Neringa of Eduardas Jonušas

This route is dedicated to the memory of Eduardas Jonušas – the artist, museologist and cherisher of the heritage of the Curonian Spit. E. Jonušas is deservedly referred to as the symbol of the Curonian Spit. On this route you will get a better idea of this artist’s works and visit locations that he used to live and work in.
E. Jonušas’ first visit and experiences in Nida determined the rest of his life. Here, he saw the decaying life of the local kuršininkai with his own eyes. After settling in Nida in 1971, he got to know the old residents of this land closely.
The artist dedicated forty years of his life to the revival of the local culture (which was being deliberately destroyed after the war), especially focusing on its major symbols: the wooden tombstones – krikštai, the weathercocks, kurenkahns and architectural elements of fishermen’s houses.
Many of the artist’s works – sculptures, panels, artistic compositions – can be seen in Nida: the Labour panel decorates the lobby of the Neringa Municipality Administration, while the decorative composition Postal Carriage is on the exterior of the Neringa Post Office. Walking around Nida you will be able to not only enjoy artistic sculptures, but also objects of the local heritage, restored by E. Jonušas: the fishing sailboat kurenkahn, the unique wooden tombstones at Nida Cemetery – krikštai – characteristic only to the Curonian Spit culture, as well as the weathercocks, which once used to carry a special meaning to the local fishermen. All of these objects have their own history or legends… As you walk towards the sea on G. D. Kuwert street, you can also visit the restored memorial tombstone of Georg David Kuwert at Nida Foresters’ Cemetery.
Another part of the objects are scattered all over Neringa, thus you will need a bicycle or other means of transport to visit them. The furthest point of this route – Juodkrantė – is 25 km from Nida.
Biking on the excellent trails from Nida to Pervalka and enjoying the beautiful nature you will reach Skirpstas Dune with E. Jonušas’ statue for Martynas Liudvikas Rėza, the academic and cultural figure, as well as translator of the Bible.
Continue onwards and you will reach Juodkrantė. As of 1979, in the old woods or parabolic dunes, folk artists started creating sculptures and their compositions from wood or metal and based on various faery tales and legends. The beginning of the popular tourist attraction of the Hill of Witches is decorated with an expressive sculpture of the Witch by E. Jonušas.
Travelling on this route you will not only see the objects that are related to the famous artist of Neringa, but also enjoy the unique nature of the Curonian Spit that surrounds you.
The length of the route Nida-Juodkrantė is 30 km and you will take about 3 hours travelling by bike.