Overlooking the Baltic Sea near Lithuania’s border with Latvia, Šventoji is a historic fishing settlement and coastal resort town. It’s renowned for its prominent lighthouse and water tower that soar above the town, and boasts a long stretch of sand dotted with sculptural artwork.
Things to do in Šventoji
Kick back on the wide sands of Šventoji Beach, which extends from the mouth of the Šventoji River all the way south to Palanga. An old wooden bridge stretches into the Baltic Sea while the iconic Monkey Bridge suspends across the river. A highlight of the coastal area is the “Fisherman’s daughters” sculpture, which was created by Zusanna Pranaitytė in 1982.
In the heart of town is the red-and-white-striped Šventoji Lighthouse, which was originally constructed from wood in 1957 and replaced with a metal lighthouse in 2000. It’s accessible to the public on select days of the year and offers sweeping views across the region. The Šventoji Lighthouse is a short stroll from the blue-and-white-striped Šventoji Water Tower, a Soviet-built landmark that can be seen from across the town.
One of the most beautiful churches near Šventoji is the Būtingė Evangelical Lutheran Church, which was established as a Catholic house of worship in 1520. More modern is the Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, a contemporary masterpiece designed by R. Krištapavičius and G. Aperavičius in the 1990s. It’s been nicknamed the “Star of the Seas” and features a red-topped tower and beautiful interior decorations that include several religious artworks.
Getting around Šventoji
Šventoji is around 35 minutes’ drive from the centre of Klaipeda and just 10 minutes from Palanga International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Šventoji and the town is small enough to explore on foot.