Palanga

Palanga is a small Lithuanian seaside resort on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It is a town, having rights of city.

Palanga

Country

Population
- Total (2001)
- Density

19,600
247.7/km²

Contents

1 History

2 Territory

3 Foreign relations

3.1 Union of the Baltic Cities
3.2 Close Contacts

4 Links

History

It is hard to imagine Palanga without the Baltic Sea, because the Baltic Sea is our past, present and future. Since New Stone Age (IV - II c. b. J. C.) the sea influences mental and material culture, trading relations with other nations of people who lived here.

A lot of Lithuanian nation legends are related with sea. From generation to generation by the cradle mothers narrate for children about love of sea goddess Jurate for fisherman Kestutis, about the love between the daughter of fisherman Egle and grass - snake Zilvinas, about giants Naglis and Neringa, about romantic love of priestess Birute.

The origin of the name Palanga is related with the sea and legends too. People tell, that little houses of fishermen were situated so close to the sea - shore, that sea waves were laying, and the wind was covering with sand them up to windowsill (palange). Mostly the name of Palanga is deriving from archaic words of the Balts language such as palvë, palios, pala, palas (it means low, marshy area) or from rivers' names such as Palanga, Palangis, Alanga, Langa

Not only traders from oversea countries landed to the seashore of Palanga but conquerors too. The first mention of Palanga's name reminiscent the legendary story about landing to Palanga in 1161 of army of Danish king Valdemaras I. Only in 1253 Palanga was mentioned in chronicle of German Order. In the development of history here were a lot of conquerors. Vikings of Normans coveted these lands, and in XIII - XIV c a lot of time crusaders devastated it. Only after the Battle of Grunwald (in 1410) the peace contract of Meln, concluded in 1422, stopped an invasion of the Order to Lithuania and in accordance with the peace contract of Brest (in 1435-12-31) Palanga felt to Lithuania.

More detailed history of the city can be found in Official site (http://www.palanga.lt/content.php?lang_id=3&tree=-3%7c19%7c118) or Tourism Info Center (http://www.palangatic.lt/index.php?param=-3%7c18%7c73)

Territory

Palanga town territory occupies 79 km². This makes 1,5 % of Klaipeda County or 0,12% of Lithuanian territory.
In Palanga town there is the only Sventoji head-office, which comprises settlements of Sventoji and Butinge.
The town borders with the Republic of Latvia, with Kretinga and Klaipeda districts and the Baltic Sea.

Foreign relations

Union of the Baltic Cities

On 1993-02-26 Palanga Town Council passed the decision to apply to the UBC for membership in this organisation. On 1993-03-02, Bronius Martinkus, Chairman of Palanga Town Council, addressed the UBC with the request to grant admission for Palanga in the Union of the Baltic Cities.
At the meeting of the UBC Executive Board held in Kaliningrad on 6-7 June 1993, Palanga Town was admitted as a member of the UBC.
Palanga Town Council is involved in the work of the UBC Commissions on Tourism, Business Cooperation and Education.

Close Contacts

Pärnu (Estonia)

On 1990-09-14 a quadripartite treaty for cooperation between Palanga, Pärnu, Neringa and Jûrmala municipalities. Cooperation in culture and recreation realms is pursued.

Jurmala (Latvia)

Palanga and Jûrmala municipalities have maintained cooperation since 1990.

On 2003-10-15 a revised cooperation treaty was signed. Palanga and Jûrmala municipalities pursue active cooperation in tourism, culture and other spheres.

Simrishamn (Sweden)

On 1991-05-10 the mutual friendship and cooperation treaty between the councils of Simrishamn and Palanga was signed in Simrishamn.

Cooperation includes care for the disabled, non-governmental organisations activities, culture and education.

Frederiksberg (Denmark)

On 1993-05-27 a treaty between Palanga Town Council and Frederiksberg Town Council was signed in Frederiksberg. Under the treaty the parties undertook to support the common provision regarding agreement between the community, organisations, authorities and private businesses of both towns. The signatories pledged to promote mutually beneficial and optimal cooperation in economic and tourism fields.

Liepaja (Latvia)

Palanga Town Municipality maintains friendly relations with Liepaja City Municipality. Cooperation covers culture and tourism spheres, experience exchange.

Lodz (Poland)

At the forum of Lithuania and Poland municipalities held 31 March - 3 April 1998 in Poland, a treaty between the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities and organisation representing local governments of Poland was signed. Cooperation includes cultural and tourism spheres