Amber road (Cognitive routes)

The tourist route „The Baltiv Amber Road“ gives a pissibility to tourists and travellers to get asquainted with the being of the amber in Lithuania, Latvia and Kaliningras region, covering its history, output, processing and jewelry. The route stretches for 418 km along the Baltic coast introducing variuos informatikon and objects of the „Amber Route“, gathered in different countries.
 

Venspils – Museum
It is stated that the area where amber is being washed ashore starts from the Riga Bay in Latvia and near Venspils fine pieces of amber are sometimes found. Therefore, Venspils is considered the place whre the „Amber Road“ starts.

At a modern Venspils Museum, founded in the former castle of the Livonia Order and housing variuos collections, there are some samples of archaeological amber finds.

 Jana str.17, Venspils, Latvia
Ph. +371 3622031
http://www.venspilsmuzejs.lv
Open daily
Entrance fee: 0.50 – 2,50 Ls

Pavilosta – Amber gathering place
Pavilosta is a calm unspoiled spot by the sea. The Baltic Sea after strong spring and autumn stormy winds washes ashorequite a lot of amber here. There are 5-6 permanent amber catchers in Pavilosta. If you have a wish to collect amber with the professionals, the staff of the Pavilosta Ethnography Museum (Dzintaru str.1, Pavilosta, ph +371 3498276) will help you to contact them. The town is interesting not only because of amber; it has a yacht quay, an ethnographic museum and can boast ot the biggest stone of Kurzeme in the sea.
 

Liepaja – history and Art Museum
The Liepaja History and Art Museum is rich in various collections:  archaeological finds, ethnography of the Southern Curonia, Liepaja of the medieval period and the 19-20^th centuries, and a small exposition of amber. Great number of  items from the museum vaults is waiting to be exhibited.

Kumajas av.16, Liepaja, Latvia
Ph. +371 3422604, +271 3422973
Open daily, except Mondays and Tuesdays.
Entrance fee: 0,30 – 0,50 Ls
 

Liepaja – Amber clock and beads
In 2003 during the celebration of the 750^th anniversary of the Liva village, which was the start of Liepaja, the citizens and the visitors of the city donated pieces of amber of various size – more than 50 liters of amber were collected! The bigger pieces were threaded into 123 m long beads and the rest were used for making a 4-meter tall sun dial, which was erected on the promenade along the Tirdniecibas canal. The amber beads are exhibited at the Liepaja craftsmen’s association (Barinu str., Liepaja, ph. +371 34 23286, open daily except on Saturdays and Sundays).
 

Nida – “Gaigalas” house in Nida
The final of the route in the territory of Latvia is the “Gaigalas” house in the Nida village, which is close to the Lithuanian-Latvian border. After taking a side road to Nida, keep to the right at all crossroads. This trip is for shortening the way to Lithuania, which is within a stone’s throw from here and it is for ones with a good sense of humor! The owners of the farmstead collect not only amber but all “sea treasures” washed ashore! They say that the sea has floated even a TV and a fridge to them!

Sventoji – Zemaiciu alkas
Zemaiciu alkas is an attempt to reconstruct an ancient Samogitian pagan shrine with a paleoastronomical observatory. In ancient times, Lithuanians would gather at such shrines to pray and make offering to the gods. Nowadays, pagan festivals are held there: the Festival of Goddess Milda (May 13), The Rasa (Dew) Festival (June 22), and the Spring Equinox (March 22). The biggest festival of the Palanga Pagan Society is the Jore Day (April 23). Once celebrated as the beginning of pasturage, today the Jore Day attracts both society members and tourists by its rituals and ceremonies, during which offerings of amber dust are made to the gods. The Zemaiciu Alkas is located 4 km from the Lithuanian-Latvian border.

Palanga
Palanga is the place in the “Baltic Amber Road” route which is the riches in the sightseeing objects. The settlement of Palanga was first mentioned in historical sources in 1253, then it became an important trade and Pegan cult center and finally in the first half of the XIX century it become known as a health resort. At present Palanga is the major and the most popular seaside resort in Lithunia.

More about Palanga

Palanga – Sventoji Treasure
Sventoji is an old fishermen’s settlement by the mouth oh the Sventoji River, which for a long time was bigger and more important than Palanga. Rest with families is very popular here in summer time. The settlement of Sventoji is highly important to the “Baltic Amber Road” because of one of the most interesting Stone Age amber treasures found here in 1966-1976. The archaeological excavations were carried out by Dr. R. Rimantiene. The finds of the excavation are exhibited at the Lithuanian National Museum and the Palanga Amber Museum.
 

