(Drivene) has been mentioned since 1253. Here, nature itself created an ideal location for a fishing village—the river’s mouth formed a natural harbor, around which fishermen’s homesteads sprang up. Thus was born a unique settlement on the Lithuanian coast—Dreverna.
Unlike in other coastal villages, where fishermen lived in scattered farmsteads, in Dreverna everyone settled on a single elevated patch of land, building their homes close together and foregoing spacious yards and gardens. This gave rise to the distinctive, cozy atmosphere of a fishing village—with buildings clustered close together.
In the 17th–18th centuries, Dreverna was an important trading center, hosting large fish markets. In 1785, it was mentioned as a royal village on the lagoon, comprising 23 homesteads. In 1898, an elementary school was established here. The village was famous for its water control station, sawmill, mill, and navigation tower; a customs office operated at the junction of the river and the canal.