Sculpture „Juodasis vaiduoklis“ („The black ghost“)

Coordinates: 55.706635 21.126719

Object address: Žvejų street 22, Klaipėda, Lithuania

Municipality: Klaipėda

In the beginning of 18 century castle ditches were used as port for ships and timber, therefore it had been a need to dig a narrow canal and connect river Danė with these ditches. In order not to lose relationship with castle there a bridge had been built. The bridge construction was financed by a wealthy merchant that leased the castle ditches. This bridge had a little mouth – 2.4 wide – for small vessels to enter. In 1839 the bridge was reconstructed. In its place a portal bridge with 11.2 mouth arose. In 1885 the bridge again was replaced by a new metal portal drawbridge. Width of mouth remained the same. The bridge still stands and today. (Tatoris, Jonas. Senoji Klaipėda, 1994, p. 91). This is an interesting technical monument. Near the revolving bridge „Ghost“ is climbing out of the water – character from the legend of Klaipėda. 

According to the book „Rytprūsių padavimai“ in the evening of 19 February 1595 one of the Klaipėda Castle guards, Hans von Heidi from Dithmarschen, suddenly saw a bridge over the ditch and onto the bridge – a man wrapped up in long black robe. The ghost asked the soldier why he stands here and inquired about if there is any shortage of food. The Black man was very displeased with the answer that in castle there was no lack of food and drink. Ghost, having predicted that the city soon would be lacking in grain and timber, disappeared whereas the castle fortifications were strongly convulsed (Vakarų ekspresas, 2009-08-19). Sculptors Svajūnas Jurkus ir Sergejus Plotnikovas, architects Vladas Balsys ir Vaidotas Dapkevičius.

Compiled in 2014

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