So, now that I’ve spent a little bit of time here, I’m ready to introduce you to Klaipeda in video-form.
Atlasito's recap of the Curonian Spit: • Neringa travel guide: ...
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[@LithuaniaExplained]

Clarification at 0:53 - After WWI, Klaipėda was part of an autonomous region. Lithuania then got Klaipėda in 1923 during a revolt (before eventually becoming part of Soviet-occupied Lithuania).

[@PijusONLINE]

We kind of yoinked it to be fair. Did a Crimea before Crimea. "Local revolt to join Lithuania" wink wink nudge nudge. Lithuanian riflemen (of the Riflemen's Union) in civilian clothing famously did most of the revolting. But it wasn't always acceptable to just say it either, not even 15 years ago. Probably comes along with maturing as a society and as a country.

[@fidenemini111]

Every time watching footage about Klaipėda I always remember how the structure of the old towns of Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipėda differ from each other. These curious facts I got to know from my eldest son's first year studies of architecture. Kaunas - linear structure with straight streets. The magistrate of the city held all the power and buildings were planed and built along the straight line ("along the rope"). By the way almost half of the residents of medieval Kaunas were German speaking Hanseatic merchants as Hanseatic League had it's office there. Vilnius - the magistrate rule could not compete with the power of nobility residing in the city, and nobody cared about magistrate orders - the buildings were built following the will of the owner, along the banks of streams or along old paths. That's why the streets are curvy and only few of them are straight. Which in my opinion adds to the picturesque charm of the city. Klaipėda has a plan of a Roman military camp - the main straight road goes from the castle and buildings of the old town are situated on the both sides of this road in a very regular, perpendicular and symmetrical manner.

[@eruno_]

Klaipėda was also part of Lithuania for a short period during interwar era

[@biggusnippus695]

It is so awesome to watch these videos covering my home country and informing people of it in English. Keep it up, your channel is awesome!

[@JohnPilkington09]

I visited Klaipeda back in 2011 as a springboard for Nida and the Curonian Spit. Would love to go back and spend more time in the city itself.

[@ohbedi1429]

Fun fact: Klaipėda/Memel came under French control in the interwar period which angered Lithuania and kicked them out violently, making Lithuania one of the countries that defeated France(kinda)

[@ohbedi1429]

Source: Klaipėda Revolt, Wikipedia

[@tomtex9664]

Thank you for using the trains :) Among other things, it is the most ecologic way to travel!

[@Resolutelt]

Only the most ecological way from the ways shown in this video. 😉 There are way more ecological ways otherwise.

[@knicklas48]

Spent about 1 1/2 days here in Sept 2022. I echo your comments as to the quality of the experience. I liked the city a lot as well as the hours I spent on the Curonian Spit beach. The train from/to Vilnius was also relaxing. Buying the train tickets online worked very well. Hope to return to Klaipeda some day.

[@MultiOranuch]

Amazing! Thank you for your sharing... I was in Vilnius and Trakai in June, 2023. So I really like Lithuania a lot.. Next year I will visit Klaipeda and NIDA, easy for me to take DFDS Ferry from Karlshamn to Klaipeda. Best Wishes from STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌺🌼🌼🌼🌺🌺🌺

[@v4tt_gh3rn]

YAASS MY HOME CITY

[@katarakta3255]

Homeland🥰

[@nekogusa]

pagaliau!!! super

[@Gnomiukas]

Anyone visiting should go to tourist center of Klaipeda (its located in old city near Dane River) and they will provide specific info for you and will recomend places to visit

[@ASilverMess]

Yes the one city I actually know about a lot because it was the only place my family would visit xD I am glad you enjoyed your stay there! I can also say that the old town in my opinion is probably the best part of it all and I really like that it has the sea so close by and that you can visit the curonian spit what is a super beautiful place. And usually we also often dida short trip from Klaipėda to Palanga what works very well. And well my family usually always took the ferry from Germany to Klaipėda and back. I always enjoyed it because taking the ship to another country is also another experience and pretty interesting. It's a bit expensive but more comfortable than taking the bus for such a long ride. And for the end a small fun fact: I also had a stay at the Navalis hotel as it was pretty cheap and looked really well for that

[@Mendogology]

I love your content

[@thisisourworld9544]

Very interesting, thank you for bringing Lithuanias 3rd city to our attention and to the world.

[@markust7709]

Thank you for brief but fair introduction of my town of Klaipeda. This town is much bigger than it may appear from the first look (especially if you never get out of the old town). Does anyone knows that Klaipeda streches 17 km North to South, and we are not talking suburbs but the actual city prpopers, with buildings and wide 4 - 6 lanes avenues that go for miles? 😱 You mentioned the narrow strip of land (Curonian Spit) half of which is controlled by Russia. I hear this statement all the time from foreigners visiting Klaipeda. Its almost like they are scared to go there because every non Lithuanian youtuber who mentions Curonian Spit definitely accentuates that half of it is in Russia, and that Russia is there - OMG!!! Putin, communism, nuclear war, KGB 😁 Well first of all that part of Russia is not real continental Russia. Its a tiny ex-German piece of land that it is constricted and badly blocked by Poland and Lithuania and cannot cause any harm to the tourists. I was cycling the entire Summer Lithuanian part of the Spit and it is totally safe, peaceful, clean and calm as it just can be. It is probably the safest area of Lithuania with the crime rate close to zero. If I was to make the point about that Spit I would not even mention Russia. It is Unesco National Park with countless German tourists, not the dangerous Russian controlled enclave😁

[@danielarodriguezvargas8429]

Muchísimas gracias por la información, me será muy útil! Saludos desde Zarcero, Costa Rica!!

