Švėkšna

History

Švėkšna has been mentioned since the 14th century. Supposedly, the settlement could have been established after the Treaty of Melno in 1422, when the danger of the Teutonic Knights had declined. On March 8, 1503, Švėkšna was mentioned in the act of Linkuva church's foundation and subsidy. In 1509, Švėkšna belonged to Stanislovas Kęsgaila, the Elder of Samogitia. In 19th century Švėkšna was a property of Plater family. At the time a bridge connecting church and manor was built. At the end of 19th century during Lithuanian press ban it was one of major centre's for distributing Lithuanian literature in Latin print. In 1941, at least 20 Jews were murdered in a mass execution by an Einsatzgruppe. The execution was carried out by order of SS-Sturmbannführer Hans Joachim Böhme, commander of Gestapo Tilsit. The murder site is in the old Jewish cemetery on the outskirts of the town on Aušros street, there is a monument at the location. On January 18, 2000, the coat of arms of Švėkšna were granted by the presidential decree.

Most-observed species

• White-tailed Eagle

  Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  183
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  147
• Eurasian Skylark

  Alauda arvensis Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  145
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  141
• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  131
• Common Crane

  Grus grus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  130
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  123
• Northern Lapwing

  Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  119