PLACES TO VISIT

Central Square of Kretinga

When a person comes to the central square of Kretinga, i.e. Town Hall Square, one can feel the space and the impression that something is missing. To truly get to know this place, one has to turn on their imagination, because indeed, much is missing here. For example, more than 400 years ago the Town Hall stood in the middle of the square. The treasury and the town court were also located here, and court judgments as well as other important information for the townspeople were announced in this very square. When Kretinga became part of the Russian Empire, a church was built in place of the demolished Town Hall. No traces of the church remain today, but now the square offers shelter under its trees and benches where people can rest. From here, one can see the Lutheran Church, where lively marketplaces were once held, as well as the Franciscan ensemble and the monument to J. K. Chodkevičius, which now serves as a popular meeting point. And with a little imagination, you can picture the houses that once surrounded the square on all sides.