[@santa6565]

It's a cool german city.

[@Vhisper]

As Klaipėdietis/Memellander, I can really say this city is unique, not only in Lithuania. Even though this city is Lithuanian, and Germans are are mostly tourists, German heritage is an integral part of the city's history and culture. This territory is originally Curonian, and till this day has strong Curonian vibes, especially along the coast. The city, once again has a really authentic German feel, even though Germans are no longer live here (at least not that many). But what really fascinates me is it's divercity: over different period of time sooo many different people lived here: Curonians, Germans, Lithuanians, now a lot of Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians. The city is really multicultural and diverce, while preserving it's own authentic vibe.

[@Vhisper]

@@zebedenasvarumonis1216 Hahahah, tai tavo nuomonė ir pasirinkimas. Tiktai kam tu man savo sąmokslo teorajas parduot bandai? Sėdėk namuose su folijos kepure mąstydamas apie "globalistų sąmokslus"

[@Vhisper]

@@zebedenasvarumonis1216 Žinok, niekada nesakiau kad mūsų migracijos politika yra gera, apskritai taip pat manau kad kaip sakai "migrantams visada būstų atsiras" yra bjauri neteisybė, bet sakyt, kad migracija ir globalizacija tai visiškai blogai, taip pat negalima. Manau visur reikia stengtis rast balansą ir "aukso viduriuką". Mane gali kaip nori vadint, liberastu ar zombiuku, man nera skirtumo. Man, žinok yra ko prarast, tai ir etno-nacionalinės idėjos man nera arčios (kaip ir visos kitos "far-*insert name" ideologijos). Man 18 metų, esu pilans entuziazmo ir noro gyvent ir pamatyt pasaulį, tai apie jokio "pajuodėjimo" net nekalbėsiu. Žodžiu jei patinka etnonacionalizmas tai išvažiuok į kaimą kažkokį, čia tokiems kaip tu visada bus vietos, tegul ir streso mažiau bus be tų ginčų, variantas mano manymu - liuks!

[@benjaminellert7780]

Yes,you are right,the city was Lithuanian but also German culture was there my fother was born in Lithuania and his family lived im Jung Fern Str.1-2 on those times it was called Kleipeda-Memel had two languages ,my fother studied in Luisien Gymnasium and his brother in Agusta Viktoria Schule.

[@Vhisper]

@@benjaminellert7780 Oh I wish we could have kept German as a second official language. Ofc I know about the history of the city, let's just not talk about why and how Germans appeared here, we can be forgiving too. Germans brought their history, tradition, culture with them, especially the architecture! Compared to russians who bought non of it, but brought everything bad that could have been there. Perhaps in the alternative timeline, where germany doesn't start WW2 and Russia doesn't become Red, Memelland/Klaipėdos apskritis could have been an authonomois region within Lithuania where Lithuanians and Germans would live together in peace, being bilingual in Lithuanian and German. Tragisch, aber das ist unsere Realität heute, wo Deutsch vergessen wird, aber ich lerne Deutsch und liebe unsere Geschichte! We cannot change the past, but we can live and build the future, and I wish more Lithuanians living in the area will share my point of view, afterall, we, Memellanders/Klaipėdiečiai have German roots even in our local dialect, which I also speak. Hope in the future there will once again be a possibility for more Germans to reunite with their historic motherland, at least we have a school for German speakers, so that's a start!

[@quuaaarrrk8056]

@@Vhisper Well, the Soviet Union did a lot of these resettlements after WW2. It is important to acknowledged the atrocities committed, that those were forced resettlements of Germans, Poles and all other people they have displaced. But, as you say, it is important to move on since we cannot change the past. I sometimes, such as in a few comments here, read positions that "insert random place" should be given back to "insert random nation", as they are the rightful owner. But the past is the past and that does not give anybody the right to go against the will of a regions inhabitants. In this case, it is important to acknowledge that German people were forcefully expelled while also noting that this is how it is, nowadays the city’s inhabitants are Lithuanian and making the best of it.

[@ALIXZW]

Good video😀

[@flushwrite]

West of Lithuania both north and south are the best part of the country. You need to be in Klaipėda to access the Curonian Spit and all of its resorts. Besides that you have the brilliant mixture of architecture from both Soviets and Germans. It's just the best of body worlds

[@mantvydasstaskus6337]

Please do the same video with Kaunas( if u havnt) and also Siauliai/Panevezys (u could smush those two cities in one video since those they are smaller then other 3 big cities of lithuania ) thank you❤

[@Vhisper]

Klaipėda/Memel has always had a significant Lithuanian population. You never mentioned the Klaipėda/Memel revolt in 1923, when after WW1 Klaipėda region/Memelland was a distinct region (similar to free port of Danzig) under control of the united nations. So it's not the Soviets that "gifted" the city, but the people here who fought and seeked the connection of Lithuania minor with the Lithuania propper (major).

