Photo by www.mlimuziejus.lt / See source website
📜 Historic CuriositiesKlaipėdaEasy access
Memel Castle Ruins (Klaipėda Castle)
Klaipėda, Klaipėda1-1.5 hoursBest: Year-round
The excavated remains of Lithuania's only Teutonic Knights castle on the Baltic coast — where the city of Klaipėda began over 750 years ago.
The Memel Castle (now Klaipėda Castle) was founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1252, making it the origin point of Lithuania's major port city. For centuries, the castle defended the crucial harbor where the Curonian Lagoon meets the Baltic Sea. The fortress was rebuilt and expanded multiple times before falling into ruin.
Archaeological excavations have revealed the castle's foundations, moats, and numerous artifacts spanning seven centuries. A modern museum and reconstruction project interpret the castle's complex history — from Teutonic crusaders through Prussian administrators to the dramatic periods of World War I and II when Memel/Klaipėda changed hands between Germany and Lithuania. The castle site sits in the heart of modern Klaipėda, creating a powerful juxtaposition of medieval foundations and contemporary city life.
Why Visit
Stand at the exact point where Lithuania's gateway to the sea was born. The castle ruins reveal 750 years of Baltic history at the heart of Klaipėda.
Address
Pilies g., Klaipėda
Admission
€4
55.7100, 21.1300
Visitor Tips
- 1The museum provides excellent historical context
- 2Archaeological excavations may be ongoing
- 3Located in central Klaipėda near the river
- 4Combine with Old Town and ferry to Curonian Spit