Antique Sailing Vessel Dreverna
Moored in the harbour of Dreverna, the sailing vessel Dreverna is more than a boat – it is a work of art and a living memory of the lagoon’s maritime past. Its elegant hull and wide, wind-filled sails recall the long-standing shipbuilding and navigation traditions of this region.
Built in 2014, the vessel follows a historic design created by the renowned shipbuilding engineer Jonas Gižas, based on drawings published in the book Der Kurische Reisekahn MARIA. Measuring just over eighteen metres in length and four metres in width, it is a faithful modern embodiment of a once-familiar working craft.
Boats of this kind were essential to life in the old fishermen’s villages. They carried goods along the waterways that connected the Curonian Lagoon with the great trading centres of the past – from Klaipėda and Tilsit to the Königsberg region. At first, only a handful of these vessels sailed from Klaipėda; fifty years later, their number in eastern Prussia had grown to almost six hundred. They transported building materials, salt, grain, and many other commodities, navigating the Nemunas and Pregel rivers, crossing the Curonian and Vistula lagoons, and reaching the Vistula River and the historic port of Danzig. At times, they also carried passengers.
Today, Dreverna has found a new role. It invites visitors to experience the Curonian Lagoon from the water, during traditional ship regattas and maritime festivals, it proudly represents the heritage of the lagoon’s fishing communities. Its mission is to keep the seafaring spirit alive and to share the story of this unique maritime culture with all who step aboard.
