We\u2019re continuing our city water bus journey along the Dang\u0117 River. We’ll get to the next stop in about 20 minutes. During this stretch, you’ll hear about where to find the remains of Poys Castle (a Curonian castle), what the main river of Klaip\u0117da should actually be called, and finally, whether you can swim in the Dang\u0117 River. As is the case for the whole journey, we\u2019ll observe these sites by orienting ourselves based on the position of the riverbanks in the direction of travel.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Please look to the left bank of the Dang\u0117 River. Few people know that the \u0160auliai Manor was situated right here, between the Minor Tauralaukis Manor and the Bachmann Manor on the high hills. According to Klaip\u0117da historian Dainius Elertas, the area was inhabited even before the Livonian Order took control. This theory is also supported by the discoveries made along the banks of the Dang\u0117 River by archaeologists from Klaip\u0117da University in 2015. Archaeologists exploring the Curonian heritage have long been searching for traces of the mysterious Poys Castle. The Poys settlement was first mentioned in 1253 when the Teutonic Knights constructed the wooden fortress of Memelburg at the mouth of the Dang\u0117 River. If the Poys settlement that archaeologists are still searching for was indeed situated by the Dang\u0117 River, it could be considered the predecessor of Klaip\u0117da. Historical roots aren\u2019t just romantic legends for tourists; they\u2019re also crucial elements of the local population’s identity, helping to shape their mentality and form an authentic worldview within the context of the city’s history. Let us also try, if only for a short while, to travel back in time \u2013 using our imagination \u2013 to the era of the Curonians, as we listen to the story of the Dang\u0117 River Mermaid and a Curonian<\/em>, written by Denis Nikitenko:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n It happened in days of yore, when the Curonian Spit stretched forth, its tongue reaching only the mouth of the Dang\u0117, beyond which the vast expanse of the Baltic Sea unfurled in boundless majesty. ‘Twas the land where valiant Curonian warriors traversed the mighty Dang\u0117, their warships renowned from Semba’s shores to the realm of the seagulls. These were tumultuous times as the Crusaders and their allies in the North sought the land ensnared by the very belt of war. Once, when the monks of the Livonian Order had reached the mouth of the Dang\u0117, a bold Curonian rose to declare who truly held dominion over these lands. The famed ships had vanished, their timbers resting cold upon the Baltic\u2019s depths, yet the brave Curonian\u2019s faith in the might of his tribe remained unshaken. And so he set sail upon the Dang\u0117 in an old, beat-up boat crafted by the hands of his grandfather. He sailed past the charred fortresses of his kinsmen, nestled in the lofty river valleys, all the way to the stronghold of the warrior monks, known as the Crow’s Nest. He feared not the crossbow bolts, sharp as a viper’s fangs, nor was he swayed by the warnings of his friends, urging the young man not to court his own demise. He only yearned to sail once more \u2013 free and proud \u2013 along the ancient waters of his forebears, to show the invaders that the Curonians are unyielding, unbroken by fire, sword, or hunger. The Dang\u0117, calm and silent, cradled the Curonian’s boat as it glided slowly through its waters. The nearer he drew to the Crow’s Nest, the fiercer the waves grew, crashing wildly, until the towering walls of the castle loomed in the distance. \u2018What a mighty castle,\u2019 the Curonian thought. And with a fierce grip on the tiller, he called upon Perk\u016bnas for courage and Bangp\u016btys for the wind as he surged faster and faster towards the river’s mouth. The castle guards stirred, unsettled by the unexpected visitor. They summoned archers and spearmen, sealed the castle gates, and waited in tense anticipation. And the Curonian kept going. Suddenly, a crossbow bolt whistled past his shoulder, slicing through the air. Then came a second, and a third, the final bolt striking the side of the boat, mere inches from the intricate Baltic carvings on the oak planks. The arrows rained down in ever greater numbers, yet the Curonian drew nearer and nearer. Suddenly, the river started swirling, the waters rippled, fish leapt from the depths, and the boat spun like a bent reed in the dunes, swaying to the rhythm of the evening wind. From the depths of the waves rose a beautiful maiden, her long hair flowing like river grass, and she begged the young man, pleading for him not to seal his fate in death. The maiden of the Dang\u0117 pleaded with him to turn the boat around, to save his life from certain doom, but the steadfast Curonian remained unmoved, his resolve unbroken. He clenched his scarred fists tighter, laid the old sword at his feet, seized the oars, and began to battle his way through the swirling river. Sweat poured from him, his legs numbed with strain, yet the boat pressed forward. The mermaid trailed behind as the bolts flew in a relentless storm, striking the sides, sails, and mast of the oaken boat. The maiden of the Dang\u0117 plunged beneath the waves, her gaze lingering longingly on the steadfast Curonian. And a mighty arrow pierced his chest, sending him into the waters at the mouth of the Dang\u0117, his dream of reaching the sea fading forever. The castle guards rushed to recover the brave young man, diving into the river for hours, searching in vain for his body to hang as a grim warning upon the castle\u2019s battlements. But the Dang\u0117 mermaid had taken him. No one has seen her since, not for centuries after that fateful day. Some say that when the river swells, she emerges once more, a beautiful, enchanting maiden with a scaly mermaid\u2019s tail. She lowers her eyes, her heart heavy with the memory of the young man she could not save…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The legend is beautiful, but now let\u2019s discuss \u0160auliai Manor, about which not much is known except that it was officially granted manor status in 1899. The origin of the name is unclear, but it\u2019s thought to come from a Lithuanian word meaning riflemen\u00a0or a personal name. In the post-war period, the manor\u2019s buildings were nationalised and transferred to a local collective farm. The estate was demolished during the Soviet era, but the main building, a two-storey red brick warehouse, two outbuildings, and a couple of ponds were preserved. \u0160auliai Manor was also home to one of the dozen brickyards of old Klaip\u0117da. At the beginning of the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0century, brickyards operated in Tauralaukis, Purmaliai, and Paupiai, near Bachmann Manor; and Aulaukis, Luiz\u0117, Joni\u0161k\u0117s, the Windmill Manors, and the Gedminai Manor, in the south. The clay for the bricks was extracted from the valleys and cliffs of the Dang\u0117 banks.