Švėkšna

Infobox Settlement
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = LTU
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Švėkšna

leader_title =
postal_code_type =

official_name = Švėkšna
nickname =


pushpin_

image_shield = Sveksna COA.gif
|subdivision_type2=County
subdivision_name2 = Autolink|Klaipėda County
|subdivision_type3=Municipality
subdivision_name3 = Šilutė district municipality
|subdivision_type4=Elderate
subdivision_name4 = Švėkšna elderate
coordinates =
latd=55|latm=31|lats=0|latNS=N|longd=21|longm=37|longs=40|longEW=E
|subdivision_type6=Capital of
subdivision_name6 = Švėkšna elderate
established_date = "disputed"
subdivision_name5 =
population_total = 2053
population_as_of = 2001

Švėkšna is a town in the Šilutė District municipality, 21km northeast of Šilutė It is the administrative center of Švėkšna elderate. There are 29 streets in the town. In the western part of the town flows the river Švėkšnalė.

There is a mental hospital in the town, as well as a health care centre, pharmacy, secondary school, affiliates of music and art schools of Šilutė, kindergarten, recreation center, library, museum, 2 churches, the parish's nursing home, the planning department, a post office, police station and fire house.

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 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.

On January 18, 2000, Coat of Arms of Švėkšna were granted by the presidential decree.

External links

* [http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/KULTURA/sveksna.lt.htm Samogitian Art Museum about Švėkšną]
* [http://silute.kryptis.lt/main.php?parent=179&module=486&id=135 Švėkšna in the official website of Šilutė District municipality]
* [http://www.spaudos.lt/Istorija/Sveksna.htm Švėkšna under the Lithuanian press ban]
* [http://www.lietuvos.net/galerija/collections/0115_sveksna/ Photo gallery of the town of Švėkšna]