Easy hikes and walks around Žalgirių miškas

A beautiful manor house with a museum and open-air gallery. Hugo Scheu was deeply interested in the Lithuanian language, culture, customs, and traditions and was a great collector of Prussian-Lithuanian folklore.

Memorial to the two friends Mahatma Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach, who comes from Rusnė.

During World War II, Šilutė, then known as Heydekrug, was part of Germany's East Prussia. Initially, it was returned to Germany in 1939 after Hitler's ultimatum. In 1941, the town was granted city rights. A significant aspect of its wartime history involves the establishment of several prisoner-of-war camps, including Stalag 331 C/I-C, Stalag I-D, and Stalag Luft VI, which housed Allied POWs. In 1944, as the war approached, many residents, particularly Prussian Lithuanians and Germans, retreated to Germany. Soviet forces entered the town on October 10, 1944, marking the end of German control. The Klaipėda region was subsequently transferred to the Soviet Union.

Hugo Scheu (lt. Hugo Šojus; 1845 Klaipėda, Kingdom of Prussia – 1937, Šilutė, Lithuania) was a German and Šilutė region cultural and public figure, patron of the city of Šilutė, collector and publisher of Lithuanian folklore of Lithuania Minor, and founder of the first museum in the Klaipėda region. With his cultural and social activities, Hugo Scheu contributed not only to the well-being of the manor, but also to the well-being of the entire Šilutė town. H. Šojus donated many of his land plots to the town. The land that belonged to him now houses the Šilutė First Gymnasium (founded in 1918), the Šilutė Evangelical Lutheran Church (in 1926, Hugo Scheu was immortalized in its altar fresco holding a model of the church), the Šilutė Fire Station (founded in 1897) and other buildings. He learned the Lithuanian language and became interested in Lithuanian customs and folklore. Together with Aleksandrs Kuršaitis, in 1913 he published the book Samogitian Tales.

Opening hours: Thueday - Friday 10:00-18:00 Saturday 10:00-16:00 Admisson: 5 Euros Hugo Šojus (Hugo Scheu) is a prominent figure in German and Lithuanian culture, who helped Šilute to become a thriving center of art and education. Hugo Scheu was a prominent German-Lithuanian cultural figure, who helped shape Šilutė into a center for arts and education. His former manor hosts 60,000+ archaeological, natural, and ethnographic exhibits that he amassed. Often called Šilutė’s crown jewel, the manor is surrounded by a forested park with three ponds and walking trails.

A famous fish market was opened in Šilutė almost 500 years ago, when Georg Tallat purchased the inn together with the land and fishing rights in 1511. The town was a gathering place for peasants from nearby Samogitia and Curonian and Prussian fishermen from Rusnė, Karklė, Nida, and Lesnoye. The coat of arms, which reflects that, was designed in 1968. It depicts a white sailing ship. On top there is a traditional weathercock (Lithuanian: vėtrungė) used by local fishermen. At the bottom there is a horn, an old symbol of postal services. These symbols hint to the Curonian Lagoon, traditional fishing business, and Šilutė as the old sea port. For a while Šilutė was along an important postal route.

While the name Mahatma Gandhi is certainly familiar to many people of various nationalities and religions, the second person depicted, Hermann Kallenbach—including me personally—was completely unknown until I encountered this monument depicting the two companions. + Mahatma (actually Mohandas Karamchand) Gandhi, 1869 to 1948 (nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at the time of his assassination) was a pioneer of India's independence from Great Britain, always and uncompromisingly advocating non-violent resistance and decisively rejecting armed struggle. + Hermann Kallenbach, 1871 (in Lithuania, then part of Russia) to 1945 (South Africa), was the son of Jewish parents and emigrated to South Africa. There he met Gandhi and became a friend and supporter of his cause.

The story of Gandhi and Kallenbach is a deeply intimate and personal one. But it also has historical and academic significance. This story is fascinating for another reason, because it proves and highlights the possibility of cross-cultural influences leading to much greater results, as manifested in Gandhi's impact on world history.