Editing Klaipėda (section)

==Cityscape==
===Urbanism and architecture===
[[File:Port of Klaipėda in 1852.jpg|thumb|Port of Klaipėda in 1852]]
The city plan is linear, stretching along the shores of the [[Curonian Lagoon]] and the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref name="ArchitekturaVle">{{cite web |title=Klaipėdos architektūra |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/klaipedos-architektura/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |language=lt |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108104709/https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/klaipedos-architektura/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The main parts of the city Old Town on the left bank of the [[:lt:Akmena (upė)|Danė River]], as well as the new residential areas built after 1945 (Pempininkai, Naujakiemis, Alksnynė, Gedminai, and others).<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> The specifics of the port city are emphasized by the quays, warehouses, [[Timber framing|half-timbered]] and industrial buildings typical of the [[Klaipėda Region]].<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> In the Old Town of Klaipėda, a rectangular network of streets was formed in the 13th–15th centuries, including Naujamiestis on the right bank of the Danė River.

[[File:Viešbutis „Senasis malūnas“ 2013 m.JPG|thumb|left|upright|"Old Mill hotel", a look alike fachwerk style building]]
Some of the fortification structures that were built before the 20th century and facilities have survived. [[Klaipėda Castle]], which was used from the 13th through 18th centuries, as well as its accompanying [[bastion]], built from 1559 remains on the left bank of the Danė River.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Castle Museum |url=https://www.mlimuziejus.lt/en/the-castle-museum/ |website=Mlimuziejus.lt |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108104529/https://www.mlimuziejus.lt/en/the-castle-museum/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Klaipėda Castle's bastion complex, which dates from the 15th through 18th centuries, still exists on the right bank of Danė River.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> Old public buildings, including Theater Palace, which was built on the site of a burnt-down [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] building in 1857, still exist on the old town in Klaipėda. Half-timbered and brick warehouses and residential houses are prevalent throughout Klaipėda.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/>

Following the fire of 1854, the city was intensively rebuilt.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> In the Naujamiestis district, which began to form in the second half of the 19th century, notable historical buildings include the State Bank (1858), Courthouse (1862), the railway station (1875), the Louise Gymnasium (1891), the [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-Gothic]] Post Office (1890, architect H. Schoede), the barracks complex (1907, now [[Klaipėda University]] Central Palace<ref>{{cite web |title=Klaipeda University – History |url=https://www.ku.lt/en/apie-universiteta/istorija/ |website=Ku.lt |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108104820/https://www.ku.lt/en/apie-universiteta/istorija/ |url-status=live}}</ref>), Teachers' Seminary (1908), City Hospital (1902), and the Craftsmen's Shelter (1910).<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/>

[[File:BiržosTiltasHistorieKlp.jpg|thumb|Biržos Bridge, photographed before 1930. The [[bascule bridge]] was an important source of income for the city.]]
Furthermore, during this period, many residential houses and various other buildings were built. For instance, residential buildings were built on Liepų Street. Also, a neoclassical palace was built in Liepų Street 12. The palace would get expanded around 1820 as well as in the late 19th century. The palace is now used as the Klaipėda Clock and Watch Museum.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clock Museum {{!}} Lietuvos nacionalinis dailės muziejus |url=https://www.lndm.lt/en/lm/ |website=Lndm.lt |access-date=8 January 2022 |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212150335/https://www.lndm.lt/en/lm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, a wooden villa in Giruliai, Šlaito Street 4 was built in the second half of the 19th century. Furthermore, a Neo-Renaissance villa was built in 1874. The aforementioned villa is now used as the Klaipėda County I. Simonaitytė Public Library. Industrial buildings, including a gas factory built in 1861 by the architect J. Hartmann, the fachwerk Union Chemical Fertilizer Factory built in 1869–80, the pulp factory built in 1900 and later expanded to form 1994 Klaipėda Cardboard Company, were also extensively constructed. Furthermore, a [[bascule bridge]] was built over the canal between the castle and the Danė River in 1855.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle" /> The bascule bridge had important economic impacts for the city, as every passing vessel was required to pay a bridge lifting fee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Klaipėdos Biržos tiltas |url=https://www.pamatyklietuvoje.lt/details/klaipedos-birzos-tiltas/11190 |website=PamatykLietuvoje.lt |language=lt |access-date=9 January 2022 |archive-date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109134950/https://www.pamatyklietuvoje.lt/details/klaipedos-birzos-tiltas/11190 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Klaipėda (Memel) Old Town in 1932.jpg|thumb|Klaipėda Old Town in 1932]]
In the early 20th century, [[Jugendstil]] style buildings were built in the city, including houses at Tiltų Street 13 and H. Manto Street 30, as well as a villa at Smiltynės Street 11.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> Following the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|Restoration of Independence of Lithuania]] and the [[Klaipėda Revolt]], the Red Cross Hospital (1933, architect R. Steikūnas; now Klaipėda County Hospital), Vytautas Magnus Gymnasium (1934, architect H. Reissmann), Klaipėda Pedagogical Institute Sports Hall (1937, architect V. Landsbergis ‑ Žemkalnis; known since 2005 as the Klaipėda Physical Culture and Recreation Center), City Savings Bank (1938), Power Plant Complex (3rd–4th decade of the 20th century, architect of some buildings H. Reissmann) were built and are characterized by rationalist features.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/>

During World War II, 60% of the buildings in Klaipėda were destroyed.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/> Moreover, the buildings reminiscent of Klaipėda's Germans were destroyed, and the remains of bombed-out Catholic and evangelical Reformed churches were demolished.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle"/>

During the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet occupation]], the historical part of Klaipėda was redesigned.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle" /> The construction of the St. Church of the Queen Mary of Peace was started in 1957 with the funding of the believers (architect J. Baltrėnas). However, in 1960, it was deprived of believers. Instead, a branch of the LSSR Philharmonic was established there in 1963. The building would later be used as a place of worship again in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=Istorija – Klaipėdos Marijos Taikos Karalienės parapija |url=https://taikoskaraliene.lt/lt/istorija/ |website=Taikoskaraliene.lt |access-date=8 January 2022 |language=lt |date=12 March 2021 |archive-date=8 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108104922/https://taikoskaraliene.lt/lt/istorija/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Other notable constructions from that period include the Palace of Culture (1963, architect A. Mikėnas, now Klaipėda Musical Theater), Marriage Palace (1980, architect R. V. Kraniauskas), Lithuanian Maritime Museum and Aquarium (1979, architects P. Lapė, L. Šliogerienė; located in Kopgalis Fortress, 1866), and Hotel Klaipėda (1986, architect G. Tiškus; now Amberton Klaipėda).<ref name="ArchitekturaVle" />

Following the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania]], the Dolphinarium of the Lithuanian Maritime Museum (1994, architect P. Lapė), large shopping centers, administrative buildings, hotels and residential buildings were built.<ref name="ArchitekturaVle" />