Lighthouse Light in Neringa: A Synthesis of 150 Years of History and Contemporary Culture
This year, the dunes of Neringa will shine with a special light – 2024 has been declared the Year of Lighthouses, and the Nida Lighthouse, which has become a symbol of the resort, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. On this occasion, the Neringa community invites everyone to an exceptional celebration that will not only honor the significance of lighthouses but also reveal new pages of history.
The Nida Lighthouse, first lit in 1874, has survived a dramatic history. At the end of World War II, it was blown up, but in 1953 it rose from the ashes. Today, it not only serves sailors but also attracts visitors with its unique views.
“The Year of the Lighthouse is not just a celebration for us, but an opportunity to discover,” says Dr. Lina Motuzienė, director of “Neringa Museums.” She talks about an ambitious goal – to discover the foundations of the old lighthouse during archaeological excavations and present them to the public.
The festival program, taking place from August 15-18, promises to be impressive: from concerts and fairs to unique educational programs. Special attention is given to the 150th anniversary of the Nida Lighthouse, but other cultural pearls of Neringa are not forgotten.
Thomas Mann’s cottage, which has been given the name “Italian Landscape,” invites visitors not only for a cup of coffee but also for a cultural experience. “This is a place that the German writer himself praised. When he arrived, this view reminded him of Italy,” explains L. Motuzienė.
During the festival, visitors will be able to enjoy not only traditional attractions but also new offerings. Free audio guides are offered at the Nida Fisherman’s Ethnographic Homestead and Thomas Mann Cultural Center, while the Curonian Spit History Museum offers an updated exhibition and free tours.
The program includes impressive events such as pianist Šarūnas Meškys’ concert featuring Yann Tiersen’s cycle of works about lighthouses, a presentation of archaeological research, and a night ceremony of floating lanterns.
Lighthouse Days in Neringa is not only an opportunity to look into the past but also a chance to rediscover this UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s an invitation to learn about Neringa’s history, traditions, and unique way of life shaped by the proximity of the sea and lagoon. For those who want to see the Nida Lighthouse from a different perspective, there’s a unique opportunity to admire it from a boat.https://laivu-nuoma.lt/kelione-prie-didziosios-kopos/ And for those who want to expand their lighthouse experience, it’s recommended to visit the Pervalka Lighthouse, which, although less known, also has its own light and history.https://laivu-nuoma.lt/kelione-prie-negyvuju-kopu/
For more information about events and places to visit, please check www.visitneringa.com and www.neringosmuziejai.lt. We invite everyone to join this special celebration and rediscover Neringa!
**Program of Lighthouse Days in Neringa**
**August 15-18, 2024**
**THURSDAY, August 15**
10:00 AM Holy Mass
Location: Nida Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians
“Muzika Humana” chamber music concert
Location: Nida Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians
Time: 12:00 PM
Start of the folk artists and traders fair in Nida
Location: Nida port area, square
Time: 10:00 AM
Education and food stalls in the square near Nida port
Location: Nida port square
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Excursion-hike
Denis Nikitenko’s organized excursion in Pervalka.
Location: Pervalka
Hike duration about 3 hours, route length – 3 km.
Presentation of a musical project
Creator Donatas Bielkauskas’ sound installation “Heart of the Lighthouse” and artistic composition at Nida Lighthouse
Location: Nida Lighthouse
Time: 8:00 PM
Artist D. Bielkauskas aims to expand the traditional lighthouse lamp lighting ceremony by “giving voice” to the lighthouse using sound recording technologies. He will record sounds produced by the lighthouse structure, such as the creaking of metal stairs, people’s voices, and the rustle of nature, which will become motifs in the sound composition. The composition will be industrial, with elements that harmoniously blend or drastically contrast with the environment, and will be complemented by D. Bielkauskas’ ambient music. The project will also include a dramatized text inspired by local ethnography, and a visual solution with light channels that will help visitors experience the inner and outer lights of the lighthouse.
**FRIDAY, August 16**
Folk artists and traders fair in Nida
Location: Nida port and surrounding areas
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Educational programs for children and adults
Location: Nida Lighthouse building complex
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Education and food stalls in the square near Nida port
Location: Nida port square
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Pianist Šarūnas Meškys’ concert near Nida Lighthouse
Program: Piano music program, famous French composer Yann Tiersen’s (b. 1970) 14-piece cycle about lighthouses. It’s a musical story about the composer’s homeland, the remote Ouessant Island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of mainland France.
Location: Near Nida Lighthouse
Time: 8:00 PM
Yann Tiersen is a contemporary French composer and multi-instrumentalist, widely known for his universal style ranging from classical music to avant-garde rock. He began his musical career learning to play piano and violin, later adding accordion and guitar to his instrumental arsenal. Tiersen became famous for composing the music for the 2001 film “Amélie,” which became a global phenomenon and popularized his music. After the success of this film, Tiersen released more albums and actively toured. His music, characterized by emotional depth and simplicity, often incorporates natural sounds and is inspired by the Breton landscape.
**SATURDAY, August 17**
Folk artists and traders fair in Nida
Location: Nida port area
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Education and food stalls in the square near Nida port
Location: Nida port square
Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Educational programs for children and adults
Location: Nida Lighthouse building complex
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Presentation of archaeological research and findings of the first Nida Lighthouse to the public
Discussion, review, examination of findings, documentation
Location: Near Nida Lighthouse
Time: 7:00 PM
Concert by “Los Secretos De Pablo”
Location: Near Nida Lighthouse
Time: 8:00 PM
Lighthouse beam memory musical procession
Time: 9:40 PM
Night lantern parade towards Nida port
Time: 10:00 PM
**SUNDAY, August 18**
Folk artists and traders fair in Nida
Location: Nida port area
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Pianist Viktoras Paukšelis recital
Location: Thomas Mann Memorial Museum
Time: 8:00 PM
Program:
Robert Schumann “Kinderszenen” (“Scenes from Childhood”), Op. 15
Frédéric Chopin “Ballade No. 1 in G minor”, Op. 23
Sergei Rachmaninoff “Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor”, Op. 36
Ticket price: 10.00 EUR
Viktoras Paukšelis (b. 1983) is a Lithuanian pianist who studied at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art, later graduated from B. Dvarionas Music School, and between 2001 and 2007 obtained a Master of Arts degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. He continued his studies at the Hamburg University of Music and Theatre and the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and graduated from Vilnius Academy of Arts. Viktoras Paukšelis performs internationally, including in the USA, France, Germany, and participates in various music festivals. He is known for his ability to perform both well-known classical pieces and less frequently heard composers’ works. V. Paukšelis is also the chairman of the jury for the young pianists’ competition “Musica Amabile” and has performed in prestigious venues such as the Berlin Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall in New York.
Enjoy the cultural diversity and traditions during the Lighthouse Days in Nida!
*Organizers:*
*Neringa Municipality*
*Neringa Museums*
*Nida Culture and Tourism Center “Agila”*
*information taken from:*
https://welovelithuania.com/svyturiu-dienos-neringoje-2024-renginiu-programa/
