Ventės Ragas Lighthouse and Bird Station

Ventės Ragas (Cape Ventė) is Lithuania's only true cape — a narrow spit of land jutting into the Curonian Lagoon near where the Nemunas River meets the Baltic. The elegant red-brick lighthouse, built in 1862, has guided ships through these treacherous waters for over 160 years. But the cape is equally famous for its ornithological station, established in 1929, making it one of Europe's oldest bird ringing stations. Giant Heligoland traps — massive funnel-shaped nets — capture migrating birds for scientific study. During peak migration in spring and autumn, researchers ring hundreds of birds daily, contributing to international migration tracking. Visitors can watch the ringing process and learn about the incredible journeys these birds undertake.