Jūratė and Kastytis Square

When walking towards Palanga Bridge or after a stroll down J. Basanavičiaus Street, it is customary to stop and linger “by the fountain,” or, to be geographically precise, in Jūratė and Kastytis Square. In this cozy square between the city and the dunes, one of the most beautiful sculptures in Palanga has stood for more than half a century: the first meeting of the water goddess Jūratė and the fisherman Kastytis. It was created by the then young sculptor Nijolė Gaigalaitė, who became famous for this work. The sculpture looks especially romantic against the backdrop of the fountain or at midday, when the silhouettes of the lovers are reflected in the water. Every Lithuanian knows the legend of the love between Jūratė and Kastytis, which angered Perkūnas, the ruler of all gods, so much that Jūratė’s amber palace at the bottom of the sea was smashed into tiny pieces (which can still be found today when walking along the seashore), and Kastytis was killed by Perkūnas’ lightning bolts. Because of Jūratė’s salty tears, the water became salty. Even primary school children know this version, which was sung about by Maironis and other writers. However, a legend from the Palanga area says that the love story ended even more dramatically: Jūratė lay dead next to the ruins of her amber palace, while Kastytis was chained to the bottom of the sea for eternity, condemned to gaze at his beloved until the end of time.The history of the sculpture is no less interesting and down-to-earth. It is said that Jūratė was created based on the image of a fellow student of the sculptor, while Kastytis required two male models – one professional and the other an athletic and extremely handsome Palanga lifeguard. The artist herself wanted her “monuments to have a powerful human force that encourages people to live and create.” So, in this square, you can relax and think about what happens when two different elements meet in nature or in life, how much inspiration they bring and how much destructive force.