Švėkšna is a charming town known for its 65-meter-high twin-towered red brick church, the tallest in Šilutė District Municipality, and the Plater Counts’ Park, established in the 19th century. The park features an impressive linden alley, the Genovaitė Villa, ponds, and sculptures. Historically, Švėkšna belonged to Samogitia, which is why its urban structure differs from the towns of Lithuania Minor. It was once a border town between East Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Švėkšna was first mentioned in written records in 1503.
The Švėkšna Manor was founded in the second half of the 15th century by the noble Kęsgaila family of Samogitia. The first church in the town was built in 1509. Between 1624 and 1644, when Jeronimas Krišpinas Kiršenšteinas ruled Švėkšna, the estate housed paper, glass, and gunpowder workshops – among the first serf-based manufactories in Samogitia. The last owners of Švėkšna, the Plater family, controlled around 33,000 hectares of land (including the Pajūris Manor) and owned more than 5,000 serfs. In 1820, the count’s land holdings were divided among his four sons, leading to the establishment of four estates: Švėkšna, Vilkėnas, Gedminaičiai, and Stempliai.
One of the most notable figures buried in Švėkšna Cemetery is Simonas Stanevičius, a prominent 19th-century Lithuanian poet and historian. An intriguing fact is that archaeologists discovered seven ancient Egyptian ritual figurines in a burial site near Švėkšna, depicting Egyptian gods and priests.
Today, Švėkšna is remarkable not only for its rich and fascinating history but also for its stunning natural surroundings, architectural monuments, and the renowned personalities born here. At the heart of the town lies a cobblestone market square, where a lively market takes place every Thursday.
Švėkšna’s church and historic architecture attract newlyweds as well as Lithuanian filmmakers. One of the town’s most important architectural landmarks is the Neo-Gothic church, built in 1905 according to the design of Swedish architect Karl Eduard Strandmann. The construction of the church was financed by the Plater counts of Švėkšna and Vilkėnas, with generous donations from local parishioners and Lithuanian emigrants in the United States.
A unique and rare structure in Lithuania is the arched pedestrian viaduct, built around 1885, which connects the churchyard with the park.
Švėkšna takes great pride in its active community, whose dedication enhances the town’s beauty and promotes its name across Lithuania.