Skulptur Juodasis Vaiduoklis (Sculpture The Black Ghost), Klaipeda (must see)

Emerging from the shadows along Klaipėda's waterfront walkway, the enigmatic bronze figure known as "The Black Ghost" has been a source of both fascination and trepidation since its installation in 2010. Crafted by the skilled hands of sculptors Svajunas Jurkus and Sergejus Plotnikovas, this eerie sculpture stands at a height of 7.8 feet, with roughly half of its spectral form concealed below the waterfront walkway and the other half hauntingly visible above.

The Black Ghost, clad in a hooded robe, possesses a peculiar and expressive appearance despite the absence of facial features. The emptiness within the robe adds to the ghostly mystique, capturing the attention and imagination of onlookers.

The tale behind The Black Ghost is rooted in local legend, reaching back to the year 1595 when Hans von Heidi, a guard stationed at Klaipėda Castle, experienced a chilling encounter during his nightly rounds near the harbor. Suddenly, a hooded figure materialized near the water's edge. Rather than posing a threat, the spectral entity inquired about the city's grain and timber supplies. Von Heidi, taken aback, relayed that the city had sufficient provisions, prompting the ghostly figure to issue a warning that the existing supplies would prove inadequate. With this ominous message, the apparition vanished.

In the superstitious climate of the time, where belief in ghosts, witches, and other supernatural entities was prevalent, von Heidi dutifully reported his encounter to his superiors. Responding to the ghost's warning, the city took action to increase its stocks of timber and grain. The subsequent years brought hardships, but the people of Klaipėda, forewarned by the ghostly messenger, managed to weather the challenges.

Far from a malevolent Nazgûl-like wraith, The Black Ghost serves as a unique and haunting tribute to Klaipėda's spectral savior—a mysterious guardian akin to a spectral Casper, simultaneously frightening and protective, with a tale that weaves folklore into the fabric of the city's history.