<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s time to learn more about the river itself and answer the question of what it should be called \u2013 Dan\u0117 or Dang\u0117? Historical sources first mention the name Dang\u0117 in the agreement for the construction of Memel\u2019s castle on 29th<\/sup>\u00a0July 1252. The document records the agreement between Eberhard von Zeine, Master of the Livonian Order, and a Curonian bishop to build a castle where the Dang\u0117 River meets the Memel (Nemunas) River. For centuries, the river flowing through Curonian land was called Dang\u0117, but in the Etymological Dictionary of Lithuanian Hydronyms<\/em>\u00a0(Water Names),<\/em>\u00a0published in 1981, linguist Aleksandras Vanagas renamed the river Dan\u0117. Until then, all literature published before 1981 used the name Dang\u0117. The renowned folklore writer Vilius Kalvaitis also suggested changing the name of Dang\u0117 to Dan\u0117 at the beginning of the 20th<\/sup>\u00a0century. After collecting many fairy tales and songs from Lithuania Minor, he attempted to translate the German words into Lithuanian. Later, Kalvaitis wrote: \u2018Lith. Dane; Ger. Dane.\u2019 The pronunciation of the river’s name has changed many times, but that’s mostly in the inscriptions on various maps created by the conquering Swedes, Russians, and French.<\/p>\n Once the Klaip\u0117da region was annexed to Lithuania, the river was renamed Akmena, up to its mouth. Apparently, this was an attempt to rid the area of German influence, although the word Dang\u0117 isn\u2019t German at all. It actually derives from two extinct languages: Prussian, where it can mean simply river, and Curonian, where it can mean arc or angle. Names of Baltic Viking\u2013Curonian settlements are characterised by the typical suffixes -anga, -ang\u0117, -inga, and -ing\u0117. Listen to these: Palanga, B\u016bting\u0117, Kretinga, Ablinga, Gandinga \u2013 all are ancient Curonian names. There have been attempts to restore the river to its true name, but without success so far. However, restoring the historical name is as important as restoring Memel\u2019s castle. That\u2019s why we call it the Dang\u0117 River throughout the journey \u2013 it\u2019s our tribute to and respect for historical truth.<\/p>\n Interestingly, the name’s story doesn’t end here. The river running through Klaip\u0117da is the only one that has several official names. From its source at Salantai to Bajorai village outside Kretinga, the river is called Akmena, and from Bajorai village to its mouth, it\u2019s known as Dan\u0117 or Dang\u0117. The river flows through Kretinga and Klaip\u0117da districts and empties into the Curonian Lagoon in Klaip\u0117da city. The river has a catchment area of 595 km\u00b2 and a length of 65 km. The depth of the river up to the mouth of the tributary Eket\u0117 is less than two metres, ranging from three to five metres below that, and five to seven metres in Klaip\u0117da. Only the lower reaches of the river are navigable, but the most interesting stretch, for canoeing or kayaking in particular, is from Kretinga to Kretingal\u0117.<\/p>\n No matter the weather, there are always fishermen on the banks of the Dang\u0117. According to whom, the best spot for fishing is at the mouth of the Dang\u0117 River, near the cruise ship terminal, by the ferry to Smiltyn\u0117. The main catches are roach, bream, and perch during the warm season, and delicious smelt in the winter. The latest most desirable catch is gobies. The spread of this invasive species from the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea sometimes leads to them invading the harbour and the mouth of the Dang\u0117 River. Environmental monitoring of the Dang\u0117 River doesn\u2019t determine whether fish caught in the river are suitable for consumption, but this doesn\u2019t deter persistent fishermen.<\/p>\n The Dang\u0117 River has been subject to environmental monitoring since 2007. Data collected in 2018 showed a sharp increase in nitrogen nitrate, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels in the river water. Unfortunately, the ecological state of the river has been declining over the last 13 years, which is why swimming in the Dang\u0117 River is now forbidden. This is why there are no official swimming areas, but an active leisure alternative has been created for residents and a cycling and walking path was built along the river from the city centre to the botanical gardens in 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":20320,"menu_order":32,"template":"","format":"standard","place-category":[625],"restoranu-kategorija":[],"class_list":["post-30424","place","type-place","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","place-category-klaipeda-water-bus-tour-along-the-dane-river"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/place\/30424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/place"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/place"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/place\/30424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"place-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/place-category?post=30424"},{"taxonomy":"restoranu-kategorija","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klaipedatravel.lt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/restoranu-kategorija?post=30424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}