In the centre of Klaipėda, on the bank of the Danė River, stands a monumental sculpture titled The Arch (Lith. Arka). Dedicated to the idea of the unity of Lithuania, the sculpture was erected in 2003 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Klaipėda Region incorporation into State of Lithuania. The Arch weighs about 150 tons and reaches 8.5 meters in height.
The composition of the monument is full of symbolism: the smaller column made of red granite represents Lithuania Minor and its cultural heritage, and the grey one represents Lithuania Major. The part connecting the columns at the top lacks a split off, which testifies to the lost historical land and the connection that, although physically severed, remains engraved in the memory.
The words of Ieva Simonaitytė, writer, are carved on the granite: ‘We are one nation, one land, one Lithuania.’ These words sound like a promise, connecting the past and the present.
The author of the sculpture is Arūnas Sakalauskas.
It is not just a stone, but also a living sign, inviting one to feel the weight, connections and fragility of the nation’s history.
Address: Embankment of the Danė River, Klaipėda