[@panther7748]

Note: During the time of the German Empire, Memel was still part of the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was a state within the Empire, it was not replaced by it. Even after the end of the monarchy, Memel continued to be part of the Free State (Republic) of Prussia within the German Reich, until 1945 of course.

[@jygeb]

until 1920 and between 1939 and 1945 :)

[@panther7748]

@@jygeb You are right. 😅

[@sanniks]

*memel

[@hdmobile8009]

I was actually born in lithuania

[@hdmobile8009]

In the city of klaipeda

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Do you still live there? Do you like it?

[@hdmobile8009]

@@LithuaniaExplained yes I still do and I highly enjoy it in Lithuania

[@gintsaka9036]

German to far -Prusian spirit!

[@wolo1738]

I am here once again to correct your mistakes :) 0:57 Lithuania got Klaipėda in 1923 during a revolt while being an independent country, not when the Soviets were in control

[@LithuaniaExplained]

Thank you.

[@user-ds1zs7fr6w]

Тогда какого рожна Гитлеру с восторгом аплодировали в 1939 году? Отдали город за "не понюх табака". Потом Красной Армии и 16 ЛИТОВСКОЙ дивизии страшной кровью пришлось Клайпеду/Мемель освобождать. В городе в 1945 году населения почти НЕ БЫЛО, город в руинах лежал заминированный вермахтом. До 1958 года Клайпеду и Калининград разминировали. Электричества НЕ БЫЛО, немцы взорвали электростанцию. Напомню, что в 1945 году город был в руинах на 95%. Так что ВСЁ, что там есть это Советский НОВОДЕЛ, даже "старый город" полностью восстановили и реставрировали, предав ему стиль "средневековья". И "Морской музей" на косе открылся в 70-х годах (п.в.), построенный на развалинах немецкой крепости. Сидите тут - умничаете, на включая мозги. Вам на Красную армию и Советскую Литву молиться в пору... А вы памятники сносите. Так что ВСЯ Клайпеда чистейший НОВОДЕЛ времён Советской Литвы, ЗОЛОТОЙ период в истории города.

[@user-ds1zs7fr6w]

@@LithuaniaExplained Тогда какого рожна Гитлеру с восторгом аплодировали в 1939 году? Отдали город за "не понюх табака". Потом Красной Армии и 16 ЛИТОВСКОЙ дивизии страшной кровью пришлось Клайпеду/Мемель освобождать. В городе в 1945 году населения почти НЕ БЫЛО, город в руинах лежал заминированный вермахтом. До 1958 года Клайпеду и Калининград разминировали. Электричества НЕ БЫЛО, немцы взорвали электростанцию. Напомню, что в 1945 году город был в руинах на 95%. Так что ВСЁ, что там есть это Советский НОВОДЕЛ, даже "старый город" полностью восстановили и реставрировали, предав ему стиль "средневековья". И "Морской музей" на косе открылся в 70-х годах (п.в.), построенный на развалинах немецкой крепости. Сидите тут - умничаете, на включая мозги. Вам на Красную армию и Советскую Литву молиться в пору... А вы памятники сносите. Так что ВСЯ Клайпеда чистейший НОВОДЕЛ времён Советской Литвы, ЗОЛОТОЙ период в истории города.

[@titosyettos2689]

I feel the reasson youre calling it the spit is because youre afraid to say its lithuanian name

[@andriooxsb]

Klaipėda is a city that I love the most. Beautifulk town… was there 2 days ago, but this is very annoying that there are many russians in it. If they all would leave it would become twice better town.

[@user-ds1zs7fr6w]

Хочу вам внести принципиальную ясность, открыть "тайну", о которой МНОГИЕ знают, но тихо-тихо молчат… Дело в том, что Клайпеда (её архитектура) на 95% Советский НОВОДЕЛ, включая т.н. "Старый город". Вся Клайпеда в 1945 году была в руинах от рук вермахта. Даже когда Красная армия заняла сам город, немцы обстреливали её не только с косы, но и с корабельных орудий с Балтики за косой. Потом "Старый город" восстановили и реставрировали, предав ему "средневековую" нотку. Мой Отец был командиром сапёрной роты, они только в 1958 году полностью закончили разминирование Клайпеды и Калининграда (нацисты в минировании большие специалисты были). "Музей аквариум" на косе построен в 70-х годах на развалинах немецкой крепости. Руины, которые видел лично (будучи совсем пацаном), Отец водил смотреть, когда закончились сапёрные работы. Вот такие дела. Так что ВСЯ Клайпеда чистейший НОВОДЕЛ времён Советской Литвы. В инете есть документы и фото, посмотрите, уверен будет интересно, а может расстроитесь до суицида.