Former “Eglutė” Sanatorium

In 1888, with the efforts of priest Wichmann, a Catholic orphanage for children was established. It received annual financial support from the Prussian government. The orphanage accommodated around 60 children – mostly orphans and abandoned children. In 1905, a new, spacious three-story building was constructed. The orphanage was run by German Elizabethan nuns. In the autumn of 1944, as the front approached, residents were evacuated to East Prussia along with the nuns.
In 1949, the former orphanage building was converted into communal apartments. Later, in 1961, it became the “Eglutė” children’s tuberculosis sanatorium. It treated children aged 6 to 16 from 28 districts of Lithuania. The sanatorium had 100 beds – 25 for preschoolers and 75 for school-age children. It included an eight-year school and employed 3 doctors, 20 nurses, 10 teachers, and 6 caregivers. On November 7, 2004, the sanatorium was officially closed.
A significant date for Šilutė came on December 5, 2022, when the fully restored former “Eglutė” building reopened its doors to residents and visitors. Now, the building serves as a Spiritual Culture Center, hosting events for cultural and religious communities and those interested in preserving Šilutė’s heritage.