Palanga – The amber processing workshop
Palanga – Amber Museum
Palanga – Antanas Moncys house-museum
 

Karkle – Amber-catching places.
Information exposition an amber history in Karkle
The scientists who have conducted researches of amber resources in Lithuania maintain that at present the largest amount of amber is washed ashore near the Karkle village in the territory of the Seaside Regional Park. In the middle of the 18^th century local inhibitans had to pay a 1,5 guilder fee to the lord of the manor for every amber-catching net. In 1739, Palanga and Sventoji had 10 of such texable nets each. At present, about 30 amber catchers search for amber in the area of Karkle.

In Karkle there is a designed exposition on amber history, morphology, properties, colors and inclusions.
 

Klaipeda – Arschaeologcal amber artifacts at the History Museum of Lithuania minor
In ancient times amber necklaces used not only as a decoration, but also as currency.
The Archaeological amber artifacts, dating to the 5^th-6^th centuries are on display at the History Museum of Lithuania, located in the Old Town of Klaipeda.

Didžioji vandens str. 6, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Ph +370 46 410524
http://www.mlimuziejus.lt
Entrance fee: 1-2 LTL
 

Juodkrante – The Amber Bay
The curonian Spit is a peninsular diving the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. In 2000 it was included into the UNESCO World Heritage list as a unique object of nature and cultural heritage in Baltic Sea region. At present Neringa is a prestigious seaside resort. On the Curonian Spit there are two objects of the route.

In 1854-1855 amber was discovered in the vicinity of Juodkrante and 2250 tones of amber were mined in this place. The average production of amber during the period of 1860-1890 was about 75 thousand tons per year. In 1890, when the production decreased, the mining of amber in Juodkrante was terminated.

In 1882 many valuable pre-historic amber artifacts were found near Juodkrante. The Kleb’s (the professor at Konigsberg University) collection is also referred as the Juodkrante treasure. The collection has been exhibited at various exibitions and the Palanga Amber Museum owns its copy.
 

Nida- The Mizrigiai Amber gallery-museum

Jantarnyj – Exposition of amber artifacts. The Amber pyramid
The museum established at the Jantarnyj settlement exhibits various amber artefacts. There is a permanent exhibition of amber juwelry for sale. For the attraction of visitors there are wooden constructions with the exterior glued up with pieces of amber – the Amber Pyramid. The visitors are invited to enter the pyramid and experience the energy of the “Sun stone”.

Sovetskaja str. 76, Jantarnyj, Russia
Ph. +7 01153 37386
Open every day exept on Mondays. It is advisible in winter time to book n advance. Entrance fee: 20 rub

Jantarnyj – Industrial amber mines. Amber manufactory
The world famous industrial amber mine in Jantarnyj is one of the most impressive objects of the “Amber Road’ in Kaliningrad Region. The mining of amber started in the second half of the 19^th century. During the Soviet period the production reached 1000 t of amber annually and now it has decreased to 400-600 t. This is the only manufactory in the World mining amber and processing it in the industrial amounts. In the show of the plant there is an exposition of the articles produced by the local craftsmen from the local raw material.

Gagarin str. 11, Jantarnyj, Kaliningrad region, Russia
Ph. +7 01153 20392
Entrance fee: up to 70 rub
Vstors are taken to the objects by the security guards of the plant.
There are hardly any information signs; therefore, you should ask the locals for directions to the objects.

Jantarnyj – The complex of amber processing “Amber Lagoon”
“Ambet Laggon” is newly built and one ot the most modern manufactories ot the artistic amber processing in Kaliningrad district.

Sovestkaja str. 61-Л, Jantarnyj, Kaliningrad region, Russia
Ph. +7 0115337364

Kaliningrad – Amber Museum
The only amber museum in Russia was founded in 1979 in the very center of Kaliningrad in a fortification of a very peculiar plan. At present in the 28 halls of the museum making up 1000 sq.m there are more than 5000 ambet items. The museum boasts of the second largest piece of amber in the World weighing 4280 gr. The inclusions and amber decorations for the noblemen are of special interest.

Marshal Vasilevskij square 1, Kaliningrad, Russia
Ph. +7 0112 461563
http://www.ambermuseum.ru
Open every day exept Monday.
Entrance fee: 10-35 rub

 Kaliningrad – The amber Cabin on the “Vitiaz” ship
A small exposition on the ship “Vitiaz” provides an opportunity to see amber items brought from 34 places of the Earth. The Scientific researsc ship “Vitiaz” is the major exhibit of the World Ocean Museum, founded in 1990. Since 2000 one of the cabins of the ship has been called the amber cabin and amber items are exhibited in the show-cases. Every year on the Eve of the New Year new exhibits are added to the collection.

Peter The Great embankment 1, Kaliningrad, Russia
Ph. +7 0112 340244
http://www.vitiaz.ru
Open every Thursday and Friday
Entrance fee: 30-40 rub